WE are in the 2025 Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago, with soca dominating the airwaves. The countdown is on to get fit to play mas and attend your favourite fetes, as gyms across the country will be to catering to those soca lovers and make their workout sessions more enjoyable.
The gyms are not only seeing an increase in membership because of Carnival, as many people normally set health goals for the new year.
Not only will the gyms be busy over the next two months as people will be flocking to their neighbourhood parks and recreation grounds to shed a few pounds and get fit.
"We have ramped up our class offerings, so next week we will be bringing on new, dynamic classes. We are looking to basically catch the interest of newcomers to the gym," said Kahlil Ramsubhag, director and co-founder of The Bar by the Beast.
Gyms offer a variety of classes during the year, with the popular spin class being one of the options.
Why not have fun doing those classes during the Carnival season?
[caption id="attachment_1131679" align="alignnone" width="904"] Members of the public take part in a spin class at Marcelle's Fitness Centre, Calder Hall, Tobago. - Photo by Visual Styles[/caption]
"Spin is always one of the most popular classes you would get, but we have zumba, aerobics, we are thinking of bringing in tae bo (and) a soca class."
Speaking more about the soca class at the Grand Bazaar-based gym, Ramsubhag said, "Honestly, you need to make it fun, especially for newcomers. You want to make it engaging. So (in) a soca class, you play the oldies, the classics, the new soca music. You get people moving, they have fun, they enjoy themselves, they wine a little bit and they still get their workout in."
Director at the Fitness Centre Rana Ibrahim, a gym with four locations across the country, said classes will be altered during the Carnival season.
"We take what our clients tell us – we value that feedback. Always during our Carnival season, especially in our spin classes, we have soca-themed spin classes. We will try to pump as much new and old soca (as possible) to get people in the groove. It also helps with a lot of foreigners that come to visit us. It gives them a chance to experience what a Trini workout session would be."
Although people are trying to get fit for Carnival, most have been registering at The Bar by the Beast after setting personal goals.
[caption id="attachment_1131741" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kahlil Ramsubhag, director and co-founder of The Bar by the Beast, in Grand Bazaar. - Photo by Jeff K. Mayers[/caption]
Ramsubhag said, "What we have found this year, surprisingly, the crowd we are seeing coming in for Carnival – a lot of them are not coming with the intention of getting fit to play mas on Monday or Tuesday...a lot of clients (are) coming in and saying, 'We are not here for Carnival, we just want to make a lifestyle change.' This is something we want moving forward."
People flocking to the gym
Ramsubhag said, "We are seeing, as of this week, a big influx of
