NEW DECADE, NEW YOU
The hottest fitness classes in Asia to help you shape up in 2020 and beyond
All about the fitness trends in Asia to start the new year right
Group training fitness is growing in popularity around Asia, fostering the rise of boutique gyms in the region and offering packages, memberships, and drop-in classes that attract likeminded gym-goers to torch calories together. We asked our editors, Tatler Listers and friends of the Tatler community to recommend the best fitness classes in Asia, from the newest spinning class to the most hardcore HIIT workout, so you can squeeze in a sweat sesh—whether you live in or travel to these cities.
Hong Kong HIIT at ursus
This 60-minute Hiit-style circuit class incorporates functional strongman equipment including tractor tyres, sledgehammers, log bars, and beer kegs. ursusfitness.com
Strength and conditioning at coastal Fitness
Coastal 30 is a 30-minute circuitstyle training class that incorporates bodyweight exercises and moderate loaded movements. Don’t be intimidated by the Crossfit set-up, or think that half an hour is not enough to get the most out of a workout—this class is structured with a focus on conditioning to challenge all fitness levels. coastalfitnesshk.com
Megaformer class at H-kore
If the studio’s name is anything to go by, its signature H-kore class is the best example of a hardcore workout. It takes time to get comfortable on a Megaformer machine, but once you become familiar with the exercises and longer holds, this full body workout will strengthen and tone your body unlike any other. h-kore.com
Rebounder class at Bouncelimit
If you’ve been following Hong Kong’s fitness trends, you’ll notice that Bouncelimit is all over social media, not only because of its Insta-worthy studio but also how effective the rebounder workouts are. From TRX, Tabata to Pilates, Bouncelimit’s classes are designed to make you burn calories as you jump, sprint or hold a pose for a photo. bouncelimit.com
Spinning at XYZ
Founded by Belinda Koo, XYZ is Hong Kong’s leading indoor cycling studio—a sanctuary to escape from the stresses of day-to-day life. Its chic studios offer a range of spin classes, from high intensity training to a slowpaced, candle-lit release. youarexyz.com
Boxing at The Fighters club
Not your average sweaty boxing gym, The Fighters Club is a premium boxing and Muay Thai studio that offers one-on-one lessons to ensure you get full attention from the trainer.
You may bump into Tatler Lister Antonia Li when you break a sweat here. thefightersclub.com.hk
Indonesia Metabolic conditioning class at Soul Box
A multidisciplinary studio that offers a wide range of classes, Soul Box provides a wellness solution for timeshort urbanites, making sure your fitness is in check with a mix of highintensity training and slow-paced yoga classes. soulboxjakarta.com
Poundfit at alder Jakarta
Find your beat at Poundfit, a cardio jam session at Alder Jakarta that transforms drumming into a fullbody workout. Combining cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and Pilates-inspired movements, the class uses Ripstix (lightly weighted drumsticks) to help you get your groove on while toning your body. alderjakarta.com
Singapore Mixed martial arts class at evolve MMA
Founded by Tatler Lister Chatri Sityodtong, Evolve MMA has the largest number of world champions under its roof (including Gen.t
Lister and ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee) to ensure you’re in the best hands in the business. Classes range from Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, boxing, and more for individuals—including kids— of all fitness levels. evolve-mma.com
Spinning and boxing class at crucycle and crubox
Crucycle, the first spinning studio in Singapore, was joined by boxing gym Crubox early this year following its success in Los Angeles. Drop-in classes are available at both studios, promising a 50-minute killer workout fueled by a high-energy playlist. crucycle.com
cardio at Barry’s Bootcamp
Step into the famous red room at Barry’s, where you can expect to burn an estimated 1,000 calories from the instructor-led cardio and weight training. After the workout, you will be able to use the gym’s premium amenities such as Dyson hairdryers and GHD straighteners to get ready for the
rest of the day—no wonder it’s Tatler
Friend Priya Anand’s favourite place to work out in town. barrysbootcamp. com/au/studios/raffles-palace
Boxing class at Ground Zero
With a new location in the heart of Chinatown, Ground Zero is a futuristic-looking gym decked out with neon lights and equipped with aqua punching bags for you to work up a sweat. Its signature 45-minute Rumble boxing class is interspersed with highintensity training using equipment and weights in between bag work, which will leave you aching in places you never thought could hurt before (in a good way). groundzero.sg
Pilates at como Shambhala urban escape
Holistic wellness is at the core of Como Shambhala Urban Escape. Housed in a minimalist boutique studio, it offers a wide range of classes—designed to improve posture while building strength—that are well suited for beginners to seasoned yogis. Pair your workout with an in-house massage therapy session to relieve any post-workout muscle tension. comoshambhala.com/singapore
Malaysia Spinning at aloha cycle club
Loved by socialites and royals, Aloha Cycle Club was founded by Tatler cover star Katrina Taib and offers beat-driven indoor cycling classes, including her signature 45-minute Aloha Ride. But it’s not all about strength and power, either—the Aloha Muscle Club is a series of classes that focus on muscle recovery and create better mind-body connection through mobility work and stretching. alohacycleclub.com
