Spotlight: Diane Chia of Guava Pass

By Marianna Cerini, May 12, 2016

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Spotlight is a regular series where we feature a prominent person in the style scene. This month we speak with Diane Chia, General Manager at Guava Pass.


What’s GuavaPass?
GuavaPass is a monthly fitness membership that gives you unlimited access to group exercise classes at premium boutique gyms in Shanghai as well as other cities [where we have operations] (currently, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, Manila, Taipei and Jakarta). We have a diverse range of workouts spanning yoga, CrossFit, Pilates and boxing, so there is always something available to suit your schedule and fitness goals. 

How does one get a pass?
Just download the GuavaPass app on your phone. Once you sign up, you can book and enjoy unlimited fitness classes at top studios, plus lots of healthy living perks across Asia and the Middle East. 

What is your role specifically?
My duties range from studio partnership acquisitions to identifying perk partners, sales and marketing, events, operations, customer service… I wear many different hats – which is to be expected when working for a start up! 

Are you a fitness fanatic yourself?
I have always exercised regularly, but since I started working with GuavaPass, I can honestly say that this is the fittest/healthiest I’ve ever felt. I now suffer from withdrawal if I don’t workout at least six times a week! I love working out under the guidance of an instructor, but also in a group setting (who doesn’t love a bit of competition?) or trying out new workouts like fitness boxing, piloxing, pole dancing and aerial yoga. 

What’s your daily routine?
On a perfect day, I wake up at 6.30am, make myself a bulletproof coffee (maybe snack on half a banana if I’m starving) and hit a spinning class, CrossFit bootcamp or boxing class at Anken Life. I tend to [stay and] catch up with GuavaPass members who attended the class as well as the studio owner(s), grab a smoothie from Lizzy’s, and try to get through some emails before lunch. I like to eat or plan early afternoon meetings at perk partner locations like Sproutworks. Most afternoons and early evenings, I will schedule a lower intensity workout, which often means doing yoga at a new studio. After class, I usually head home to make a simple salad or soup for dinner and respond to more emails, maybe catch a movie, go for a massage, and finally, hit the sack. 

Where do you hang out in Shanghai?
I’m not sure I’d like to be stalked! But you’ll find me at healthy eating establishments such as Sproutworks and Pure & Whole, or cafes like Sumerian or Egg, as I do love my coffee. I usually get my #GuavaSweat on at Anken Life as four of our studio partners are located in that compound and, very occasionally, go dancing at Le Baron (did I just admit that?)! 

Give us some tips to a healthy lifestyle (outside of the gym!).
Have lighter, more frequent meals, try to consume a lot of veggies, and snack on fruits and nuts (avoid sugar, and excessive gluten  and dairy) and drink lots of water. Sleeping well is also very important. 

Are you looking to expand Guava Pass to other cities in China?
Most certainly! Beijing is next! 

More details at www.guavapass.com

For more Spotlight posts, click here.

Photo by Mario Grey. 

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