The Story of Club Forma

About Building Something Worth Growing Into 

 Three years ago, we opened the doors to Club Forma in a 1950s brick building that we'd spent half a decade dreaming about. Today, as we watch it grow into its own person, we want to share the story of how we got here–and where we're headed next. 

The Dream That Took Years to Form 

For Hayden, Club Forma was a vision that accumulated slowly, deliberately, over years of working in an industry he's called home for over 25 years. 

Growing up in a family of competitive bodybuilders and personal trainers; his father, late stepmother, and older sister all competed, and coached – fitness was in his blood. Hayden further progressed his journey after an injury during his last bodybuilding competition. A hamstring and calf tear, caused by a muscle imbalance, forced him to coach himself through recovery. That recovery became an education. That education became a passion for biomechanics and corrective exercise. And that passion became a calling: helping people eradicate long-term pain and build strength that translates into performing better at everything in life. 

The dream for Club Forma was born during his time in Abu Dhabi, where we worked to help elevate the standard for fitness qualifications across the Gulf Region. There, with the growing number of clients who trusted him with their health and goals, we began to imagine: a beautiful, client-focused space where professional service, expert guidance, and genuine care could come together. A place for busy professionals and business owners to get strong, fit, and healthy, not just for the gym, but for everything they wanted to do in life. 

From Vision to Reality 

With Sahar’s background in architecture and creative thinking, she has always been someone who brings visions to reality. As the vision progressed, we imagined how careful attention to details can bring a sense of understated luxury to elevate our client’s experience. We saw a space that could make people feel both challenged and held, a place where aesthetics and practicality could work together to support a core philosophy: that mastering your body sharpens your mind and drives you to excel in all areas of life. 

Together, we spent the years in COVID lockdown period accumulating the pieces – financial, conceptual, and emotional. We designed and fitted out that 1950s brick building with every detail considered, working within our budget and timeframe to create something that felt right. In 2021, we opened the doors. 

Watching It Grow into Its Own Person 

Three years on, Club Forma has become something more than we built. It's developing its own personality, its own rhythm, and spirit. Our trainers have shaped the culture. Our clients have brought their commitment and energy into these walls. 

We've nurtured it carefully through its early years, the way you nurture anything young and vulnerable. We've been hands-on, protective, and attentive. But now that the roots have strength, and the foundation is solid, we can feel it: Club Forma is ready for the next phase. 

Opening the Doors Wider 

As we step into this new era, Club Forma is ready for something exciting: to grow with our vision as well as the evolving needs and spirit of the people who make it alive. 

Now, with established roots beneath us, we have the stability to be even more responsive, even more attuned to the community that trusts us with their health. The roots we talk about? They're real. They're our team of dedicated trainers - professionals who've chosen to grow with us and who bring years of expertise to every session. They're the steady community of clients who trust us month after month, year after year, with their health and performance. This foundation - this team, this community - gives us the stability to be even more responsive to what you need. 

We've always believed that the best service comes from listening. From understanding what our clients need today and anticipating what they'll need tomorrow as their lives change and grow. And we do this through the people who know you best: our trainers. They're the ones in the room with you, who understand your goals, your challenges, and your progress. They care deeply about this work; they know how to listen, and they love being part of your journey. As interconnected collective, we stay connected to what matters most - your experience, your feedback, your evolving needs. 

We want Club Forma to breathe and evolve with you - by doing what we've always done: paying attention through our trainers, staying nimble, and adapting our approach to serve you better. You come to us to be looked after, and that will never change. What changes is our capacity to do it even more thoughtfully. 

Why We're Telling You This 

We wanted you to know where we came from and what has driven us. 

We wanted you to understand what we're building: a thriving community of health-conscious people who can rely on us - and on the trainers who show up for you every day - to create the conditions for strong, dependable bodies, sharp minds, and lives performed at their highest level. 

And we wanted you to know that this next chapter is about deepening that commitment. About having the team, the stability, and the maturity to listen more closely through the trainers who know you, respond more quickly, and create an environment that evolves with your needs - all while you focus on what matters: showing up, doing the work, and living your life. 

Club Forma started as Hayden's dream; Sahar helped bring it to life. But now, it's becoming its own living entity - nourished by our love, care, and know-how, strengthened by our trainers' expertise and dedication, and shaped by staying attentive to you as you grow and change. 

Welcome to the next era of Club Forma. We're here to look after you - and we're more ready than ever. 

FAQ Section:

Q: What makes Club Forma different from other Richmond gyms? A: Club Forma is a boutique personal training studio housed in a beautifully renovated 1950s brick building. We specialise in one-to-one and two-to-one training with qualified exercise scientists, focusing on biomechanics and corrective exercise rather than generic fitness programs.

Q: How long has Club Forma been operating in Richmond? A: We opened our doors in 2021 after years of planning and design. Our founder Hayden brings over 25 years of fitness industry experience, including establishing Australia's first fitness qualifications program in Abu Dhabi.

Q: What type of clients do you work with at your Richmond studio? A: We primarily serve busy professionals and business owners who want expert guidance for lasting results. Our clients value quality over quantity and appreciate our personalised approach to health and fitness.

Q: Do your trainers have specific qualifications? A: Yes, our trainers are exercise scientists with Bachelor of Sports Science degrees and specialised certifications in areas like biomechanics, corrective exercise, and Precision Nutrition coaching.