Top Fitness Centers and Free Trials
If you can’t commit to a workout, just cruise Hong Kong’s many fitness centers and load up on free trials galore.
Punch ‘Em Up
Martial arts aficionados can check out Epic MMA Club (1/F, Aon China Building, 29 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2525-2833, www.epicmma.com) or Impakt Academy of Mixed Martial Arts (2/F, Wing’s Building, 110-116 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2167-7218, www.impakt.hk)—both studios offer a one-off trial of any of their classes, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, Capoeira and Karate. Book online or on the phone at Epic, or arrange a trial and tour by calling up Impakt.
Go Gym-Hopping
Most well-known gyms around the city offer free trials, so we reckon that you could easily work out every day for at least three weeks without spending a penny: Fitness First (www.fitnessfirst.com.hk) currently offers a free three-day trial upon registration at its website; Physical (www.physical.com.hk), on the other hand, offers a free one-day trial that can be booked on the phone; Phillip Wain (www.phillip-wain.com) also offers a free one-day trial that you can sign up for online; Pure Fitness (www.pure-fitness.com) offers a one-session trial, or a seven-day trial if you’re referred to the gym; finally, California Fitness (www.californiafitness.com) offers a one-week trial. For those who prefer one-on-one training, Fitness Compass (3/F, Waga Commercial Centre, 99 Wellington St., Central, 2882-2842, www.fitnesscompass.com.hk) offers a free personal training session either at their Central studio or at a suitable location of your choice; finally, check Seasons Fitness's promo page (www.seasonsfitness.com) for rotating freebies.
Take a Spin
The city’s first independent spinning studio, the newly-opened Torq offers two free sessions to all newcomers. After that, it’s $250 for an hour-long session, although when you buy packages from five to 20 rides (to be used over a set period), this gets progressively cheaper. The studio offers two types of classes: Torq de HK, a more traditional spinning class; and Torq Body, a full-body workout which incorporates light weights as well as boxing and Muay Thai elements. Each of its 28 bikes comes with a console that displays your data, which is then streamed to a big screen at the front of the class so you can see how you’re doing compared to the rest of the group.
26/F, Li Dong Building, 9 Li Yuen St. East, Central, 2677-8623, www.torqcycle.com.
Get Zen
If gyms and high-intensity workouts aren’t really your thing, sign up for a yoga or dance class instead. Myoga currently offers a free trial class upon registration online, and you can pick amongst offerings from yoga of various disciplines to jazz, BodyJam and Pilates.
Shop B101, Basement, Grand Plaza, 625 & 639 Nathan Rd., Mong Kok, 2390-7788, www.myogaonline.com.