Royal MNL Fitness recently opened on the third level of Fisher Mall in Quezon City. The massive 850-square meter-area gym is the passion project of Conrado “GK” Gicanal. GK shares his story on how the gym came to be.
A lifelong fitness enthusiast, GK had always dreamt of owning his own fitness center. But that dream is not without its challenges and hurdles. Through years of financial ups and downs, GK was able to save enough money to venture into the sports apparel business. He set up shop as Royal MNL in 2014, and now has three printers and a heat press in his office in the North Avenue area in Quezon City. And later on, with business being pretty good, he was able to realize his dream with Royal MNL Fitness.
With a wide open space, visitors and gym regulars will be able to see what the fitness center has to offer, from the weights to the exercise machines and treadmills. And while there are a lot of other gyms that would carry roughly the same equipment as Royal MNL does, what sets it apart from the others is the culture among the instructors that GK wants to instill.
As a regular client in gyms himself, GK noticed that the trainers and instructors lacked care and compassion towards patrons who are in need of assistance.
“After you enroll, a coach is appointed to teach you. But after two days, the coach is already trying to sell you other programs. Because I did not buy any of what he was offering, he left me alone to my own devices. It was a good thing I knew how to execute the correct fitness routine. But what about those who don’t? They were enrolled for six months or one year and they paid this much, but nothing happened because they were left alone, because they did not buy any more programs,” he recalled.
He adds that he does not want the same kind of atmosphere in his gym. Coaches should always care about the clients and be as helpful as they can be.
Aside from the gym equipment staples, Royal MNL has a track oval and a boxing ring. The fitness center even offers lessons for Zumba, Wushu, Aikido, Capoeira, Taekwondo, and other martial arts. GK notes that more programs are in the pipeline for Royal MNL Fitness.
With GK’s dream finally realized, his work is not done. He wants Royal MNL Fitness to be a chain of gyms, targeting three new gyms every year, even eyeing spots in the currently-in-construction Fisher Mall Malabon and in Fisher Mall Alabang.