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[On The Radar]: 5 New Fitness Centers in Shanghai

It's the fitness edition of On the Radar. If you're looking for new environments to get in shape, here's a few suggestions...
Last updated: 2016-10-28
On the Radar is a SmartShanghai column profiling new restaurants, bars, and other new places we find interesting. Sometimes we stumble upon these places, and sometimes we are invited, but in both cases, we are never paid to write an opinion, rather, these are our honest first impressions, and not a formal review.
On The Radar is a weekly SmartShanghai column where we profile new venues that you might like to know about. Here are the facts and our first impressions.

Feel Good Fitness


[venue:13785]



Quick Take: Feel Good Fitness' new and improved location offers kettlebell, TRX, spinning classes, and plyometrics classes.


What It Is: Owners George and Luke are also the trainers of the fitness studio. George has certification for TRX, Luke has certification for kettlebells, and both are certified for spinning and personal training. The gym's most popular class combines all into one -- TRX, spinning, and kettlebells -- into a fusion class that gives a full-body strength and cardio workout. Class sizes are kept to a max of 16 people. Feel Good Fitness' classes offer quite a bit of value compared to other fitness studios. Drop-ins are 150rmb, but the bigger packages bring that down below 100rmb per class. They also have options for unlimited classes. Private classes are 500rmb per session. In addition to the main studio, facilities include showers, lockers, and a private personal training room.



First Impression: Feel Good Fitness seems like an excellent choice if you want trainers with foreign certifications that know their stuff -- not to mention the low cost classes.

-XZ Palmer

Uptown Studio


[venue:13745]



Quick Take: It's a fitness studio that offers calisthenics workout training programs for small groups, opened by American football enthusiasts and a tattoo artist.


What is it: Located in the mixed-used complex Anken Air, Uptown Studio is a small fitness center that focuses on sports performance and calisthenics workout. They hire instructors who have expertise in different sports such as basketball and American football, to teach a group of 3 - 10 people once at a time. It's a two-floor facility that can fit around 40 - 50 people, with a common workout area covered with artificial grass on the ground floor, a yoga room, and a tattoo studio on the second floor. Right now, they charge 90rmb for an hour session and offer special programs for Sundays (like warm-up sessions for upcoming Shanghai marathon, for example). Quite a few of their classes are taught in English, and they plan to hire more instructors from abroad. Follow their WeChat (UptownSports) and get 50% off for the first lesson.



First Impression: It's hip. They're offering a very casual, "street style" sort of atmosphere, with a few large pieces of graffiti on the wall done by one the owners of Uptown. The crowd seems to be mostly young, local white collars who live nearby or work at Anken Air. Good for people looking for simple but effective personal training.

-Jin Qian

Z&B Fitness


[venue:13710]



Quick Take: Z&B Fitness moves up in the world with a new location on the sixth floor of the the newly renovated Golden Eagle Square Mall at the center of Jing'an.


What It Is: The new Z&B Fitness has a flow room, spinning room, private training room, "energy room", kids' fitness room, a play room for kids, lockers and multiple showers, and a gym with machines and free weights. For classes they offer zumba, spinning, body combat, dancing, HIIT, TRX, piloxing, aerial yoga, and Hatha yoga classes. And that doesn't even include the kids classes. Their instructors come from all over the world, but all classes are taught in English. Prices are inexpensive, especially considering the location and offerings. Drop-ins are 150rmb and they offer various packages such as 20 classes for 120rmb each and 100 classes for 80rmb each.



First Impression: Z&B is a great choice if you're not sure what kind of exercise program you want, or if you enjoy trying a bit of everything. And if you're juggling kids while trying to stay in shape.

-XZ Palmer

GUCYCLE


[venue:13813]



Quick Take: This is Beijing brand GUCYCLE's first Shanghai chain in the busy part of Hubindao -- small but well equipped.


What is it: GUCYCLE is a spinning studio with two outlets in Beijing. Their first Shanghai venue sits right in front of Hunter Gatherer, and a second one is planned for the Kerry Center. They're offering a mirrored studio with 35 bikes, a locker area at the entrance, and two changing/ shower rooms with clean, bright design. GUCYCLE is small but able to provide quick and intensive spinning classes. They currently have three to seven sessions each day, for both entry and advanced level members. Prices are 180rmb (walk-ins) to 8,000rmb (80 courses). You can grab a "first-time free class" pass at their reception desk if you just want to try it out. Although their playlist is current electro / pop music they've forgone the screens for their spinning classes, encouraging their members to focus on the instructors, who have all been hired from abroad.



First Impression: GUCYCLE has a convenient location although there's a lot of temptation nearby -- Hubindao is stuffed with delicious little eateries. If you live close, and are into spinning classes, it's worth a look. The staff here are very nice and helpful, equipment and amenities are all brand new and good quality.

-Jin Qian

FHIIT Lab


[venue:13648]



Quick Take: A small studio focusing on HIIT workouts with heart rate tracking.


What is it: This new studio in Lippo Plaza on Huaihai Lu features several high-intensity interval training classes that utilize rowing machines, treadmills, free weights, and jump roping. Classes are small, with a max of 10 people each, and they vary in focus from strength, to cardio, to calorie burning, and more. The studio does an average of three classes a day. Each class involves using a heart rate monitor strapped to your chest. You can track your heart rate on their TV as you work out and get detailed statistics of your session afterwards. The goals here aren't about logging reps or distance, but about maintaining and reaching a certain heart rate. Single classes are 220rmb, then prices get down to 180rmb per class with a package of 20 classes. Facilities include two showers and lockers.



First Impression: FHIIT Lab's heart rate tracking offers a unique way to get fit, where each person's workout is tailored to their capabilities. You aren't likely to over or underwork your body here.

-XZ Palmer

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