You'd be hard pressed to find someone without a gym membership or who isn't subscribed to some sort of fitness regime in Singapore these days. But for all those who have not yet jumped onboard the gruelling bandwagon to Healthnut-dom, the newest Pure Fitness Asia Square, occupying a staggering 32,000 square feet ("by far our most well-equipped and exciting club for our members", says CEO Colin Grant), might just be enough reason to make you a convert. And we say this as faithful members of a rival gym: we're sorely tempted.
Here are five new features at the new Pure Fitness existing and new members can get their fitness on at.
Looking to embark on a healthy lifestyle? Here are some pointers on the best belly-bloating foods to avoid, healthy snacks that actually aren't, and fibre-rich food that help you lose weight.
1. 30-minute group fitness sessions
Perfect for those who can only seem to squeeze in a bit of exercise during lunch hour, the new mid-day Express Classes (featuring ViPR, Pilates, BodyAttack, Disco Aerobics and TRX) are designed to provide a high-intensity workout, in all of half an hour. That leaves you too little time to be tempted to grab an unhealthy nasi lemak lunch.
2. Outdoor fitness classes
For those who are not keen on the monotony of exercising indoors, the Outdoor Running Club and Outdoor Boot Camp gets you motivated with other like-minded enthusiasts. The former gets your heart rate up along the scenic Marina Bay area, while the latter includes a mixture of circuit training, group challenges and fitness games.
3. Aerial Arts classes
Available in Aerial Hoop and Aerial Silk, these exotic-sounding sessions basically take their inspiration from the circus, and will have participants suspended in mid-air and perform graceful shapes and movements. The best part? It packs a punch in benefits, strengthening your core muscles and gluts whilst improving balance, coordination and overall flexibility. You wouldn't be ready to join the Cirque du Soleil, but you'd at least get a nice toned core out of it.
4. Dedicated innovative fitness features and spaces
Alongside the classes, the Pure Fitness Asia Square also comes with a dedicated area with Bulgarian bags, ViPR, kettlebells and TRX for functional training, a 4x35 indoor running track for endurance training, as well as an endless swimming pool for triatheles and those looking for a cardio workout.
5. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Zone
MMA gym memberships are often much more expensive than your typical ones, and while the new dedicated MMA Zone at Pure Fitness Asia Square might not be able to replicate the actual MMA gyms in Singapore, it's well-equipped enough, with a Competition Octagon for sparring, and top-notch instruction from specially certified trainers in Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing and MMA.
Another gym to check out: Celebrity Fitness, which recently opened their second outlet at Downtown East.
Pure Fitness Asia Square, Level 6, Asia Square Tower 1, 8 Marina View. For more information on membership rates and facilities, please call +65 6100 2233 or visit www.pure-fitness.com/asiasquare.