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Mark Agnew

Workout habits will never return to pre-Covid-19 times, so gyms need to prepare for long-term online offerings, says a Hong Kong CrossFit gym owner.
“Where I see it going now is that there is a certain section of the population who have decided they prefer working out at home, or with two or three friends somewhere else, because they found it more convenient,” said Cris O’Brien, founder and head coach of CrossFit Asphodel.
“By this point, if you haven’t worked out a new strategy, then what are you doing?”
Having said that, O’Brien was purposely slow to release an online element to his gym. He was actively avoiding a knee-jerk reaction to gym closures, enforced by the Hong Kong government in May, then again in August.




















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“For the longest time, I was against the idea of it. I just felt that the human connection was so important,” he said.
“I wanted to do it right and do it in a way that was meaningful for all the members. If we just did a Zoom class, and they didn’t have the right equipment or 100 other reasons, it wouldn’t work. There was an approach that something is better than nothing, but I thought that something bad was worse than nothing.”
How Typhoon gym is weathering coronavirus and the CrossFit scandal
Having taken his time, and seen that the changes in habits are here to stay, O’Brien has now launched Asphodel Elite Performance, an online programme service for US$27 (HK$209) per month that offers four groups.
They are “fitness competitor” for competitive CrossFitters; “base camp” as a replica of personal training sessions; “going ape” for sportspeople to get faster and stronger; and “swoler city” for people who want to improve their strength.
“We focus on CrossFit, but in the past we have linked up with different sports teams like karate, rugby, tennis players, and we thought that all of these people are in the same position as our CrossFitters. So the idea was to provide something that was more flexible for sportspeople,” he said.

O’Brien believes that a specific sports programme is even more important for well trained, elite athletes, than it is for beginners. If you are already strong and fit, if you do the wrong thing, you will plateau.
“If you are a well-trained person, then your programme actually has a huge impact on your results. If you’re not as well trained, then almost anything will make you better,” he said.
Despite his early relaxed take on producing an online aspect to his business, O’Brien was not immune to the sting of the shutdowns. He had to be creative to survive.

Instead of charging for classes, he rented out equipment so members could continue to exercise at home. The equipment costs were not discounted as there was an understanding from members that it was to support the business, but they were offered a half-price discount if they rejoined the gym once the restrictions eased.
The plan worked, and the rental scheme covered almost all staff salaries.
“I thought it would be one quarter of the salaries, but so many people came in the first week, I was taken aback,” O’Brien said.

They also sold old equipment that they had been storing.
“We have tried to sell it before, but as soon as the pandemic hit, it was gone like that, within two or three hours of it being put online. There was just so many businesses out of stock,” O’Brien said.
If the restrictions return, O’Brien is now in a strong position to ride out another shutdown with his rental scheme and newly launched online programmes.
“It doesn’t look like it will change soon. There’s this vaccine, but that won’t be a magic bullet. There will be a long time to work things out,” he added.


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Cris O’Brien launches training for elite athletes, as changing times demand an online element. Photos: Peter Peng Pan

Cris O'Brien of CrossFit Asphodel. Photo:  Peter Peng Pan

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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: Crossfit Inc. founder and CEO Greg Glassman (R) talks to employees prior to a presentation at the Half street location in Washington, DC on July 31, 2015. CrossFit is waging a war against new DC rules to regulate personal trainers, saying D.C. is a pawn in a commercial fight over personal fitness. The city council is proposing licensure and regulation of personal trainers. There is a fee involved. If the law should pass, DC would be the first municipality in the nation to do so. Crossfit Inc. officials are fighting the proposed law and say that they are trying to legislate something that they do not understand. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

CrossFit: five lockdown workouts with Hong Kong coach Michelle O’Brien

Hong Kong CrossFit coach Michelle O'Brien shows how to incorporate family members into your workouts with her sons Ashton and Noah. Photo: Handout

O'Brien demonstrates how to get your family involved in CrossFit workouts during lockdown with her son Ashton. Photo: Handout

O'Brien demonstrates how to do a burpee over a bag. Photo: Handout

O'Brien demonstrating a thruster with a backpack on. Photo: Handout

Michelle O'Brien. Photo: Handout

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CrossFit Kidzilla. Photo: Handout

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Ant Haynes and Victoria Campos train at Coastal and Asphodel respectively. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

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The world of working out will never return to its old ways, even after Covid-19, so it is time to prepare quality online services, says CrossFit gym owner
CrossFit Asphodel launches online programmes for elite sports athletes to get faster and stronger



The world of working out will never return to its old ways, even after Covid-19 is under control, so it is time to prepare quality online services, says CrossFit gym owner.


Extreme fitness

Coronavirus Hong Kong