Shops / Sustainability
Inside Bristol’s sweat-powered gym
In Ellie Crawley’s gym in Clifton Village, spin classes aren’t measured in calories. Sweat may pour and quads may burn but within these bright white walls, the measure that matters is in watts.
Feel Fit is the first eco-powered gym of its kind in the South West, with a studio of indoor cycles generating energy as gym-goers pedal. Seventy four per cent of the energy that’s generated during the workout goes back into the local grid – turning labour into leccy.
Crawley started the business as a personal training brand before developing its own environmentally-conscious clothing line, and then going on to open a bricks and mortar premises in April 2021.
is needed now More than ever
One year on from opening the doors to Regent Street, she told Bristol24/7 how Feel Fit aims to redefine sustainability in the fitness industry.
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Her ethos for protecting the planet feeds into many elements of the space – from the spin studio and eco activewear to tree planting.
About Crawley’s clothing range that is made from recycling fishing nets the 38-year-old said: “I wanted to create timeless, classic pieces that people return to time and time again that make you feel good and that are doing good for the planet.”
She also said that people exercise at the studio in Feel Fit for other reasons, as well as their commitment to sustainability.
“Members who come here to do classes is because we’re that safe environment. As you’ve seen, it’s not like a typical gym, it’s quite comfortable feel we’re a safe, all inclusive, non judgmental space for people to come and try things out,” explained Crawley.
“For us, it’s more about making people feel strong and confident – it’s not about a look or shape or size.”
The pin bikes harvest energy as it is generated through pedalling – photo: Betty Woolerton
Crawley stressed that wellbeing must be sustainable for our health as well as the planet, saying “it’s not about being in the gym, slogging it out for hours or following a 12 week transformation plan that then fails because that’s not sustainable”.
As people continue to take sustainability seriously, Crawley has big plans for Feel Fit.
She said: “I have a vision of more sites. We’re going to work with more sustainable products and brands, helping more and more people feel amazing”.
Maybe one day all workouts will be measured in watts.
Feel Fit can be found at 5a Regent Street, Clifton, BS8 4HW – photo: Betty Woolerton
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
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