Versus Performance is a gym where the ego is left at the front door. As you enter the club you are…read morewelcomed by everyone, the receptionist coaches even the professional fighters. A great family atmosphere, but don't be fooled, the training is hard. Great mat space for the Thai Boxing, Brazilian Ju Jitsu and many other classes that you will find suited to you. Hanging bags and other equipment are there to help you to develop also. I can say I felt like I was home at Versus Performance.

I went for a Tuesday night Muay Thai training class. First experience with Muay Thai followed…read moreamazing trainer Mike at Versus. Quietly located in Sheung Wan, just a few steps away from the MTR. For a weekeday group class, it can go up to 12 pax. I was lucky to have another girl of similar weight that can pair up with me. Everyone is friendly. We started with warm up then gloves on. First half an hour was a lot of puching and basic kicking moves. It exhausted just in 30 min! The last half consists of more intense kicks as well as pushing. Real fights girl. The trainer is very patient and detail-oriented to new comers like us. the advanced ones also push the atmoesphere more atheletic. Very cozy gym with great people. They have promotion for summer 2015, great deals!!

I took Megala's 7:15am Friday "Power Vinyasa" with Megala, so this is really a review of that…read moreclass, although I also have a couple of (nice) observations about the space from a visitor's perspective. It's a strong, well-taught, traditional Ashtanga "Intermediate" class with some flow at the start (Surya Namaskar A & B a few times), then breaking into other shorter sequences whose names I don't know (standing sequence, camel, etc.). This is not an _umpa thumpa_ fitness yoga class; it's a formal and practice-oriented class. That said, Megala has that nice trait that I've encountered in Ashtanga yogis; she's _nice_ (for sure) but not cuddly, in that: she will urge you to do your best in hard poses. Which I appreciate. And she offers challenging poses, again in the Ashtanga way of really emphasizing form and proper practice (e.g., you won't do handstands, unless you can arrive at the handstand from a formally rigorous pike-up (not kick up) using our lower abs). Again: Megala was excellent; calming, attentive and specific, encouraging. Last note -- I really like this space, and think it has the right name. "The Yoga Room" I know that this studio in fact has several rooms, but it really felt like a space (4F) above the city, reserved for a different / special / specific thing: yoga. I don't live in HK; I live in LA. I think if I lived here, and were embedded more continuously in the thick of this city, I would really appreciate the respite that I think this space maybe offers, and I got the sense from the familiar community and their ease with each other--between students, and between Megala and students--that indeed people find a sense of practice and routine here that is pleasurable.

Locates close to Sheung Wan MTR station and Queen's Road Central, the Yoga Room cannot be hard to…read moreaccess to. It occupies three floors for its studios. Cute rooms with changing rooms and 180 degree view of Shueng Wan's tranquil lanes. I have been Magala's Friday Intermediate level class. Relatively small size class for 6 to 8 pax. Advanced booking is required. Instructor starts on time and chant in the beginning of the class (thank god!!). Tyical six times Sun-salutation to warm up. Then depends on the students, may go easier or harder for the balance poses. We went for some fundamental moves. The back bending is tough for some newbies. But you will feel great the next day and you did all the previous warming up for the 'click' of the joints. It would be pleasant if more twist is covered. Or it is just me who ask for it?! The atmosphere is more private and calm here at Yoga Room. The teach got to correct positions on individuals. The incense brought me back to India' s Ashram. And the bright and contemporary studio fit perfect for after-work relaxation. The instructors have diverse background from Sivananda, Jivamukti, Ashtanga, kids yoga, prenatal to yin and yang. The fee is reasonable. But it still focuses on beginners. If you are green enough, have some trial class then make up your mind.

update: still awesome…read more On this last quick trip to HK, I was able to get in a couple UrsusFit classes and one boxing class. All earlier points stand: this is an unusually nice gym with excellent facilities; which, in my experience, consistently achieves that hard-to-nail balance of being a place where people can get pretty rugged and work pretty hard while still also being a nice, non-j3rky place. It feels friendly and welcoming and inclusive. I always look forward to dropping in on my stops to HK; thanks, Ursus, for keeping it 100.

Great and spacious gym for travelers in HK. They offer day passes (350 HKD), there is a fresh raw…read morebar with protein shakes as well as food. The gym is spread out across 3 floors with nice views of times square / causeway bay area. I found the machines well maintained and the place was very clean. I have tried other gyms in HK but this one seems to beat them all (at least the ones that offer one day passes)