Yoga and Pilates at The Flow Studio
With a beautifully curated studio space that oozes zen-like ambience, The Flow is the go-to yoga studio for Tatler Listers including Yiu Lin, Jenn Low, and Dian Lee. Whether you like to practice yoga or Pilates, on the mat or the reformer, there’s a class to cater for all levels of fitness. theflowstudio.co
Strength and conditioning at The Playground Fitness
Best known as a training studio, The Playground Fitness is popular among Instagrammers like Jane Chuck and
Nana Al Haleq, who come here to get their sweat on in the HIIT small group training classes. Newly-wedded Tatler Lister Melissa Sin also did a personal training session here to get her bridal body ready. theplayground.fit
Functional training at Fuel athletics
One of the most hardcore gyms in Kuala Lumpur, Fuel Athletics will help get your sweat on with functional training that incorporates upper and lower body exercises using free weights and bodyweight. If it all sounds too intimidating, the upside is you’ll get to train with the likes of Wira Sabrena Dani, Lisa Surihani, Bernard Chandran, and other celebrities who are regulars here. fuelathletics.com.my
Philippines calisthenics at Sparta
One of the few calisthenics academies in Asia, Sparta offers two class types focusing on different training objectives. The Kalos is a Spartanstyle workout that targets muscle building and fat loss, while The Sthenos is a strength training that helps improve endurance. Never tried calisthenics? Start with the Dance
Calisthenics class to get a taste of the basic movements while moving your body with the tunes. sparta.ph
Indoor rock climbing at climb central
The biggest indoor rockclimbing venue in the Philippines, Climb Central is suitable for beginners and experienced climbers who wish to use the facility at their own pace. First-timers can opt for a group introductory class with an instructor, which includes rental of climbing equipment and covers basic climbing techniques. climbcentral.ph
Kerry Sports Manila
A number of our Tatler
Friends enjoy breaking a sweat at Kerry Sports Manila, an ultra-luxe one-stop-shop for leisure and lifestyle in Shangri-la at the Fort. As the gym operates on a membersonly basis, one can get unlimited access to its top-of-the-line facilities and group classes (yoga, spinning, aerobics), as well as use of the outdoor pool for a fee on a sixmonth or yearly basis. kerrysportsmanila.com
Bare Manila
It is dubbed “the world’s most effective workout” for good reason. Each BLACK session at BARE tackles a specific muscle group and allows you to burn up to 1,000 calories via a rapid-fire combination of sculpting strength work and highoctane interval work on a Skillrun treadmill. These classes are conducted in a dimly-lit environment, and are accompanied by energy-driven playlists customised by the instructors, who lead the sessions from a DJ booth when not on the floor themselves. bare.ph
Beijing Spinning, barre and yoga class at Space cycle
With studios in Beijing, Shanghai, and Taiwan, Space Cycle is a new take on spinning, featuring uplifting playlists specially composed by the studio’s music department and instructors. Whether you’re looking to burn calories or sculpt your body with isolated movements, their signature Space Cycle and Barre Space class will make sure you achieve results while having fun. spacecycle.cn
Taiwan Boxing class at B-monster Boxing Fitness Studio
Hailing from Japan, where it is a favourite with celebrities and influencers, B-monster is a boxing studio that combines upbeat nightclub music and dark lighting with boxing workouts. There’s no holding back here—you can punch and jab the fluorescent sandbags as hard as you want. b-monster.tw
Thailand circuit training at The LAB
A results-driven boutique gym with two central locations in Silom and Sukhumvit, The LAB has one of the best coaching teams in Bangkok, who are specialists in weightloss and strength programmes, nutrition, and rehabilitation.
Its signature group classes, LAB Stronger and Power Hour, are guaranteed to push your limits. thelabbangkok.com
Strength and conditioning at Tone Box
A newcomer in Bangkok’s fitness scene, Tone Box is a private boutique gym that champions individualised personal training, nutritional programmes and fitness metric assessments. A community of influential fitness professionals form the Tone Squad, who are the driving force behind the Tone Botty & Abs and Tone Burn group classes, which promise to help you burn calories even hours after the class. toneboxgym.com
Tokyo HIIT class at club 360
Designed by therapists and trainers,
Club 360 is a functional gym that offers classes incorporating personal training, group classes, and physical therapy using state-of-the-art equipment. Fit 360 is its flagship class that combines kettlebells, medicine balls, TRX, and bodyweight exercises to help build strength, while the Core and Cardio class involves boxing and sprints to get you in shape quick. club360.jp
Seoul Bootcamp at Fitclub
Combining strength training and Pilates, Fitclub aims to improve clients’ muscle and joint functions by mixing the two disciplines. The same applies to the bootcamp-style group training that takes place every Saturday, with two trainers per class to make sure every individual feels included and all fitness needs are met with full attention. +82 2523 5995