This entrepreneur and fitness junkie shares the importance of holistic physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing for any fitness journey
Given the accessibility to boutique fitness studios across the island today, it might be hard to believe that ten years ago, there were close to none. This did not hinder CruCycle co-founder Bebe Ding and her siblings from opening their first studio in 2014 that would revolutionise the indoor cycling scene in Singapore and pave the way for a new workout and lifestyle trend that would stick.
“We knew CRU would be a viable business, but we had to start from the ground up in terms of spreading awareness of why exercise was important. Health and fitness were neither trendy nor a thing back then. We just really believed in our idea and the brand we wanted to create. We also wanted to provide a really fun and positive environment for people to let loose and enjoy not just a workout but an experience.”
Today the CRU brand consists of successful studios in both Singapore and Los Angeles such as CruCycle, CruBox, CruYoga, CruHIIT and CruTv. They pride themselves on finding strength in togetherness through a collective of like-minded individuals growing as a pack.
“Introducing spin to Singapore ten years ago meant educating everyone on the why and the how, which took some time. But, as predicted, people really became addicted to it and we have a lot of riders who have been riding with us since day one!”
The evolution of CRU into what we know it as today was not a straightforward journey for Ding. It came with hard work and commitment in fitness as well as business. Besides teaching 12 to 15 classes a week, Ding was also doing admin work. Not forgetting that Ding was only 22 years old and still in college when CruCycle was founded.
“There were a lot of challenges along the way, but the biggest one initially was finding instructors when boutique fitness did not exist in Singapore. That is why my brother and I became instructors ourselves.”
“Physically, that was a real tough hurdle for me because I was sporty, but I was not an athlete. I remember being really, really tired. We’ve always opened 7 days a week, and all throughout the holidays.”
Through accepting mistakes and persevering through the growing pains of a new venture, Ding encountered crucial learning experiences that would positively influence her own personal growth.
“When you know your worth and you strive for quality, decisions become a lot easier to make because you don’t need to say yes to everything. Energy is finite and does not need to be shared with everything that comes your way.”
Ding enjoys a range of workouts throughout her week which could include spin, box, yoga, HIIT, Pilates, running, and even meditation. Though fitting workouts into her demanding schedule can be challenging at times, Ding believes it can be done and reminds herself that even 20 minutes of movement daily is better than none.
“Unlike what people may think, teaching a class is not actually a full workout! Half the time, I’m coaching from the floor and I’m fully focused on the people in the room rather than myself, so I have to create time on top of that to get my own workout in. Especially if I want that mental release.”
Fitness has helped Ding build confidence in her ability to perform, conquer challenges and take risks. It has also built her mental resilience which is fundamental in any fitness journey.
“Meditation is very important to this, and I find that this can happen even whilst working out or taking a walk. Usually, mental wellbeing is forgotten when one embarks on a fitness journey. Ultimately, I think practising positive conversation with oneself is so powerful. I am a firm believer that when you believe in greatness, then you attract greatness.”
As a lululemon ambassador, Ding now has a wider platform to share more about her journey and has made it her personal mission to create as many opportunities as possible for the community to come together, starting with lululemon’s Get Into It campaign over the next few months.
For International Women’s Day in early March, Ding, together with Naomi Yeo, a fellow lululemon ambassador, headlined a panel for women that centred around celebrating confidence.
“It was a continuation of the super fun class that we taught together in February, and a culmination of what we believe is a well-rounded practice. There was meditation, as well as a discussion on how the three interconnected elements of wellbeing (physical, mental and social), help to define our personal meaning of confidence.”
Comfort and freedom of movement is key in Ding’s activewear wardrobe, and she admits that new workout fits can be an added incentive to staying motivated whilst looking and feeling good. Her go to activewear are her lululemon Align™ leggings and sports bras.
“Along with lululemon, we (CRU) are always preaching the message of finding confidence in community and supporting one another as we believe that wellbeing is a team sport. It is all about elevating the entire fitness community and how we can contribute. Every experience is unique and is driven by the same mission: Power in community.”