HIIT me with your best shot! Why I’m addicted to working out at F45 Training Sai Ying Pun

Barre, pilates, yoga, boxing, dance and the gym. There are so many choices when it comes to fitness in Hong Kong, but if you're looking for somewhere where fitness and fun combine, then read on

Hong Kong is going through a kind of wellness renaissance at the moment, with yoga studios, alternative healing centres and vegetarian restaurants popping up across the city. Of course, a large part of living well is regular exercise, and recently, I went to try out the newly-opened F45 Training Sai Ying Pun, a wonderful fitness studio dedicated to building both champions and community through a blend of functional exercises and cardio training. Find out what went on behind the sweat.

Why I wanted to try F45 Training Sai Ying Pun

 

Having been a competitive rower in a past life, high intensity interval training, or HIIT as it’s better known, has been a part of my life for many years. But, after fracturing my ankle in two places last year, I had been out of the regular fitness game for a while and was eager to get back in. Enter F45 Training Sai Ying Pun, a training centre owned by a group of fitness instructors from Australia and South Africa.

What are the vibes like?

What I love about F45 Training Sai Ying Pun (apart from the ridiculously close proximity to both my home and office) is the welcoming atmosphere at each session. No matter if people have been working out for years, or are showing up for their first session, there’s this real community spirit, and everyone has a friendly chat before the class begins, so there are none of those pretentious or cliquey vibes that sometimes exist at fitness studios.

During the first part of each class, the trainers show you exactly how to use each station before a quick warm-up gets you ready for 45 minutes of high intensity training – #sweatsesh. Screens across the studio play videos of the different exercises to be completed, so you never have to worry losing your way or being unsure. Every single day sees a different workout taking place, and it’s kind of cool to know that every F45 facility across the globe–from New York to New Zealand–completes the same set daily. 

Weekday classes rotate between cardio and resistance, with a range of equipment thrown in to keep things interesting (think stationary bikes, kettlebells, ladders and medicine balls.) Generally, you only stay on each station for around 45 seconds to a minute before having a short rest, which is what makes training at F45 so addictive. While you work bloody hard when you are on–the trainers will make sure of that!–you get to have a short break before moving on to the next exercise, making it perfect for people of any athletic ability.

But the guys at F45 Training Sai Ying Pun make each class fun too with a mixture of banging tunes and positive reinforcement as you bust out your burpees and crank out your chin ups. I think it’s great that there’s always multiple trainers in each class, meaning you feel like your getting a more personalised experience. They’ll also make adjustments for injuries, like my gammy ankle, and things too, which is super important.

And what about those results?

After just a week at F45 Training Sai Ying Pun I could see the muscles coming back in my arms, and I could definitely feel the muscles coming back in my legs and glutes! I know that this is a journey, but I’m excited to continue and to see just how quickly my fitness and strength comes back. There aren’t that many training systems that can keep your motivation up thanks to fun and engaging exercises, but I feel like F45 Training Sai Ying Pun manages to do not only this, but the team also manages to inject their friendly vibes into the space too, meaning it’s the perfect spot for everybody to begin or continue a fitness journey.

Don’t miss out on your free 7-day trial, available through the F45 Sai Ying Pun website.

F45 Sai Ying Pun, Unit 1A, Bupa Centre, 141 Connaught Road Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, p. 6755 1636, 西環干諾道西141號保柏中心1A號鋪

This article is sponsored by F45 Training Sai Ying Pun

Looking for other cool things to do in Sai Ying Pun? Be sure to try BlackSalt for some of the tastiest food in town, take it easy and sip tea at Plantation or enjoy these Sai Ying Pun lunch spots.