PURE Fitness Causeway Bay is my favorite location. This is their newest location, and also the…read morelargest. With all the great amenities that comes with the PURE name, CWB location has one thing working to their favor against other locations, space! Their entrance is located on the 16th floor of the Lee Theater Building, PURE is actually 3 levels!! The first of the 3 levels, the top floor, is mainly reception, lockers, and the food bar. The reception is always super nice and friendly. I request certain lockers in this locations because there are so many lockers, I've just grown accustomed to certain ones. I find the lockers closer to the showers just easier to access and convenient. The staff here never have an issue with helping me on that. The locker room here are equipped with TVs, phone charging stations, work out clothing (including socks) and a good number of showers. There is never a need to wait for a vacant shower stall. The sauna and steam room here is a bit on a small side, but still very clean and accessible. The food bar is tended by some nice staff members that can mix a good shake for you after an intense workout. They also have some nice salads on offer along with wraps and small sandwiches. All fairly healthy choices at a reasonable price. One level down, you will find yourself on the floor where they have one room for their cycling classes and another room for one hour classes with instructors. This is also the section where you will find the boxing training available to you if you'd like. On the last level, you will have your weights and treadmills and cross trainers. There is never a wait for machines here which is great!! I also love that very rarely, you will have someone working out RIGHT next to you. I love the space! There is also a space for you to do your stretches in peace without people walking back and forth. PURE in CWB is ideal for those who want to get a serious work out in your day without feeling cramped. LOVE!

CrossFit Typhoon is a cool little box. The place is raw and filled with street art that one can…read moreappreciate; I mean who doesn't like Yoda! The place is pretty small, but like most HK areas space comes at a premium. I was able to schedule a drop-in WOD with Josh and also get a T-shirt for $350 HK Dollars. I love the tagline #gettothebunker! The equipment here is well kept and gets the job done. This is also a dog friendly gym, which I do miss since in the US, there is less and less of that, but I get it. I am not used to the HK humidity so definitely bring lots and lots of water! In the end, CrossFit Typhoon was really welcoming and accommodating. They have all the equipment needed to get your WOD on and Coach Josh is awesome - thanks again for allowing me to WOD at the Typhoon! - Enjoy!

Lights Out combines 3 of my favorite workouts together: Boxing, HIIT and circuit strength training…read more Put these 3 together and you have an AWESOME workout guaranteed to make you sweat and work for it! Checking in for your class is easy and seamless. You just find your name on the iPad, sign in, and pick your spot in the class. You have a choice to start on the bag side or the 'floor' side (where the weights and HIIT circuit workouts are done). I personally like to start with the 'floor' side first because I find that the strength exercises to carry me through the rest of the workout. But others would definitely say the bag side gives them more momentum. Up to personal preference! Also, the bag side tends to fill up faster, leaving the floor side more available. Each instructor has their own unique teaching style, exercises and music. My favorites are Aileen, Billy, and Keikei! I have yet to try Acton, Coco, Burger and Jess, but their timings are usually in the early mornings and midday, so am unable to attend. But will make an effort to try! Each class type has its own particular focus. Classic, more cardio and HIIT focused Blitz, more strength and endurance training Boxcore, core-focused to get that 6-pack you've been dreaming of. Gloves are complimentary and included with each class. You can also choose to bring your own if you wish. Handwraps are a must, to protect the bones in your hands, and for hygiene purposes. Once you are all tired out, pumped and covered in sweat from a good workout, be sure to grab a cold towel from the cooler. It's sooo refreshing! The changing room and shower facilities at Lights Out are my favorite across all the boutique studios and gyms in Hong Kong. They provide REF shower products and Alaffia soaps, lotions, and hand/face washes. It's a real treat. Not to mention, you're also able to bring your own reusable water bottle as they have a water station for your to refill your bottle before class. Gotta stay hydrated!

Sedentary lifestyle? Hate clubs and loud music? Diagnosed with epilepsy? Sorry, but this is the…read morewrong place for you. Conversely, those who like to work out to a pumping playlist without the fear of being judged, this is the perfect spot for that! Now that my metabolism has slowed down, clubbing and drinking are being substituted with working out in a similar setting. I welcomed Lights Out into my life since it re-opened in Sheung Wan back in August 2019. If you're familiar with XYZ/SoulCycle, the setting is reminiscent of that; instead of cycling on a bike, you're punching bags and lifting dumbbells. One of the notable things about Lights Out is that it's one of the more gender-neutral studios I've been to and is suitable for all abilities, for the more advanced, free free to use the 20kg+ weights! Me? I'm sticking with 2kg for now. Being a fairly new studio, it also comes with quality facilities. There are 2 showers for women and 1 for men (with nice toiletries!), changing room, ample lockers, a drinking machine, ice-cold towels; if you're hungry or forget your water bottle, they also sell drinks and protein bars. The class does provide boxing gloves. However you do have to bring your own hand wraps as they do not provide hand wrapping service; I recommend purchasing their hand wraps for $120. You will need to wear sneakers for all their classes. All classes are in English and are 50 minutes long with a max capacity of 18 students. You must arrive on time as they close the doors 5 minutes after the start time. I have taken a variety of classes and tried out a few of their instructors. Blitz - 2 parts Strength, 2 parts Boxing, each part alternates. It focuses more on dumbbell-strength work Classic - 2 parts HIIT+Strength, 2 parts boxing, each part alternates. It's a bit more HIIT and less strength than Blitz Boxcore - 1 part Strength+core work outs, 1 part boxing. I like this because there's less time wasted from switching over (to each of their own) and I like ab-work. Every instructor has their own style, you'll have to try them out to see for yourself. From my experience, Billy loves swings and long boxing combos, Aileen forces you to do a lot of burpees and mountain climbers, Keikei's classes are overall slightly simpler, Burger's Boxing routines are also easier to follow, and both the latter are recommended for more first-timers, especially those without boxing experience. All classes start out with some basic boxing moves refresh and warm-up. However, if you're expecting to learn the proper techniques of boxing to spar in a ring, this isn't it. Booking is simple, download the Glofox APP and register for an account. You can buy credits online and for your first class, I recommend purchasing the 2 for $300, and you have the option of buying a package once you're there with 20% off? They also run promos from time to time, especially the holiday season, so follow their IG! For your reference, 5 classes run $1250, 10 classes run $2350; they also have PT available. *** Tip: Wear sneakers, bring your own handwraps and water bottle, don't be late. I like getting benches by the front since it has mirrors, also you're closer to the instructor bag-side. Likes: Alternating routine that will keep things fresh and on your toes. Nice facilities and fun instructors. Meh: Too many burpees in some classes haha. Instructors do not come around to check on your posture. The loud music can sometimes overpower the instructor's voice Last words: Guaranteed sweat!

