Working out- Eating out – Three gyms in the Nimmanhaemin area

Nimmanhaemin Road might have become Chiang Mai’s most popular hub, for the reason mainly that it has so many good restaurants and loads of places to throw beer and wine down your neck. It’s become a thing of fashion lately to work out and then go out, you can eat and drink all night feeling your not packing on the fat. Here are three places on or next to Nimmanhaemin Road that make for a good warm up before you enjoy the night.

There are several places in the area where you can drop the excess weight and get reunited with your long lost six pack – or discover those muscles for the first time.

The first stop on our ‘tour de workout’ was Powerhouse Gym, located in Prasertland, Nimmanhaemin Road, just opposite Panna Condo. It’s a spacious spot with two storeys, stylishly decorated and painted in bright white and pastel blue colours. A big plus is the lavish sitting lounge, where you can kick back and gaze at your fellow sweat-pursuers. Other great features: a snack bar offering protein shakes and other tasty, nutritious titbits, English speaking staff and superbly designed locker rooms. This gym is suited for the serious athlete as well as the guys and girls who just want to go for a quick run, enjoy the atmosphere and socialise. Additional info:

Prices: 2,500 baht for 10 visits. 13,500 baht for an annual membership. 400 baht a day.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun 1 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Free weights: an adequate amount of bars and plates for you readers, who strive for a Vin Diesel- physique. Heaviest dumbbells = 75 lbs.

Machines: loads of machines for working all body parts – several exercise bikes, treadmills and cross trainers for cardio.
Group exercise classes: aerobics, body combat, yoga, Latin burning and much more

Air-con: o
Sauna: o
Instructors: o

Our next destination on the odyssey of voluntary physical labour was Hillside Fitness Centrein the Hillside Plaza & Condotel 4, 4th floor, Huay Kaew Road. This gym offers great value for your money. It is much less posh than Powerhouse Gym, but the facilities make it worth the visit. Some nice features are a ping-pong table and large pool. A small drawback is the showers with cold water only. This is the place to go, if you’re more focused on a solid full-body workout than on surroundings. Facts and figures:

Prices: 100 baht for a single-day workout 1,500 baht for a month’s membership. 10,000 baht for an annual membership. 50 baht for pool only.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat + Sun 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Free weights: plenty of bars and plates for the hardcore lifters. They have dumbbells up to 88 lbs.

Machines: a massive selection of machines for strength, muscle mass and tone development – several exercise bikes, many treadmills and some cross trainers.
Group-exercise classes: aerobics, yoga and many other types are available.

Air-con: o
Sauna: o
Instructors: o

Kantary Hills Fitness Centre, located in the very stylish hotel on Nimmanhemin Road, is a small gym, but it has a great vibe – very mellow. The décor is cool and somewhat unusual for a workout studio – a lot of dark wood and brownish colours. You should choose this gym if you are looking for a high service level and spend a lot of your exercise in the pool, which is amazing and has a ‘Miami Keys’ touch to it. The gym might be crowded at times, but their ‘Space Odyssey 2001’ – like steam baths and the option to recover in the outdoor Jacuzzi makes up for it.

Prices: 6,000 baht for a three month membership. 20,000 baht for an annual membership. You can’t join for a day/month only.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun 1 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Free weights: a sufficient amount of bars and plates. Heaviest dumbbells = 75 lbs.

Machines: a limited, but sufficient amount of machines for working all body parts _ some exercise bikes and treadmills for cardio.
Group-exercise classes: none available.

Air-con: o
Sauna: o
Instructors: o