To keep up in this town, you need to keep fit! Make a start or kick your existing routine up a notch at one of these awesome gyms and studios in Hong Kong. Whether you’re looking for group fitness classes or personal training, we’ve got you covered!
ISO Fit
Welcoming fitness fans since 1998, Iso Fit offers a wide array of Pilates and Gyrotonic sessions to suit all budgets, goals, experience levels and scheduling requirements. It’s a fully equipped, one-of-a-kind studio that’s designed to accommodate all these different needs.
According to the Iso Fit team, their approach “aims to preserve the essence and principles of the Pilates and Gyrotonic methods.” The formula of having these two unique exercise methods as a focus, combined with the studio’s contemporary style of teaching and environment, has proven extremely successful.
An added feather in the cap for Iso Fit is that it’s one of only a handful of Pilates and Gyrotonic Master Trainer Centres worldwide. Quality instruction is obviously a major focus here, and the trainers are some of the most experienced you’ll find in Hong Kong. They help to create the environment of positive energy that you can feel at the studio too. (There are regular training courses throughout the year, if you’re interested!)
What is Gyrotonic? You may be familiar with Pilates, but if you’ve not experienced Gyrotonic, it’s an exercise system that combines ingeniously designed equipment with the key principles of gymnastics, swimming, yoga and dance. Major muscle groups are worked interdependently and in an integrated manner.
802-805, 8/F, Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central
2869 8630 | isofit.com.hk
O:RIN
O:RIN is a fully equipped Pilates and Gyrotonic studio located in the East side of Hong Kong. Classes at the studio involve physiotherapy, one-on-one training and small group sessions that are capped at a maximum of six students for closer individual attention.
The aim at O:RIN is to provide clients with the essential beyond each movement, with a focus on body alignment and posture correction through its range of classes.
From the architecture of the studio space to the expertise of the trainers, everything is directed at providing a grounding interlude of personal space, growth and beauty. Everyone is welcome, too, regardless of background and physical capability.
The name O:RIN is a play on the word “original”; the philosophy is one of gently coaxing the body and mind back to their original state of equilibrium after class. The studio says that its goal is for every client to leave the space not only with improved and nurtured physical abilities but also a refreshed and rested state of mind.
Unit 1906, Westlands Centre, 20 Westlands Road, Quarry Bay
5726 1669 | orin.com.hk
O’Pine Studio
This intimate and inclusive wellness studio in the heart of Sai Ying Pun offers Yoga, Aerial Art, Fitness, Dance and Meditation classes for all levels. Founders Cheryl and Grace say, “We love our community and believe that we are all on the same journey, although we might come at it from different paths. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, O’Pine Studio will support and nurture you along your journey.”
If you’re keen for your kids to get involved too, O’Pine also offers a range of children’s classes in a happy, no-fuss environment. Musical Theatre, for example, will help unlock their confidence and potential, and the IDTA Latin Dance Course is specially designed to make Latin dance more relatable to young ones.
What is Aerial Art? Cheryl is a qualified Aerial Hammock Instructor, with intensive teacher training experience in both HK and Bali. The hammocks used are made of a soft fabric and allow for an antigravity workout for strength, flexibility and more.
Shop 2, 88 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun
7075 8819 | opinestudio.com @opinestudiohk
ATP Personal Training
In the words of ATP, “Everyone has the ability to transform themselves to lead a healthier and happier life.” But it requires a collaborative approach to ensure that the transformation is sustainable. And that’s the key to ATP’s personal training programmes. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you’ve tried (and failed) before; and it’s doesn’t matter how fit you are when you walk in their door. All that matters is that you’re ready to get started now.
Efficiency is the name of the game here. Why waste months or even years trying out different methods to see what works? Just as in so many other things in life, you can really benefit from the experience, knowledge and qualifications of a specialist. ATP’s trainers will work with you to understand your history, your current circumstances and your future aspirations; they’ll then set clear and realistic goals based on those factors, and help build habits and routines that support proper nutrition and activity – for the long term.
6/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, Central
2866 8808 | atp.fitness
UP Fitness
Since opening its first gym in Hong Kong in 2009, the mantra of Ultimate Performance (UP) has always been: “results, not promises”. It wants every client to achieve maximum results in minimum time, and get real returns on their investment!
The UP team eats, sleeps and breathes health and fitness; in the line-up of trainers, you’ll find world-class athletes and highly qualified academics. They’re constantly striving for perfection in everything they do, too. These aren’t just “gym babysitters” who are there merely to count reps. “Our priority isn’t to be your friend,” says the team; “We’re there to be your trusted advisor, to keep you accountable, and to help you achieve the life-changing results you want.”
