Embracing a holistic approach to fitness by prioritising community and experience, Ben’s Gym in Marina Botafoch is unique on the island.

The saying ‘there’s no better time than right now’ (along with its slightly more colloquial cousin ‘YOLO’) is used often in Ibiza and for Ben Hartmann – owner and founder of the boutique, state-of-the-art Ben’s Gym and its health-inspired sister concept, Ben’s Bio Market in Marina Botafoch – this couldn’t be a more appropriate mantra. His entrepreneurial journey – from his homeland of Ibiza to cities around the world and back again – has often required him make firm, fast decisions and today, he operates his ever-growing wellness empire with the same positive attitude.

His initial inspiration was simple: to create the type of boutique gym that exists in cosmopolitan cities here in Ibiza. One with premium equipment, an impeccable sound system (and soundtracks worthy of the island’s discerning music lovers), that was easy to access, open seven days a week, and had an inclusive, community feeling – a space that was both pleasurable and inspiring to visit on a daily basis. Having previously worked in property development (both internationally and in Ibiza), Ben had the experience and the trusted teams to be able to bring his vision for Ben’s Gym to life – but before we get into that, let’s rewind a little for a deeper insight into his lifelong passion for health, wellness and fitness.

There are few people who can count their parents as dedicated training buddies, but Ben’s father (Ben senior) has been a constant presence on his personal fitness journey. When Ben was a youngster – attending Morna International College in Ibiza – his dad would pick him up from school, and the duo would head to the family-owned gym, called – you guessed it – Ben’s Gym in Playa d’en Bossa. The first-of-its-kind bodybuilding gym, housed within the shiny new-at-the-time Jet Apartments, was opened by Ben senior (who was a competitive bodybuilder) in 1988, when the trend first leapt into the world’s consciousness courtesy of stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As soon as Ben was old enough, training became part of his life. “It’s something my dad and I have always done together,” he says. “We still do. My mum and dad are in the [new] gym every day – everyone knows them.” Pillars of the Ibiza community, Ben’s parents’ story is like something out of an Ibiza fairytale. The couple (mum is from Scotland and dad hails from the Netherlands) serendipitously met on a blind date in the early 1980s, on both their first trips to the island, and from that moment on they were inseparable. His dad became a bouncer at Pacha, where his mum was a dancer, and the rest – including the opening of the first Ben’s Gym – is history, as they settled in Ibiza, where Ben was subsequently born and raised.

Like many children who grow up on the white isle, Ben was keen to get a taste of international life as soon and on graduation, headed across the pond to study at the European Business School in London, before embarking on a successful career in international property development. Living back in Ibiza during the pandemic of 2020, Ben found himself without anywhere to train once restrictions hit, and with no place to work out, he invested in a collection of top-of-the-range equipment for himself, shipped all the way from the USA, but when it finally arrived (many months later), there simply wasn’t enough space for it at home.

A shared warehouse space in San José provided the perfect solution, but just one week later, Ben received a fateful, emergency call at 6am. “The entire warehouse was on fire,” he recalls. “We received videos of the entire place up in flames – it was shocking.” Miraculously, the gym equipment was the only thing within the warehouse to survive the fire and Ben was given 24 hours to remove it all from the embers and get it into a new space. “Logistically, it was crazy,” he says. “We had about 15 guys, multiple trucks, and had to get it out of there as fast as possible.” It was at this point the kernel of an idea to open his own modernised version of Ben’s Gym began to form.

“I wasn’t actively seeking a professional space to accommodate it all,” Ben explains. “But at the same time, the opportunity to take this location in Marina Botafoch came up. I just thought, why not open it up commercially and bring back the [long since closed] brand?” Fate was at work, and within just three short months, Ben’s Gym opened to the public, offering islanders and visitors a sleek, design-led space in which to exercise, but also acting as a backdrop for so much more. “You can have a great workout at any gym,” Ben says, humbly. “I wanted to enhance all the elements around that – make it aesthetically pleasing, invest in an incredible sound system and have supportive service – so that working out every day was enjoyable.”

