In Sweat in the City, Coconuts looks at the diverse options Bangkok proffers for staying fit.
I’d always been convinced that 6am boot camps were for people who hate themselves. These outdoor, trainer-led exercise classes are supposed to mimic army training techniques. Their intent is to simulate the much-sought-after experience of working out with a hardcore instructor who hates you and wants you to cry. I imagined running through wind and rain, doing push-ups in the mud and sneakily puking behind a tree when no one was looking.
I’d always thought boot camps were for people who embark on 10-day juice detoxes and buy jeans a size too small as “motivation.” I thought boot camps (particularly early morning ones) were for the type of person who is all or nothing; either never working out, or letting guilt push them to needless extremes.
So it was with great sadness that I set my alarm for 5am Wednesday morning in the hopes I’d get up, get dressed and make it across the city in time for a 6am boot camp with the Aspire Club, an Asoke-based gym offering a variety of innovative classes including Tabata (a kind of interval training) and Bangkok’s first Crossfit classes.
Usually, I wake up when it’s still dark only if I’m taking a flight, and I’d been dreading this 5am wakeup call for days. In fact, despite a 9pm bedtime, I actually had nightmares and woke myself up screaming “Oh my god!” in the middle of the night.
I turned up at 6am on the dot to find a group of seven eager boot camp-ers, all but one of whom were regulars, limbering up at the gate to Benjakiti Park. Surprisingly, they were relentlessly happy, even though it was still dark. Even though our (very cute) instructor Tony had announced we’d kick off with a mile run. Even though it was boiling hot. In fact, they didn’t seem at all the kind of people who hated themselves, nor the kind of people who’d slyly check out how the sweaty-looking new girl was faring. In fact, they were very welcoming, and all much more focused on beating their previous personal bests than seeing how everyone else was doing.
They tried to convince me that they didn’t hate themselves and that 6am boot camp wasn’t a punishment. In fact, they said they just liked working out outside before work when it was still cool. I, on the other hand, remain unconvinced by the needlessly early hour, and would definitely sign up for one of the evening timeslots next time. That said, I suppose it was nice to see the sunrise over the park, blah blah, etc.
Despite the early morning hour and the marketing ethos behind boot camps, this one wasn’t as horrific as it might sound. There was no military-style crawling on our bellies through mud or pulling ourselves up over walls. Instead, there was a hefty dose of dynamic stretches to warm us up, a gentle mile run and a few timed challenges: How many push-ups can you do in two minutes? How many v-sit ups? There was a little “tabata” style interval training, some cool-down stretches and a much-appreciated cold towel to finish up the hour. You’ll be grateful for this extra touch, because after lying on your back like a dying beetle while you try and do some of those core exercises, you do get a bit sweaty (ps: I apologise to anyone who was sitting next to me on the MRT on my way home).
Suitable for: Exercise beginners and intermediates. It’s a great way to start setting some small fitness goals.
Difficulty rating: 2/5
Bangkok Boot Camp by The Aspire Club. Go to www.theaspireclub.com or call 02 229 4114.
