Thanks for choosing Strong + Bendy. We look forward to welcoming you to your first class.
Please bring your own water bottle and as few personal belongings as possible.
We ask you to come ready in your kit if possible, but if you really need to change you’re able to use our changing rooms.
Showers are also open- please bring your own towel.
Outdoor classes will go-ahead outdoors in all weather so please dress accordingly. The willow tree and canopy shades offer some protection from the elements but aren’t watertight.
Please read through our Coronavirus Measures to see all of the ways we’re working together to keep you and our team safe.
Classes are subject to our 4 hour cancellation policy: if you cancel your class more than 4 hours before the class start time you get to keep your credit to use against another class. However if you cancel less than 4 hours before the start time this will use up one of your credits.
All classes must be booked in advance by logging into your account on our website, or by downloading the MINDBODY app and searching for Strong and Bendy.
If you run out of classes more can be purchased either on our website or via Mindbody app. If you regularly use more than your class allocation you may want to discuss upgrading your subscription to unlimited access.
No. All classes must be pre-booked either via our website or MINDBODY app. We cannot accept cash or face to face bookings.
We are nice (promise!) but please don’t ask that we credit classes back onto your account you either cancelled late or did not show up for. It’s against our nature to be strict, but we have to be in order to run a viable business and keep Strong + Bendy open for the customers who love visiting us. Please see ‘Can I cancel a class once I’ve booked in’ for our cancellation policy .
If a class is at capacity a waitlist opens up.
If you’re on a waitlist for a class, please regularly check your emails as if someone cancels their reservation you will be automatically added onto the class list and notified via email.
No, only show up if your account shows you as booked in. We’d hate to have to turn you away.
Please bring your own water bottle and sweat towel if you use one.
Due to Covid-19, please bring your own mat for yoga and pilates.
Otherwise we will provide all equipment you need for your class.
Please bring as few belongings with you as possible as the locker area is currently closed to prevent crowding indoors. You will be able to keep your valuables with you in sight.
If you miss the warm up (the first 5 – 10 minutes of class) it may not be safe to participate so we would have to turn you away. Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the class start time.
If you find out you have Covid, the following applies:
Membership: Unused credits from the month you had Covid will roll over into the next month. But only if you keep a valid membership. You cannot cancel your membership and have classes roll over into the next month.
Class packages: The end date of your classes will be extended by 1 week
Unlimited passes: Your pass will be paused and any time you have left can be used when you are out of isolation. EG if you bought a 30 day unlimited pass and had only used 10 days, once you’re out of isolation you’ll have 20 days left to use.
Please do not ask that we deviate from the above. The impact of Covid on our business has been enormous. We now need to stick strictly to the above as it’s necessary for the survival of our business.
If you want to visit Strong + Bendy regularly, a membership is the most cost effective way to do so. If you sign up to a membership via our website your card will be automatically charged each month and your membership will renew.
The classes included in your membership must be used within the month and do not roll over. If you do not use all your passes each month you can downgrade to a smaller membership or you may be better suited to buying our drop in classes as paying as you go.
No, unused passes do not roll over into the following month, so make sure you use them in your membership period!
If you do not use all your passes each month you can downgrade to a smaller membership or you may be better suited to buying our drop in classes as paying as you go.
You are only tied into a minimum commitment of 2 months, after that you can cancel at any time just email rhian@strongandbendy.co.uk if you want to make any updates to your membership.
You can buy one off classes or a bundle to tide you over until your subscription renews. You can buy them the same place you book into your classes (either via our website or the MindBody app).
If you’re consistently exceeding your class limit it will be more economical for you to upgrade your subscription to include more classes each month. You can email rhian@strongandbendy.co.uk to help choose the right package for you.
We do not make money out of your discounted first month, it’s something we offer as a way of demonstrating how much you’ll love Strong + Bendy and letting you try out a membership in a cost effective way for you.
We therefore need to keep a member for the minimum 2 months commitment. As a small business we ask you to respect this if you take your discounted first month.
If you’d rather not be signed into a minimum 2 months we have pay as you go options.
Please only book into classes you intend on attending. Please do not pre book into classes ‘just in case’ as it will mean classes appearing fully booked, but spaces being left unused, which isn’t fair on other customers.
We appreciate that sometimes life gets in the way and you do occasionally end up missing a class you’ve booked into. Which is why 4 times each month you can late cancel a class (this means cancelling a class within our 4 hour cancellation window) .
Please do not just ‘no show’. If you can’t attend, even if you remember just a few minutes before, please do login and cancel your space so it can be offered to someone else.
If you late cancel or no show more than 4 times in a month, then you will be contacted with a (friendly!) warning to please only book into classes you attend. If you do this repeatedly unfortunately our only option would be to change you onto a membership with a set number of classes per month. Our set number of class memberships are as follows:
6 classes for £88
8 classes for £112
12 classes for £150
16 classes for £180
20 classes for £200
Studio co-owner Rhian Cowburn offers Personal Training at Strong + Bendy.