As far as UP is concerned, anyone can jump-start a positive change in their life and improve their body. And they’ll be on hand to ensure that each and every person who enters the studio leaves feeling healthier, happier and more confident.3/F, Unicorn Trade Centre, 127-131 Des Voeux Road Central
2798 9000 | upfitness.com.hk
PURE Fitness
The mission statement of PURE is to “inspire and help people to lead healthier, happier lives.” We’ll have some of that, thank you! With locations in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore, PURE’s team of certified trainers and instructors lead more than 50 types of group fitness classes weekly – everything from Les Mills programmes, to Immersive Cycling, Pilates, TRX Suspension Trainer and Rip Trainer classes, Barre, Self-Myofascial Release, various dance classes and more.
Specialty facilities at PURE locations include dedicated boxing and kickboxing spaces, power lifting platforms, athletic turf, movement zones, Life Fitness and Technogym equipment, along with advanced training tools include Kettlebells, Bulgarian Bags, Pilates Reformer, TRX and Medicine Balls.
Plus, along with live classes, there’s a huge range of virtual fitness classes for extra convenience and flexibility.
Multiple locations in Hong Kong
pure-fitness.com
Flex Studio
Flex is a premium, boutique fitness studio and a Teacher Training centre for Classical Pilates in Hong Kong. At branches in Southside and Central, it caters to the needs of individuals across all fitness levels through a highly flexible and personalised range of small group classes, workshops, retreats, corporate packages and instructor training.
You can choose from our selection of Pilates, Yoga, and Xtend Barre sessions to create the perfect programme. The other good news is that, unlike at a number of HK studios, you don’t need to be a locked into a membership or a long contract. There’s plenty of flexibility to help you kick-start your wellness journey the way you want.
The team says: “Mind and movement lie at the heart of what Flex is about. We focus on both physical and mental well-being across all of our services.”
• 308-310, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen
2813 2212 | flexhk.com
• 3/F, Man Cheung Building, 15-17 Wyndham Street, Central
2813 2399 | flexhk.com
Hybrid MMA
Did you know that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is among the fastest growing sports in the world? At Hybrid, you’ll find some of the highest division coaches in Hong Kong. They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BBJ), Muay Thai, Boxing and Wrestling, as well as a specialised MMA class that combines all styles. You can also sign up for one-on-one private sessions for those who are keen for a more personal approach to fitness training. Or, try the fast track ‘Fight Camp’ programme, which is designed to accelerate things through 12 weeks of intense training.
As the name implies, there’s another side to training here in the form of more conventional one-on-one personal training sessions and group fitness classes. The former are tailored to suit your personal goals, whether those are health-related, for personal fitness or muscle building, or performance-based. Meanwhile, the group classes integrate the same high-level quality and intensity of private sessions into condensed 45-to-60-minute sessions. There are strength, conditioning and cardio-based classes, plus athletic performance via a custom-designed ‘Hybrid Athlete’ programme, as well as body sculpting and body fat burning fitness classes.
13/F, Entertainment Building, 30 Queens Road, Central
3468 7702 | hyrbridmmafit.com
Joint Dynamics
Joint Dynamics is Hong Kong’s first multidisciplinary studio to combine physiotherapy, massage therapy and personal training. It provides an individualised approach to the prevention and treatment of movement dysfunction and injury. Whatever your physio and fitness needs, those needs can be met at Joint Dynamics, thanks to a team whose areas of specialty run the gamut from physiotherapy to personal training, chiropractics, sports massage, small group training and more. There are also specialists in run coaching, squash coaching, swim coaching and golf training.
The key belief at Joint Dynamics is what it calls “Intelligent Movement”; this is reflected in the studio’s strong personal training and functional physio/chiro strategies. The key to successful training, according to the team, is having the body’s underlying structures move effortlessly to support whatever exercise is being performed. So, traditional strength training is coupled with mobility drills to achieve the optimum performance of exercise.
• 5/F, Asia Standard Tower, 59-65 Queens Road Central, Central
• 12/F, Dorset House. 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay
2762 0528 | jointdynamics.com.hk
Options Studio
Options offers a variety of private and group Pilates classes using state-of-the-art equipment in a clean and tidy environment. All the workouts consist of low- to no-impact, safe exercises taught by qualified instructors who guide you with step-by-step instructions.
Pilates exercises utilise key elements of resistance and supported training to strengthen, tone and elongate your muscles. They help to improve endurance and alignment and increase flexibility while restoring your body’s natural balance. Plus, no Pilates class is ever the same! Different movements are used each time to “shock” the body to promote change. Regardless of how hard you work, though, every one of these movements is rehabilitative to the body.
Instructors at Options draw exercises from classical Pilates and more modern to provide a progressive approach to classes. They use a combination of performance enhancement techniques, and functional and corrective training. Most importantly, they’re fun – you’ll come out feeling relaxed, worked out and happy.
15/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central
3188 8112 | optionspilatesstudio.com/hk
We hope you found our article on gyms and studios in Hong Kong interesting. Read more in our Health & Fitness section!
This article first appeared in the Spring 2022 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
