This is my second month on GuavaPass, and so far, the experience has been great. In case you haven’t heard about it yet, GuavaPass is the largest social community of premium fitness studios and healthy-living experts in Asia. The monthly membership gives access to search, book, and enjoy fitness classes at the top studio and healthy living perks across Asia. Yes, not only in the Philippines!
My Experience with GuavaPass
It was in November when I first subscribed to GuavaPass lite (P499 for four classes). I just wanted to try the fitness program and get to know more about how it works. I like the concept of not having to pay for gym and fitness center memberships. The financial burden and pressure of going to class to maximize the annual or semi-annual cost can easily add up to stress.
GuavaPass gives users the ability to “hop” from one studio to another with ease and without the requirement of purchasing multiple packages from each. Don’t like a class or a studio? Drop it and book another class next time, easy peasy. There’s no need to commit to one studio!
Signing Up and Booking Classes
To register, you need to create a GuavaPass account and choose your class package to subscribe to. A Class Package allows users to take a certain number of classes across different studios. All classes must be used within their designated timeframe or they will expire.
Once the classes are all used up before the expiration dates, you can buy an additional class package to keep on sweating! The number of times you may visit a studio varies depending on the Class Package and will be noted on the billing page before you purchase. Booking multiple classes in advance is accepted, which is great to get you motivated for the week ahead.
It took me only a couple of minutes to complete the sign-up and booking process and settle into the groove. I paid using my credit card online, viewed the studio partners, the activities available in the neighborhood, and booked my first classes.
GuavaPass Variety of Classes
There are so many classes to choose from, and the large variety can be overwhelming. I usually filter them based on schedule (time is after work hours during weekdays and in the morning on weekends) and location (always Quezon City since my home and office are both in QC). Booking of classes can be done through the website or via the GuavaPass mobile app. Both interfaces and navigation are intuitive and user-friendly.
Activities covered in the membership include cycling, circuit training, CrossFit, personal training, parkour, martial arts, pole dancing, Zumba, gymnastics, barre, yoga, Pilates and meditation, along with classes for soon-to-be or new mothers. Once you know your favorite classes, it’s a matter of building up a routine that you’re comfortable with.
Cross-Country Use
If you’re a frequent traveler and one who’s into workout and fitness, GuavaPass is best for you. Once you’re subscribed to GuavaPass, you have access to all the fitness partners where GuavaPass is available. Their current locations outside of Manila are: Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Phuket, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei. You can’t “pause” your membership so it’s better to take advantage of your subscription whenever and wherever you can.
GuavaPass Manila’s Studio Partners
GuavaPass is definitely for someone who like switching gyms after two weeks and try diverse classes. You’re guaranteed to find a handful of activities and studio partners you’ll love.
Currently, GuavaPass Manila has partnered with 65 studios. These include: 360 Fitness Club Manila (Circuit Training / HIIT, Core, Dance, Martial Arts, Yoga), Archery 1O1 (Sports), Beast House Pole And Aerial Dance Studio (Dance, Pole / Aerial, Zumba), Beyond Yoga (Anlene, Circuit Training / HIIT, Dance, Pole / Aerial, Yoga, Zumba), Stardance Elite Pole, Dance & Aerial Arts Studio (Dance, Pilates, Pole / Aerial) and many more.
As you continue to return to specific studios, the trainers will begin to recognize you and will actually cater to your specific fitness needs, which makes for an incredibly challenging and fun workout.
Review of 5 Studio Partners
Yoga Tree Manila is very convenient. It’s walking distance away from our office. It was my first time to attend a class using my GuavaPass membership. I mentioned my name and “GuavaPass” to the counter and they immediately acknowledged me to join the class. I brought my own yoga mat (rental fee is P50) and towel (rental fee is P50). Amenities of the studio include: showers, changing area, bottled water (for sale), bathroom.
The yoga instructor started with a briefing and she told me the background and description of Bikram Yoga. It’s a set program of yoga popularized in the 1970s by Bikram Choudhury. The class runs for 90 minutes and consists of the same series of 26 postures, including two breathing exercises. The room is always heated to 40 °C (104 °F) with a humidity of 40%.
