Kerry Sports: An all-round oasis
- By Rob Hemsley
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E-mail CRI, June 7, 2013
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CARDIO ZONE Cardio Zone at Kerry Sports. [Photo: Brittany Eubanks] |
Going to a health club, especially in China, is rarely fun. First off, you've got to deal with rickety, sweat-drenched equipment that wasn't even new when Steven Seagal was still appearing on cinema screens. Add to that the staff -- sour-faced and dead-eyed drones who'd rather catapult angry birds at smug pigs than save you from drowning. And, finally, changing rooms that are dark and water-logged, not unlike the cell they kept Rambo in before he flipped out and defeated an entire army on his own. Not a place you'd drag yourself to after a tough day at work, that's for sure.
But the picture is changing in Beijing this week -- and drastically so -- with the opening of Kerry Sports, a bright and sunny alternative to the gloomy fitness factories that lurk around (and often beneath) the capital. Last weekend, when the club held an open day, visitors were able to explore the gym and try out various new contraptions. One of the highlights, in the Cardio Zone, is a bike that provides users with a virtual spinning class -- complete with cheers and jeers to get them suitably motivated. Don't worry if you're emotionally delicate… there are more cheers than jeers.
Regular exercise bikes and X-trainers are well-spaced, so the only sweat to touch your skin will be your own. And you can change the language preference if you're from a major country. (Sorry, Wales.) In the Personal Training Zone you'll also find some exciting and novel body-sculpting gizmos, my favourite being the endless rope machine that calls to mind the barn training montage from Rocky IV. There's a Power Plate, too, if you have the courage to give it a go.
Though the majority of personal trainers at Kerry Sports could give Bane a run for his money in an arm-wrestling contest, they're also more than willing to help out -- with a smile, no less! -- when you come across a strange machine. And since they're bilingual, you can have your fitness questions answered without going through an awkward game of gym charades. (I've played this game before… and it's no fun.)
The bright lighting is another big factor in making Kerry Sports such a warm and welcoming environment. This feeling extends to the spacious -- and downright luxurious -- open-plan changing rooms. Though the men's is a tad bigger than the women's (doesn't bother me!), both feature a Jacuzzi, a radiant sauna, and lockers large enough to hide a body. (Don't get any ideas.) There's also an ice-cold plunge pool… though since I'm not Finnish, I could only get one leg in before giving up and jumping back in the Jacuzzi.
One other impressive feature is the 35-metre lap pool, which looks out on Beijing's Central Business District. (You can see out, but they can't see in… so don't be shy!) There are numerous recliners and sofas around the pool, with a plentiful supply of towels and drinking water, so you can relax and pretend you're beside the ocean when you're not awing other users with your Olympic swimming technique.
Leading Kerry Sports in its new incarnation is Tommy Kennington, a Florida native with over twenty years in the global sports management industry. His goal is to turn the club into a community, where everyone -- young or old, guest or member, Beijinger or foreign visitor -- can enjoy an experience that suits their needs. Users are encouraged to get into the community spirit by joining classes that include yoga (regular or hot), body pump, kickboxing… and even Jamaican dance. Those who don't want to jump straight in can watch from the comfort of the nearby juice bar before making up their minds.
Kerry Sports hasn't finished with the surprises just yet, though. Come the autumn, they'll be opening a children's Adventure Zone, multi-purpose courts, and an outdoor running track on the gym's roof.
If you fancy creating your own space in the bright and brand-new surroundings of Kerry Sports, contact: (86-10) 8565 2466
Or go online: www.kerrysportsbeijing.com
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