One of the many aerobic exercise classes offered by the Grand Mee Ya Hta. Pic: Lwin Maung Maung

YANGON’S gym managers and supervisors say the importance of exercise and healthy physical activity cannot be underestimated.

The say regular exercise helps to keep the body healthy, relieves stress and eases mental tension for those who live busy lives.

Daw Win Lai Lai Kyaw, manager of Marina Residence health club in Mayangone township, says the number of people working out at the club is increasing as people better understand how to live a healthy life.

“We have more members every week because people are learning more about the health benefits they get from regular exercise. Some people tell me that before they started coming to the gym and working out they would often get sick, but regular exercise solves the problem,” she says.

Daw Wai Lai Lai Kyaw says the Marina Residence health club has more than 30 regular members.

Every new patron, she says, is quizzed about what they want to achieve before being put into any exercise program.

“We have to check our customer’s general health condition before we place them into any classes.

“We ask them what they want to do and whether they wish to lose weight, gain muscle or just improve their general fitness,” she explains.

“And then we decide which program is appropriate for them. Some people really want intense exercise in the longer term but we tell them they must start slowly. When this happens we carefully supervise the client and slowly get them into the physical condition they want.”

Marina also has a “sports conditioning program” aimed at bringing new customers into the gym.

Win Lai Kyaw says all programs are flexible and they will happily alter them to suit the client.

“Some people come here and start a routine but after one or two weeks, they’re tired of some activities or exercises. If that happens we try to keep them interested by swapping back to very light exercises or choosing something they find more entertaining.”

Marina health club is equipped with a variety of modern equipment including cardio machines, weight benches and machines and free-weights.

Regular gym visitors agree that exercise is critical for their long term health.
“Going to the gym improves my fitness and helps me to forget work. At the same time I increase my confidence and shape my body. Regular exercise is the best way to maintain your weight and stay in good health,” says Ma Win Pa Pa Aung, a Traders Hotel health club member.

The Traders health club has 150 members and employs three supervisors and 12 attendants. A club spokesperson says the centre offers a wide variety of equipment to train every muscle and upgrades facilities regularly.

The club has treadmills, bikes, rowing machines, weight benches and machines, step machines and many others.

For aerobic enthusiasts, the Grand Mee Ya Hta’s aerobics classes offer a unique and intensive cardiovascular workout. Drums Alive combines traditional aerobics with powerful drum beats and rhythm.

Another class, Zumba, includes Latin dance moves, while Cardio Revolution melds high and low impact movements.

There is also a step aerobics course of low impact exercises to increase heart rate without stressing the knees.

All aerobic classes run Monday through Saturday between 8 and 9am.
There is also an intensive Boot Camp training program of jogging, resistance training, endurance training and other activities.

Another place where people can go to work out is Hotel Nikko.
With nearly 100 members, the health club at Hotel Nikko Royal Lake has instructors working every day to provide guidance to clients on how to achieve whatever results they are seeking.

One instructor is Aung Ko Latt, who says the regular exercise helps in all parts of our lives.

“I think doing fitness work and exercising help to make our bodies relax; it makes us sleep better too and leaves us feeling more active at work.”

Most customers, he says, come in because they want to lose some weight.
“Most women come here just to lose weight – not many come here trying to sculpt their bodies. With these clients we try to offer direction on how to diet and live more healthily.”