Talk about aging well (it must be all that exercise)! The Vancouver location of our favourite fitness club, Equinox, turns one this month (fun facts: the club saw a whopping 250,000-plus check-ins and more than 2,000 personal training sessions per month in its first year alone!), and we couldn’t let the milestone pass without asking two of its key players—general manager Liz Jacobs and group fitness manager Geoff Bagshaw—to reflect on the last 12 months. Enjoy! —Noa Nichol
With so many health clubs/gyms/studios in Vancouver, what, in your mind, makes Equinox special?
LJ: The experience. From the time you walk in the door until the time you leave, the people, programming and environment keep you motivated, energized and excited to come back.
GB: Apart from the absolutely stunning facility itself, our group fitness programming is second to none. With five boutique-style group fitness studios under one roof, along with our Equinox signature programming and incredible instructor talent, there is something for everyone at Equinox West Georgia Street.
What does hitting the one-year mark mean to you?
LJ: This anniversary is very special to us. We set a new standard in Vancouver when this club opened one year ago and we continue to raise the bar with new programming and education for our team members. We are adding a new element to the fitness culture of this city by delivering the Equinox Lifestyle!
GB: Probably the most amazing thing for me is to see the sense of community that’s developed in the club over the past year. Our members are truly committed to their workouts and a healthy lifestyle and have made Equinox West Georgia a home away from home where they get to spend time with other like-minded individuals.
What is your favourite memory from the past year?
GB: There have been so many highlights over the last year, with many parties and events that were truly special. One that stands out was our hugely successful Equinox After Dark event, where the club was opened after hours on a weekend to host multiple special themed group fitness classes, with everyone mixing and mingling in a party-like atmosphere post-workout.
LJ: There is also a very competitive annual companywide competition for managers called the EQX Games. We hosted a mini-EQX Games challenge in our club to create hype for the event. There was participation from every department, Cafe Medina provided food for us and everyone had a great time! In a year full of memorable moments, that one stands out.
What’s your personal go-to Equinox workout, and why?
GB: There are so many standouts but one that is always guaranteed to get me a great workout is Precision Running—our signature coach-led treadmill workout. Being a runner, I love how smart this workout is in the way it’s designed and how it can accommodate participants of all levels while getting everyone to reach their own individual goals.
LJ: I personally love Ropes and Rowers. It hits all the buckets for me: group fitness, competitive, challenging. It is a fantastic signature program.
Finally, what would you give as the top three reasons for a newbie to join Equinox?
LJ: The programming, the environment and the people. Period.
GB: Our group fitness programming and schedule is ever evolving, with new cutting-edge workouts being developed that are only available at Equinox. Everything we do at Equinox is science-based and is absolutely guaranteed to get you results. Also … who doesn’t love those chilled eucalyptus towels?!
Equinox, 1131 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, 604-449-3002, equinox.com
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