Bikram yoga is a dialogue-lead class. The instructor, unlike other dance classes I attended, didn’t actively do the poses in front for us to copy. Instead, she just verbally told us what to do next and reminded us to keep breathing through the nose. As a beginner, I looked at the other people in the room beside me to check if I was doing alright.
Overall, Bikram yoga is painful but satisfying. It involves a lot of stretches and the health benefits are that it detoxifies the body (open pores to let toxins out), thins the blood to clear the circulatory system, increases heart rate for better cardiovascular workout, improves strength by putting muscle tissue in optimal state for reorganization, and reorganizes the lipids (fat) in the muscular structure. In an ideal class, everyone moves together and the energy becomes cumulative hence stronger practice.
yoga+ in Ortigas is a “healthy” space that’s very much suitable for yoga practice. They have special flooring in the yoga room to provide traction during classes. This provides practitioners with the right amount of support for the feet but at the same time, give enough cushion to prevent bruised knees and elbows. It’s also environmental friendly since it’s made from recycled materials that is non-toxic even in a heated environment.
Compared to Bikram Yoga, Yin Yoga was more challenging for me mentally and physically. It’s a slow-paced style of yoga with postures, or asanas, that are held for longer periods of time (from 45 seconds to two minutes, to five minutes or more). A regular Yin Yoga practice can calm and balance the mind and body, reduce stress and anxiety, increase circulation, improves flexibility, release fascia, improve joint mobility, and improve the flow of chi or prana through meridian stimulation.
Yin Yoga is certainly the opposite of dynamic yoga I’m accustomed to. Emotions, thoughts, and feeling have to be kept in the shadows. The principle is to stress the tissue so the body will respond by strengthening it. We started with a quiet meditation and breathing exercises. We were seated most of the time, and the poses targeted mostly the knees, pelvis, sacrum, and spine. My feet and my back hurt a lot, and I was silently hoping for the class to be finished sooner! 🙂
Yin Yoga was a struggle for me, and I wouldn’t want to try it again next time. Haha! Despite this, I love the ambiance and amenities at yoga+ Ortigas. This gym focuses on journey and self-improvement and the beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows is the perfect environment to begin your Yoga journey.
Bringing of your own yoga mat is not necessary; there’s no need to rent. This studio has high quality Manduka mats which are made from recycled, non-toxic materials. The use of yoga and bath towels and shower toiletries are also included in the package. An alkaline water dispenser is available for everyone’s use. I came with a water bottle and in yoga clothes. Everything was all set!
Beyond is the biggest full-service yoga studio chain in the Philippines. Beyond Yoga in Greenhills has a spacious interior, offering a variety of classes which aim to teach people the basics and foundation of yoga. It combines traditional yoga practice with soothing music and dynamic movements.
I tried to Zumba, a Latin-inspired dance fitness program, which incorporates hip-hop, samba, salsa, merengue, cumbia, mambo, reggaeton, soca, flamenco, chachacha, tango and some belly dancing and bhangra. It’s more like aerobics with a contagious blend of Latin and international rhythms. We had a great session. I had fun and perspired a bit after the one-hour dance. The Zumba instructor was approachable, well experienced, and energetic. My classmates were all regulars and members of Beyond Yoga who have become friends.
Beyond Yoga QC is on the same floor as PlanaFORMA in Il Terrazo so I decided to visit it another day. Out of all yoga routines, Vinyasa yoga is the most familiar to me since I had practiced it several times before when I was active in Fitness First.
In Vinyasa yoga classes, students coordinate movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next. The poses are fast-paced and are linked to an inhale and an exhale. The instructor kept the flow of movements smooth and continuous, which helped us stay present during the session.
