Gyms for people who hate gyms

Let’s face it, some of us actually want to get fit but for various reasons are intimidated by the prospect of gyms. Some are put off by the physically perfect specimens, the size of the gyms, the volume of people present, the size of the contracts placed under our noses by the sales staff and the overall pressure to succeed. With this in mind, we’ve scoured the city for gyms that won’t intimidate you, ones which offer something a little different and more personal – no chain gyms here! Now we can’t promise there won’t be physically perfect specimens (of both sexes for you to ogle at) but the flavour of these gyms is vastly different to your fancy steel-and-glass venues. From mixed martial arts and Muay Thai to stripping down to the bare basics, we’ve got you covered…

Impakt MMA Studio
Impakt is renowned for training several of Hong Kong and Asia’s best known amateur and professional fighters. The gym’s focus is on mixed martial arts and Muay Thai, although it also offers more traditional forms of martial arts such as kyokushin karate. If you’ve lost your inner Bruce Lee then come here for a variety of bootcamp sessions or hook up an appointment with a personal trainer to meet your needs.

Type: Walk-in gym, mixed martial arts, personal training.
Location: 2/F, Wing’s Bldg, 110-116 Queen’s Rd Central, Central.
Price: Drop-in: $200, membership: $1,000 per month up; personal training: $300 per hour up.
Phone: 2167 7218
Website: www.impakt.hk

JAB MMA
JAB has a reputation for being the place to go for grappling and wrestling. With an entire floor dedicated to mats, boxing bags and a combat ring, this gym is serious about its training. Spread out over two floors, JAB provides more than just mixed martial
arts training, with several programmes on offer, including various strength-and-conditioning schedules.

Type: Walk-in gym, mixed martial arts, personal training.
Location: 5/F, Kimley Commercial Bldg, 142-146 Queen’s Rd Central, Central.
Price: Drop-in: $200, membership: $1,000 per month up; personal training - $750 per hour up.
Phone: 2851 6684
Website: www.jabmma.com

Fitness Compass
This outlet can best be described as homely, with a twist. Spacious yet compact, Compass shuns overuse of equipment and focuses primarily on movement in all forms, as much as correcting posture and balance imperfections (their speciality) and alternative forms of getting fit. The gym is small, but this also means you’re more likely to have it all to yourself (and your trainer). Or why not book an appointment with your significant other and get into shape together? Make sure to check out their cool power-plate machine, a safer alternative to heavy lifting. It also doubles up as a massager.

Type: Personal training only.
Location: 3/F, Waga Commercial Centre, 99 Wellington Street, Central.
Price: Personal training: $700 per hour up.
Phone: 2882 2849
Website: www.fitnesscompass.com.hk

Fitness on the cheap!

Not all of us have the resources to plonk down two years’ worth of contract fees up front. And not all of us want to spend a sizeable portion of our income on monthly payments to fight our flab. Of course, some may just be using the price excuse to avoid going to the gym (we know who you are!). However, there are cheaper options out there. If you’re as serious as we are about whipping yourself into shape in 2012, then ‘I can’t afford the fees’ is just a wimp’s excuse. Get your workout done here instead…

LCSD Fitness Rooms
Boring name, but this is more a word-of-mouth facility than your super-popular gym. It’s not quite as fancy or as posh as the private candidates but the LCSD facilities still provide the basics – everything you really need to shed that extra weight and/or to tone up those muscles. Much like its other public facilities, LCSD’s fitness centres are fairly well maintained, easy to access and, most importantly, cheap. All you have to do is sign up for a fitness training course (or an equivalent qualification) to gain the required certification and you’re in. With fitness centres in nearly every district, there’s no excuse. You’re not likely to find the most newfangled exercise machine in town – and you’re probably going to have to wait your turn – but for that price can we really complain?

Type: Walk-in gym.
Location: Check website for more details.
Price: $180 per month.
Phone: 2414 5555
Website: www.lcsd.gov.hk

LCSD Parks
Hong Kong is a city where money rules but there’s certainly no shame in using what’s available for free. Yep, that means public services again. They’ve given us quite a bit to work with here. In addition to the fitness rooms, the LCSD’s urban parks are scattered all over Hong Kong. While generally good for a stroll, they also offer added benefits – many, such as Quarry Bay Park, come with jogging tracks and gymnastics bars of various shapes and sizes. If you really fancy it and don’t think you’re embarrassing yourself, then have a go at the monkey-bars in the kids’ playground. A few pull-ups and push-ups, a few tricep dips and a jog – and you’ve paid absolutely zilch for a cardio workout! Fancy a longer jog? Head along to Happy Valley Racecourse by the football pitches and time yourself against the horses. Well, we can but dream of winning...

Type: Open parks.
Location: Check website for more details.
Price: Free.
Phone: 2414 5555
Website: www.lcsd.gov.hk

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