MangoVineAdventures in East Asia
Back in Hong Kong and straight to Physical Gym in Shatin
02 April, 2009
Thursday
After the excess (although quite healthy, since there are less additives) food of Vietnam, the day after we came back to Hong Kong, we went to check out the closest gym we could find. Turns out to be one of Physical's branches in Shatin which is three stops away from our nearest station, Tai Po Market on the MTR.

Back in 2007, we popped into a branch of California Gym (which is endorsed by Jackie Chan) over on Hong Kong Island, but that was really expensive, so our hopes for a good deal in Physical were not high.
Either Physical is lower market than California or something happened to the prices (probably both) but they were running a deal for a six month membership at $1000 per person (£90). Definitely affordable and in our budget, so we had no excuse.
I have a Hong Kong Identity Card, which is standard for most members - its needed every time you visit for them to check your membership card against. Linh doesn't have one so was asked for her passport. Its pretty inconvenient carrying that around so she was able to use her UK Driving License instead.
Compared to the gyms I've joined in the UK, there's no induction. You just have access to the weights and machines room and each membership has 15 tickets for group classes. If required, you can ask wandering members of staff for advice and how to use particular machines. Otherwise you'll have to hire a personal trainer there.

There isn't a swimming pool but there are steam rooms and saunas. With the cardiovascular and resistance machines, I have to admit I've never seen so many. They're all in a single room which stretches across a floor of the building the gym is in. The place has a total of 70,000 square foot which apparently makes it the biggest health centre in Hong Kong. Since there are only three floors you can understand how big the space is. Another floor is taken up with the beauty centre and the remaining floor houses the reception, changing rooms and a couple of group exercise rooms.

We tend to go around midday to late afternoon. Even though the place is big, it always seems to be busy, with a bit of waiting around on the resistance machines. I keep wondering whether Hong Kong people need to work.
Anyhow, I'm finding it easier to go Physical when its the one thing we can use to build a routine in Hong Kong. If I don't end up like endorser Aaron Kwok, then its because of all the cream buns Linh keeps buying me.
www.physical.com.hk
This entry posted in :
Hong Kong. Sport.