If you’re thinking of a weekend away in Thailand, maybe you should check out Chiang Mai’s first all-inclusive fitness club. Whether you’re on a tight budget, prioritizing cheap gym space or fresh air, take time in Chiang Mai to workout. This beautiful little town provides some great hiking opportunities as well, and getting away from the busy city life and all the commotion gives you ample time to yourself. Chiang Mai is actually one of Thailand’s premier tourist destinations due to its amazing natural beauty, and the abundance of things to do from trekking, snorkeling and diving to simply walking around and taking in the sights. Here are some great tips for your Chiang Mai gym adventure:
First and foremost, get a good idea of what kind of classes you want to take up at the baht gym before making a booking. Some offer Thai boxing, kickboxing, aerobics and even yoga. You can choose your fitness program based on your interests, and also in your price range. A lot of fitness classes include tea ceremonies (for medicinal purposes only), so it’s best to know that up front. Other classes, such as yoga and Tai Chi, require that you arrive on your own, so it’s also important to ask up front about the availability of these classes. Some fitness clubs may include a few classes that you can take advantage of; others may charge a fee.
There are many small-scale, family-run Gyms in the town that cater to individuals who want to work on their own fitness routine. These may be some of the most inexpensive gyms in all of Thailand. However, they are often very basic, with little room for error and usually only a few training space or a handful of machines. If you do end up at one of these small scale mai teks, you will probably have limited access to any kind of equipment. Most of these tend to be run by retirees who do not have time to spend hours in the gym, but may be willing to put in a few hours a month or so.
The more expensive, larger sized gyms are usually run by a large retired couple in Chiang Mai, and they tend to include several workout rooms, a pool and a sauna. These larger gyms can house several hundred people, so you can be sure to find an instructor who is both experienced and friendly. You can expect to pay anywhere from two hundred to five hundred dollars per session. Most of the money goes into paying for the gym fees, but there are some training devices sold along with your membership that can be expensive as well.
Most of the time, the smaller fitness gyms in Chiang Mai will offer bodybuilding workouts, including weight training, cardio, and toning. A good instructor will teach you how to perform basic exercises, such as push-ups and pull-ups, as well as the more exotic moves, such as baht kata. This is a great way to learn about martial arts and achieve the fitness goals you have set for yourself, whether it is to become more self-confident or to lose some weight.
There are also some Thai boxing and wushu classes offered in many of these small gyms, although they tend to be held on weeknights. They will give you a good idea of what you can expect in a real Thai boxing gym, and you can start training immediately if you choose. Thai boxing and wushu are both pretty much the same, although bush tends to be less popular in the west because many folks do not like the punching, and some people do not like the intense sweat that comes with it. Either way, if you enjoy these exercises, then you should take a look at a Chiang Mai gym. You will have fun, feel healthier, and you will be in close proximity to so many Thai fighters and trainers, which you would probably otherwise never get to know.