Fit Stops

Hip workout and fitness venues in the Metro.

- Pat Calica

It is a good time to be fit in Metro Manila. Hole-in-the-wall cafés and specialty restaurants that offer healthy and organic food have sprouted in various cities. Fitness and sports-related events are frequently held, now more than ever. And aside from the numerous gyms scattered in the metro’s every nook and cranny, more intriguing spaces for those who are looking for an active lifestyle are now open.

Made for people who feed on collective energy and are fueled by the encouragement of trainers, these boutique cycling studios, boxing centers, and fitness venues are all the rage now.

If your workout of choice is the calm and soothing ways of yoga, then head over to Yoga+ Express Legazpi to get your regular 60-minute dose of stress-relieving body exercise and proper breathing control. The classes are targeted for beginners and those who never tried yoga before. And because each class at Yoga+ Express requires only an hour of your time, you can easily squeeze in a session in between your work, social calls, and other pursuits. Aside from the regular one hour sessions, this yoga studio offers Hot, Hot Core, Flow, Jivamukti, Fundamentals, and Yin classes for all ages, sizes, and experience levels.

You can bring your own mat and towel or rent a Manduka yoga mat and microfiber towel from the studio. There are also shower rooms, lockers, and snack bars ready for use.

Strap on your boxing gloves and head on to Flyweight, a premiere group boxing studio that ups the ante of your regular boxing gym. Flyweight makes your workout enjoyable in every step of the way by creating an environment where you get a sense of community.

Set to the backdrop of upbeat music, Flyweight’s boxing workout combines shadowboxing and heavy bag work, as well as body weight, core, and footwork exercises. These trainings are done in groups, so you and your fellow trainees can egg on and inspire each other toward achieving your fitness goals.