Although I have simply chosen to explore other Pilates options in Hong Kong to find a staff that…read morehas a deeper bench of well seasoned Pilates instructors in addition to more Pilates props on sight (ie. a cadillac, barrels, gyrotonics equipment, etc), I do not really have anything bad to say about Anhao Wellness. The Yelp review sits somewhere between a 3 and a 4, but feel a 3 is a better reflection than a 4 when you consider Pilates options around Hong Kong. Located tucked up the stair ways of Ladder Street in Sheung Wan, Anhao Wellness is one of those places that you cannot just pop in. It kind of seems like unless you are there for a scheduled session, there is nobody on sight at this locationM (or at least the several times I tried to pop in prior to getting on the schedule, there was nobody ever there). Maybe better to reach out via phone or e-mail first. No receptionist at a desk or anything like that. Anhao has another location on the Kowloon side (I think...but maybe not) that this might be the case, but this location seems more like a satellite studio. I took 4-5 private sessions with Mio. Mio is super kind, eager to share her knowledge and a good "newer" instructor. I believe she has been teaching for a year or two. I am by no means an expert (if I were, I would not be doing private Pilates for the last 6 years if I could do it on my own!), but after inquiring with the owner to book my initial appointment and explaining my Pilates background, I got Mio. I like Mio and absolutely can benefit from an instructor regardless of their experience, but I kind of think maybe I was a square peg being put into a round hole. As a new client that wants to go to their Sheung Wan studio and was only available on a certain day of the week, but has extensive Pilates experience, I might have simply been assigned an instructor by Anhao Wellness that fit into this model. This might be my fault too. I prefer more contemporary styles and an instructor that expands my horizons that shows me things that challenge me, mixes it up and are new. I did not feel I got this with Anhao Wellness. If this instructor exists, despite expressing my background and interest, I got Mio. This puts Mio in an odd spot and me too when it comes to expectations. Life is about managing the expectations. The studio is small and simply has five reformers. No wunda chair, no cadillac, no ladder barrel. If these items were available someplace on another floor, I never saw them. The studio is cute, small, clean, mirrored. The location always seemed hot to me too, maybe relying on cool breezes through the windows versus A/C. I am a sweater, therefore, I was always hot. I was then gone for two months over the summer and when I returned, I sent two e-mails to the owner to get back on a schedule and nobody ever responded. If you have so much business that you cannot respond or sift through your junk e-mail to check for e-mails like mine, then maybe my money is best spent elsewhere. As a paying client, I should not have to seek you out extensively to get a response, considering there are lots of Pilates options about. This kind of bugged me a touch, also knowing that I had spoken to the owner all along via e-mail when I first became a client. If you are new to Pilates or live in Sheung Wan and want someplace boutique and small, this place might be for you. Mio might be the instructor for you! Although I did not bare witness, they offer personal training, Pilates mat and yoga options too. All this occurs on an upper floor that I did not see, since I was a private client and only saw the first floor.

I came here as part of a guava pass member and decided to try out the TRX class. This place comes…read morewith shower facilities making it extra convenient to get a quick shower after sweating like a pig in class. I was very lucky to have Anderson as my TRX instructor. He is also the owner of the this place. I chatted with him after class and he is very passionate about his business and strive to deliver high quality service to all his customers. As a first timer doing TRX, Anderson was very patient and made sure i was using the TRX suspension correctly. He explained how each exercise works and stressed the importance of having the right form. My sister had an ankle injury and he accommodated her by instructing her an alternative set of exercise. I must say TRX is definitely not easy but with the right instructor who is motivating, friendly and patient, your workout will be that much more fun. If you are in the area next time, check this place out. You cannot go wrong with Energy Kingdom. I highly recommend this place.