Cryo Fitness Hub: North Belfast's Friendly Spot for Fitness, Recovery, and Community

The road to fitness often feels daunting, but the team at Cryo Fitness Hub on the Antrim Road is ready to offer the gentle nudge we all need. Co-owner Kevin Johnston acknowledges that taking the first step into a gym can be tough, noting that people often spend up to nine months thinking about joining before gathering the courage to walk through the doors.

“The first step is always the hardest,” says Kevin. “We want to make that journey a little bit easier here at Cryo Fitness Hub as we know how tough it can be.”

Kev, Cliodhna, and the dedicated team have successfully built a real community gym centered on ‘wrap-around care.’ The philosophy here focuses equally on physical health and crucial mental well-being. Since opening in February 2019, they have prided themselves on offering small, intimate classes, including circuits, pilates, spin, and boxing.

“It’s a family feeling here, we are relaxed, there are no egos and people come here for many reasons – even just socially,” Kevin explains. This focus on atmosphere is reflected in their high retention numbers. “It’s not like the big gyms where people come in and go straight to the treadmill because they don’t know what to do. We try and get rid of the fear factor.” The hub welcomes members of all ages and keeps mental health awareness at the forefront, recognizing the challenge we all face in helping each other.

Recovery is a key element of the hub’s personal touch, whether members are recovering from the exertions of the weekly Park Run or the stiffness of sitting at an office desk all day. Cryo Fitness Hub offers cutting-edge facilities, including an Ice Bath—which has been utilized by people up to their 70s to ease ailments such as sciatica—and an infrared sauna, which provides an enormous endorphin boost during the colder months. These services are also crucial for injury prevention, and the facilities are so well-regarded that running clubs and individual runners travel from far and wide to use them. The hub also provides sports massages, reflexology, and has a resident physio available.

That strong community spirit drives Cryo Fitness Hub’s local involvement. They regularly organize marathon relay teams for charity, host step challenges, run coffee mornings, hold a Santa walk, and sponsor local sports clubs.

However, the team has faced significant challenges. A nearby building collapse in March 2022 forced a temporary closure. While the building was made temporarily safe, a large metal fence has been erected around the exposed structure. Kevin notes that this fence is now a major headache for local traders and the public.

“We’d like to see it gone, it’s obstructing the view of the road and part of the footpath,” he states. “It’s a blight that would not be tolerated in other areas of the city.” He highlights that the structure is a potential danger, with youths accessing it, and it stands directly in the way of proposed plans to connect the nearby Waterworks Park with Alexandra Park. The community needs this issue resolved as soon as possible.

Despite this ongoing local setback, Kevin, Cliodhna, and the folks at Cryo Fitness Hub continue to go from strength to strength, maintaining their community-focused approach to health, recovery, and performance. Remember, all it takes is that first step to get started.