In addition to a Diploma in Personal Training, Rhian is also qualified in POP Pilates, TRX, core conditioning, and kettlebells. She has a long list of her own sporting achievements behind her including; endurance triathlons such as Ironman and The Warrior, long distance swims such as the Dart 10km, along with extreme upper-body challenges such as Red Bull’s Neptune’s Steps (the world’s only swimming and climbing event held in ice cold water).
Strong + Bendy is kitted out with pull-up bars, gymnastic rings, kettlebells, battle-ropes, slam balls (+ more) so no session will ever be dull. Rhian is also available for sessions outside of Strong + Bendy when needed (E.g.: for triahtlon training).
Rates per hour:
1 session £65 / 5 sessions £300
We have shower facilities for those who identify as female.
Please bring your own towel.
We ask that you arrive in your kit ready to exercise where possible.
If you’re pregnant you can typically continue exercising at the same level of intensity you were used to pre-pregnancy. However, as a general rule it is not encouraged to increase the intensity of your exercise once you are pregnant. Please let us know in advance of the clases you wish to attend.
If you’re postnatal you’re welcome to attend a class as soon as you have the go-ahead from a health professional (usually 6 weeks post birth) and you feel ready.
We don’t currently offer specific pre/ postnatal classes, but we do have numerous instructors with pre/ postnatal qualifications who can offer appropriate modifications to make their classes safe and fun for you! Please email studio co-owner Faye (Mouse) if you have any questions or need reassurance: faye@strongandbendy.co.uk. Mouse is pre/post natal qualified and exercised safely throughout her own pregnancy.
For yoga we have classes specific to beginners – look out for those on the schedule. For all other classes we welcome beginners and there’s always modifications in each class to make the exercise appropriate to all fitness levels. If you’re new to exercise or have any concerns about getting back into it – let us know. We’d be very happy to offer advice over the phone before you book in.
It’s often possible to accommodate an injury or pain you have by modifying the class to suit your individual needs. It’s really dependent on the nature/ severity of your complaint and the advice you’ve been given by a health professional.
Often participants come with mild knee, ankle, wrist, and lower back pain; which can be worked around. It’s a good idea to come early to class to discuss your needs with the instructor. For anything more serious please contact us in advance to discuss rhian@strongandbendy.co.uk
Each disability and individual experience is unique and we recognise that not all disabilities are visible. If you need additional support in order to enjoy a class at Strong + Bendy please get in touch so we can discuss how to best support you.
We’re esaily accessible by bike, walking or public transport from Victoria Park, Chobham Manor, Leyton, Clapton, Homerton, Hackney and Stratford.
We’re a few minutes walk from Hackney Wick overground station.
Bike racks are available on site. Please do not wheel your bike into the Strong + Bendy entrance: the bike racks are located to the rear of Thingy Cafe which is through the gate to the right of the Strong + Bendy entrance.
In line with current government guidelines, both our indoor studio and outdoor fitness garden are open.
Our policies will continue to be reviewed and updated in-line with government guidance.
Expect to find:
Minimum shared equipment
Equipment cleaned before and after use
Regular hand washing encouraged and sanitiser provided
Dettol spray provided in bathrooms
Frequent deep cleaning
Controlled flow of people in/out of the building and to/ from toilets
Our own ‘track and trace’ system implemented
Masks
Customers and staff are not required to wear masks while exercising, but if you’d like to continue wearing a mask in shared spaces you are of course welcome to do so.
Equipment
Equipment such as kettlebells and yoga blocks will be deep cleaned thoroughly and frequently, but we also need your help to clean equipment after each use.
Showers / Changing
Please arrive in your exercise kit with minimal belongings with you. The shower area and changing rooms are open for use but they are not well ventilated so you might want to keep your time in there to a minimum.
Toilets
Facilities will be disinfected before and after each class. In addition, for peace of mind, a dettol spray will be provided should you wish to use it.
Cancelling a class due to Covid-19
Our 12 hour cancellation policy applies. If you cancel 12 hours before the class start time you keep your credit and can use against another class. If you cancel within the 12 hour window the credit will be forfeited. We appreciate it will be frustrating for you to miss out on a class due to being pinged/ waiting for a test/ isolating. However as a small business recovering from nearly a year of forced closures, it’s the only way we can run a viable business whilst covid cases are rising so rapidly.
Reporting Covid-19 symptoms
If you show coronavirus symptoms or have a positive test result and have visited the studio in the last 2 weeks, we’d like you to let us know.
Whilst not mandatory according to the government guidelines for gyms, we will notify all people who have been in the same class as you.
Turns out someone in my class has Coronoa Virus – what happens?
If we discover that you have attended a class with a customer or instructor who subsequently tests positive or shows symptoms of coronavirus we will let you know. The government guidelines do not mandate this, but we feel it’s our responsibility.
Data
We will share requested information with the government’s track and trace system should we be requested to.
