You stay in a lovely hotel, eat right, exercise, get plenty of massages and come back looking and feeling fab.
Those looking for a mind and body makeover plus a vacation.
A combination of dieting paired with various workouts including muscle toning, core stability, endurance training, joint mobilization, and stretching makes you fitter and stronger faster.
Juice Junkie
Carl Dixon, 27, BK sub-editor
I’m lucky enough to have a youthful metabolism. I play football every Thursday, go to the gym twice a week. Drink to excess, sure, but not too often, and generally eat what I want without any noticeable physical or mental effects.
Still, having lived in Thailand for a year and a half, I had this gnawing suspicion that there’s only so much moo ping a guy should really eat.
I became interested in doing a juice detox after a friend told me it put a spring in his step. While I have no digestion, skin or blood pressure problems, I did sometimes feel fatigued, affecting my concentration.
I got in touch with Ross from Clearer Cleanse, who asked a few questions to determine my health goals. I was put on a seven-day detox and told to pre-cleanse for a couple days beforehand—this meant cutting out coffee, alcohol, dairy, processed foods, sugar and meat.
On D-day at 7:30am and I’m handed a bag with seven 500ml bottles of different types of juice—my food for the day. I’m told to drink them at intervals of two-and-a-half hours. First impressions are great. Who knew apple with bok choy, kale, romaine, lemon, cucumber and spirulina could be so delicious?
By mid-afternoon, I’m starting to flag. I’m supposed to drink 500ml of water between each juice, which leaves me full but unsatisfied. I’m fast asleep by 9pm.
“It’s up there with the worst hangovers I’ve had, except there’s not even the blurriest memory of having visited Wong’s.”
On the second day it hits me. It’s up there with the worst hangovers I’ve had, except there’s not even the blurriest memory of having visited Wong’s. The BK staff are alarmed by m y zombie-like appearance. During our editorial meeting, my boss is standing in front of the whiteboard waving and gesticulating—he’s asking me something, but I’m somewhere far, far away.
The third day I wake up fresh and early, the headache having largely subsided. By now, though, the lack of chewing has become seriously disconcerting. It’s painful having to edit a story on the best dim sum restaurants in Bangkok while my tongue searches my teeth for any little seed or granule left behind.
I can’t stop thinking of food. I’m already planning my celebratory meal. Facebook conversations with friends are a constant stream of food talk: katsu curries, burritos, pizza, even salad. At home I’m restless, regularly eying the jar of capers in my fridge for some salty respite.
There’s no real respite in exercise. Forget the working out, I’m having a hard enough time conquering the stairs to the BTS platform. I end up cutting short my gym session and skipping my weekly game of football.
By my sixth day, I’m having serious doubts. It’s all very well staying home during the week but come the weekend there’s just too many temptations: for one, the football team I support, Singhatarua FC, have a home game to determine whether or not they’ll be promoted back to the Thai Premier League. It’s too much to bear; The team succeeds with a last-minute winner and I give into the free buffet, washed down with beer.
The detox didn’t go to plan, which says a lot about my will-power. Still, it’s had me reconsider my diet. I’ve adopted the morning ritual of a cup of warm water and lemon juice, I’m down to one cup of coffee a day, I’ve cut down on bread and eating more raw food. And I think that’s made the experiment worthwhile.
Pole-Dancing
How long: Try a 6-hour package to get started.
What is it?
While pole-dancing was originally associated with strippers, it evolved into a respectable form of exercise in the 2000s. It involves climbs, spins and body inversions, and can be used as both aerobic and anaerobic workout.
Who is it good for?
Those who want to improve flexibility, posture or just want to blow off some steam after work.
Why does it give results?
It requires serious core and upper body strength, as well as burning calories.
Where to get it:
Rumpuree offers three pole-dancing classes: Intro, Beginner Intermediate and Intermediate Advanced levels which cover pole dance, pole inverts and flexibility training. A single class costs B500 or get six hours for B3,400 (lasts for 6 weeks). 5/F, Amarin Plaza, 496-502 Ploenchit Rd., 081-430-6684. Open Mon-Fri 10am-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-6pm.
The Show Feel the Art Beat also has pole-dancing classes at three levels: Beginner 1, Beginner 2 and Intermediate. Prices range from B5,000 at 10 times or opt for a personal trainer at B2,000 per hour. 2/F, RCA (opposite to RCA Plaza), Rama 9 Rd., 081-900-6434.
Pilates
How long: Starter packages are for fourweeks.
What is it?
Created by gymnast, circus-performer, boxer, war prisoner and all-round bad-ass Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, pilates is now most famous for its use of impressive machines where one slowly lift weights connected to pulleys while controlling one’s breathing.
Who is it good for?
For all those wanting strong core muscles to support their posture. Who would that be? People with bad backs, office syndrome, neck pain, etc.
Why does it give fast results?
It’s a total body workout that uses muscles in alliance with each other. You have to concentrate and control your movement throughout the exercise to develop agility and stability—not just strength.
Where to get it:
The Pilates Studio Bangkok offers a private First timer class of minimum 5 classes/4 weeks starting from B9,250 and maximum 10 classes/2 months for B17,000. 888/58-59 Mahatun Plaza Ploenchit Rd., BTS Ploenchit. 02-650-7797. Open Mon-Fri: 7:30am to 8:30pm and Sat-Sun: 8:30am to 2:00pm.
The Pilates Station offers private sessions of 10 classes, with prices starting from B20,900. Other packages includes Fast Intro and Pilates Unlimited. For more information, contact 02-662-3341. 3/F, Ten/Ten Bldg., 593/2 Sukhumvit Rd., Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-8pm; Sat 8:30am-5:00pm.
TRX & Suspensions
How long: 4 weeks is a good start.
What is it?
Designed by a US Navy Seal, this physical training uses gravity and your own body weight to build strength, power and flexibility without the use of conventional machines. It can be as gruelling a regimen as the hardest bootcamps, but New Moves (see side bar) focuses more on balance, agility and flexibility.
Who is it good for?
Those wanting to exercise their core muscles and improve both flexibility and agility.
Why does it give fast results?
As opposed to using machines, you’re using a lot more muscles per exercise, and must maintain a strong core for stability throughout. As such, it not only builds strength but gives your heart an intense cardiovascular workout.
Where to get it:
New Moves looks to make you break a sweat through intense natural workout moves. It mixes cardio with special gear like ropes and elastic bands to improve flexibility and agility. If that’s not intense enough for you, boot camps and combat boxing are also available. Membership fees start from B4,000 for one month with unlimited access to all classes. 2/F, Maneeya Centre, Ploenchit Rd., 02-652-0539. BTS Chidlom. Open daily from 7:30am-8:30pm.
Flash Fitness focuses on group training exercises like sled pushing, sandbag lifts, TRX training, kettlebells, agility drills and free weights. The real highlight lies in the Body Comp 30 class, 30-minutes of high-intensity group circuit training using things like free weights, blast straps and medicine balls. Other classes include yoga and a metabolic conditioning workout paired with basic yoga breathing. Prices start from B3,000 for six training sessions valid within one month. 3/F, Capitol Club (President Park), Sukhumvit Soi 24, 081-349-5727. BTS Phrom Pong. Open daily 6am-9pm on Mon-Fri and 8am-2pm on Sat-Sun. Sathorn: 5/F Mookda Building, Sathorn Neua, BTS Chong Nonsi.
