I’m not really a gym person but I feel obliged to work out to keep myself in some sort of shape. Ready meals, a few too many beers and a lack of outdoor team sports in the hot weather have left me around 10kg heavier than when I arrived here. Going to the gym in Thailand is actually a pretty nice experience and one of the best ways to stay in shape without being out in the sun.
Facilities
Depending on where you go the facilities of gyms vary. Some are very basic whereas others are world-class.
A big difference is that if you live in a condo, apartment or good housing village then you will probably have a gym on site. These make working out much easier than back home. Having a facility on your doorstep should make it simple to get into an exercise routine.
There are also a number of big chains such as Fitness First and Virgin Active. These are supplemented by variety of local gyms and also hotels which allow people in for a daily fee. Currently I’m a member at the Olympic Club which I really like at Paradise Park.
The major game changer here is that a number of the best gyms have huge outdoor swimming pools linked to them. Most people here avoid the pool during daylight hours as they don’t want to get sunburned. As such you could end up with an Olympic size pool all to yourself!
If you’re lucky your local fitness center may also have tennis, badminton and basketball courts available to rent.
Classes
For a lot of Thai people it seems classes are of more interest than using machines. Personally I quite enjoy some of these as they are quite motivating. These classes are usually only found in the private gyms and fitness centers though, not at condos.
These classes include the standard spinning sessions, yoga and body combat and also a few others such as flying yoga at some gyms. All centers will have a timetable you can look at to see what they offer. Some clubs offer a basic membership without the classes and also an “all-in” package which includes the gym and classes.
Most classes are in Thai although sometimes the instructors speak English and things such as numbers for countdowns are pretty easy to understand.
Prices
If the gym is in your condo then it’s probably free. If you’re in a housing village then you may end up paying a monthly fee of around 500 baht.
Gyms can cost as little as 30 baht a visit through to around 3,000 baht per month for private clubs.
Personal trainers cost around 600 baht per hour with discounts available for block booking. Many of the private fitness centers will give you a free session when you sign up. I’ve found these sessions to be nothing but a sales pitch and it’s turned out to be quite awkward afterwards with the trainers.
Gym Characters
Something which put me off the gym in London was some of the gym characters. As a newbie to the gym I always felt either embarrassed or intimidated from going to certain areas such as the weight machines. Here in Thailand I find this happening less often.
Gyms in condos tend to be quiet so you can use machines any time you want. Even in busier gyms there tends to be a wide variety of people using machines, not just those looking to bulk up.
I have Monday and Tuesday off and don’t start work until after lunch on other days sot end to go in the late morning. Therefore my gym sessions see me accompanied by mainly Thai housewives. Mostly they work out in small groups together or spend their time watching movies on their phones whilst slowly peddling on a bike machine.
In the bigger chains I’ve noticed that there is quite a communal feel when it comes to being a member. A lot of people will socialize at the gym and hang out with friends. There is usually a little cafe where people congregate and you often see university students studying together or people reading a newspaper.
Going to the Gym in Thailand
Whilst I’d prefer to be outside exercising, I have to say that gyms in Thailand are of a good standard in general and have a lot of modern facilities. Sure the prices aren’t the cheapest but they are comparable with other cities around the world. If you have a good setup at your condo then you may not even need to pay for it.
When you add in a swimming pool and perhaps a badminton court I’d say Thai gyms are a step above those I visited in London.