Like in Beyond Yoga Greenhills, the changing area in Beyond Yoga QC looked clean. Lockers, yoga mats, and shower areas are available without additional cost. This studio is accessible to residents of QC since it’s located at the heart of Tomas Morato. Despite being a full class, there was a silence rule as soon as you entered the room which everyone observed and lead to a very calming experience. The instructor gave clear instructions and paid extra-attention to newbies. After the class, the lights stayed off; practicing yoga here is a brilliant way to de-stress after a long day of work.
Wrap Up: GuavaPass Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Vast selection of activities – This ranges from martial arts and yoga to crossfit, indoor cycling, and running. Whatever you choose, make sure it helps you to focus on achieving your fitness goals in the most fun, efficient, and safest way possible!
- Easy to navigate – The site is one of the easiest to work around and to keep track on your progress.
- Convenience factor – GuavaPass memebership includes classes in all studio partners in the Philippines and any of the affiliated countries, as mentioned above. This allows you to continue your fitness journey even when travelling.
- Informative class details – Each class is explained before you sign up, so you can select something suited to your personal preference. The worst thing is walking in and realizing you’ve signed up to something you hate. Finding classes is also easy. Once you book the class, the address details are clear and linked to GoogleMaps.
- Give as gift – Give your friends and family the ultimate gift of a healthy lifestyle. Two gift packages are available: GuavaPass 4 Class Package Gift (P1099) and GuavaPass 1 month Unlimited Gift (P1949).
- Engage and socialize – You can take classes rather than working out alone. If you can find a fitness training buddy, the experience is made even more enjoyable. You won’t feel as self-conscious and you will be more encouraged to work out.
- Professional guidance – It’s like subscribing to a gym membership but without commitment. Whether you’re new to exercise or looking to kick it up a notch, GuavaPass studio partners give you access to professional guidance.
Cons:
- No renewal warning – If you only want to sign up for a certain period, be sure to cancel in advance as direct debit payment comes out without warning before your month is over.
- Limited credit per studio per month – I could only book one studio once a month in the package I’m subscribed to. This means that I could not attend a class in any same participating studio in the same month.
- Unused classes don’t roll over – If you only take three of your four classes in a month, you don’t get the one credit carried over to the next month.
With all things considered, I would recommend GuavaPass to anyone who’s looking to get fit or get back into shape, those wanting more choice and versatility in their fitness regimen, and those looking for good value for money. Want an exclusive discount on your first month of membership? Click here to use my referral code!
Do you use GuavaPass? Let me know what your experience is in the comments below! I would love to hear how the service is treating you. 😉
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Read your entire review Roch and thank you so much for all the details you supplied! This was pretty exhaustive but I’m interested to know which in particular was your personal favorite! 😊
Cheers and Regards!
Vicky
Thanks for reading till the end of the post! My favorites so far are Bikram Yoga at Yogi Tree Manila and Anti-Gravity Yoga at Beyond Yoga. It was my first time to try both of these. At first, I was intimidated by the heat and the thought of having to do 26 poses in over an hour for Bikram Yoga and the idea of hanging myself upside down for Aerial Yoga. My muscles and back felt relieved after the exercisess. These were great stretching sessions and definitely recommended even for yoga novices. 🙂
Glad to find this post. Wanting to get back to working out (been sidelined by injuries), your review of the app and activities has given me ideas. Have you tried other apps like kfit? I would like to get some help on which gives you more bang for your buck.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
No, I haven’t tried kfit because I did not know that it’s already available in the Philippines. Thanks for bringing this up and now I’ll start browsing its website and look for great classes to try! Happy Holidays. 🙂
Hi, Roch.
GuavaPass is such a great concept! Is a Filipino genius behind it? This is perfect for me since I have been trying to lose weight and get fit. My favorite place, just by looking at your picture, is Beyond Yoga Greenhills. I really love to try anti-gravity yoga.
Hi Susana! No, the concept didn’t come from the Philippines originally. GuavaPass launched in early 2015 with the mission to provide convenient access to top classes at boutique fitness studios across Asia. It started in Singapore and founded by a guy named Jeffrey Liu. Read more about the story here. It’s very interesting. 🙂
Thank you for your tips. I’m currently looking for a yoga class for beginners.