Today, Ben’s Gym – and its neighbouring space, Ben’s Studio, where classes and cardio take place – redefines the traditional gym experience in Ibiza by putting community and experience first. Hammer Strength and Life Fitness equipment juxtaposes the caramel-coloured walls, blond wood detailing, and statement ceiling fixtures. The sound system is super high-spec, installed by Pacha’s expert sound engineers, with crystal clear pitch and playlists curated to perfection by the many DJs who are now gym members. Exclusive masterclasses in nutrition, sleep and more are hosted by experts in the field, and studio classes (with a maximum capacity of 14) range from high intensity cross training to relaxed yin yoga, and everything in between.

“Seeing people improve and get stronger and healthier is what’s really important to me,” says Ben, whose passion for holistic fitness is woven into the Ben’s Gym DNA. “When you see results in the gym, you see them in all aspects of your life. We want to help educate people on their fitness journeys – it’s such an opportunity for growth. And not just in terms of muscle.” Ibiza’s legion of fitness devotees have responded in kind to this approach, with members travelling from all across the island to work out in the intimate but swanky surrounds. Many cite the opportunity to network with like-minded folks as another of the gym’s perks, which in turn improves their motivation. “The gym has become a sanctuary for members,” Ben says. “This helps with mindset and encourages people be consistent. That’s when they see the best results.”

Always keen to offer his members help on their personal road to wellness, Ben jumped at the chance to complement the Ben’s Gym offering when he was unexpectedly presented the chance to transform another locale, just around the corner. Ben’s Bio Market – an organic convenience store showcasing the incredible organic produce grown and made in Ibiza and beyond – was launched in the early months of 2023. It was a no-brainer really – opening an organic grocery store, open seven days a week (including during siesta), with plenty of parking in the Marina area meant the space filled a gap in the market, not just for gym members (who receive a discount as a perk), but also for health-conscious island residents and tourists.

“Seeing people improve and get stronger and healthier is what’s really important to me,” says Ben, whose passion for holistic fitness is woven into the Ben’s Gym DNA. “When you see results in the gym, you see them in all aspects of your life. We want to help educate people on their fitness journeys – it’s such an opportunity for growth. And not just in terms of muscle.” Ibiza’s legion of fitness devotees have responded in kind to this approach, with members travelling from all across the island to work out in the intimate but swanky surrounds. Many cite the opportunity to network with like-minded folks as another of the gym’s perks, which in turn improves their motivation. “The gym has become a sanctuary for members,” Ben says. “This helps with mindset and encourages people be consistent. That’s when they see the best results.”

Always keen to offer his members help on their personal road to wellness, Ben jumped at the chance to complement the Ben’s Gym offering when he was unexpectedly presented the chance to transform another locale, just around the corner. Ben’s Bio Market – an organic convenience store showcasing the incredible organic produce grown and made in Ibiza and beyond – was launched in the early months of 2023. It was a no-brainer really – opening an organic grocery store, open seven days a week (including during siesta), with plenty of parking in the Marina area meant the space filled a gap in the market, not just for gym members (who receive a discount as a perk), but also for health-conscious island residents and tourists.

“Seeing people improve and get stronger and healthier is what’s really important to me,” says Ben, whose passion for holistic fitness is woven into the Ben’s Gym DNA. “When you see results in the gym, you see them in all aspects of your life. We want to help educate people on their fitness journeys – it’s such an opportunity for growth. And not just in terms of muscle.” Ibiza’s legion of fitness devotees have responded in kind to this approach, with members travelling from all across the island to work out in the intimate but swanky surrounds. Many cite the opportunity to network with like-minded folks as another of the gym’s perks, which in turn improves their motivation. “The gym has become a sanctuary for members,” Ben says. “This helps with mindset and encourages people be consistent. That’s when they see the best results.”

On a mission to prove that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring, everything on the shelves at Ben’s Bio Market is carefully selected for its quality, and can be picked up post-workout, on the go, or delivered straight to your door by local runners, Alfred Ibiza. For Ben, it’s simply another way to encourage Ben’s Gym members to keep building on the incredible work they’ve already put in this year, even during the testing summer months. In a full circle moment, Ben and his dad love seeing parents bonding with their kids as they work out together, carrying on the tradition. “I love seeing people of all ages take the initiative,” Ben says. “It’s been so rewarding to create something that’s so beneficial and watching members keep up their great work. We also love welcoming new people too – there’s no better time to start than now!”