Club W: A Wellness Community Centre for the Forgotten Generation
By LISA GOODHAND
Neighbourhood Media had the pleasure of catching up with the owner of Club W - Wellness, Tony de Leede (who brought Fitness First to Australia), to find out what all the hype was about - and boy, was it impressive!
Club W is a world-first community wellness concept combining three unique areas: The Wellness Lounge, Wellness Collective and Wellness Coworking.
Located in the heart of Cronulla, Club W brings a holistic approach to wellness through a variety of designated areas for immersive movement and mindfulness, along with custom-designed coworking zones plus health & beauty services.
Club W is the brainchild of Tony de Leede, who is no stranger to the fitness & wellness industry, as a highly regarded innovator in the business world with over 35 years experience in this industry. Tony, a native of Sydney’s beach suburb of Cronulla, left school at the age of 15 in pursuit of experience in the business sector.
His first entrepreneurial endeavour began at the age of 12 when he set up a stamp trading business. This was quickly followed by opening a surfboard shop at the age of 16 and then by a mere 18 years old establishing a clothing importing business with his mother.
Club W is what Tony describes as a ‘wellness community centre’, primarily targeting what he calls the ‘forgotten generation’, or people who don't particularly go to traditional fitness or health clubs because they are either uncomfortable, intimidated or just don't feel right.
Club W breaks the mould on traditional health centres. In Tony’s view, there is nothing like it in the world.
The collaborative component of Club W is what he calls ‘suburban coworking’, away from the traditional co-working spaces normally found in the CBD. Tony feels that this traditional workplace location has changed, much thanks to COVID and lockdowns.
As a result, people have been working from home and appreciate not having to commute. Suburban coworking gives them access to a work space and facilities, plus access to the community, but much closer to home.
Another major component of Club W is the exercise and movement classes that are streamed in the Studios and Zen Rooms. The classes are immersive, with over 100 experts providing content through their 10 collections, so you can exercise or relax whilst being fully immersed through a programmed session.
This is a concept that's been in the making for Tony, who started Cardio Theatre Holdings in 1989 and introduced the concept of “Exercise Entertainment” to the international fitness industry.
In 1997 he merged Cardio Theatre with ClubCom (a media/content business that works inside the fitness industry) and eventually sold the Cardio Theatre/ClubCom business to Precor in 2002.
When you jump on a treadmill or a bike, you have a screen where you can pick from six collections, including nutrition, skincare, relationships, health or haircare, each with content related to these topics delivered in videos or podcasts, which you can then listen to through your headphones while you are exercising.
Tony urges you to try a class in the Immersive studios, where there's an instructor on a big screen doing a beginner class on yoga, dance or meditation.
Alternatively, grab a friend and book a session in the Zen Room, where you can curate your own wellness experience. When you enter the room, select your scent from a range of essential oils that will enhance your feelings of wellness and relaxation while you utilise the energy of colour to assist the body with its own natural ability to heal, energise and soothe. Choose from their Move123 series and enjoy a quiet meditation, breathe, stretch, pilates, yoga or tai chi class.
If you're looking to relax and recharge, then try the Wellness Pods, the O2 Breathing and Meditation Chair or even the Recovery Massage Chair. You will also find an Infrared Sauna, the Somadome Meditation Pod (Coming Soon) and LED Light Facial.
Club W only recently opened in November 2021, but the concept has been quickly adopted by local residents. There are pricing options to suit all budgets, including membership, packages and casual visit options.
Whilst limited to Cronulla at present, they are looking into open Club W in further suburbs including Randwick and Mossman.
We encourage you to go in and have a look for yourself - we know we will!
FB @ClubWAustralia
Insta @clubw_australia
A: 3-7 Kingsway, Cronulla, NSW 2230
P: (02) 7228 0366 Email