For those of you who have been in Shenzhen over the festive period, the chances are that you have partaken in a little overindulgence in the good things in life; especially rich food and booze. However, now that both new years eve celebrations are officially over, it's time to shed some pounds from your paunch and get motivated to join some of the excellent fitness clubs in Shenzhen.

No matter if you are a martial arts fanatic, a yoga freak or simply want to get energized without having to commit to a sports team, these fresh and fun ways to get fit might be the perfect way for you to shed some weight in Shenzhen; and don't worry, none of them involve spending tedious hours in a gym monotonously running on a treadmill. Gyms are expensive, and you only go twice after you have paid for your membership. It's one of the undeniable truths of expat life. 

Before researching material for this article, I was generally against any notion of fitness unless it involved playing rugby for 20 minutes and then repairing to the bar, and that only happened a couple of times a year anyway. However, after seeing some of the unique ways to get in fit Shenzhen, I have been inspired to try and shift the beer belly that so easily forms after years of living in China. It goes to show that there is hope for everyone, so get motivated and try out some of Shenzhen's great fitness clubs.

1) Yoga  (瑜伽)
Often cited as one of the most effective ways to improve both mind and body, yoga combines a spiritual attitude with traditional Indian stretching techniques. Practitioners of the art range from martial artists, football players and individuals who simply wish to improve their general wellbeing. A welcoming aspect of yoga is that it is suitable for the majority of people, regardless of age and size. Shenzhen has many yoga clubs (often as part of large gyms in expensive hotels), but for a more friendly experience, try the yoga class at Fusion Fitness in Shekou.

Fusion Fitness  (融合健身)View In Map
Add: 2A002, Fisherman's Wharf, Dongjiaotou, Shekou, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
地址: 深圳市南山区蛇口东角头渔港码头海吉星大楼A栋2A002
Tel: 182 3910 4960 or 0755 2667 6775
Class times: Mon-Fri, 09:30-10:30, 19:30-20:30
Price: 120 RMB per session
Website: www.fusionfitnesssz.com/fitness-services/yoga
E-mail：alan@fusionfitnesssz.com
Getting there: take bus no. b833, b834, m250 or m355 to Zheyuan Bucun stop (蔗园埔村站)

2) Taekwondo  (跆拳道)
If you are looking for something a bit more fast paced, why not try taekwondo. This Korean martial art is characterised by its famously high kicks, and offers an interesting alternative to other popular fighting systems like karate (空手道) or jiu-jitsu (柔道). Although seemingly violent, taekwondo (跆拳道) is extremely popular with children as the power of strikes and kicks is controlled. This sport seems to be popular in Shenzhen amongst expats and Chinese alike, and there are several clubs around the city to reflect this.

Wanji Taekwondo View In Map
Add: 5 Xinyan Lu, Luohu District, Shenzhen
地址: 深圳市罗湖区新园路5号工人文化宫体育馆
Tel: 0755 8220 0696
Training times: Tues & Thurs, 19:00-21:00
Price: 100-160 RMB per month
Website: www.sz-grwhg.com
Getting there: take the metro to Dongmen Laojie station. Get out at exit A and walk for 200 metres. 

Wan Sheng Fight Club  (万胜搏击俱乐部)View In Map
Add: Honghu Yi Jie Jiahua Shangchang Er Lou, Luohu District, Shenzhen
地址: 深圳市罗湖区洪湖一街嘉华商场二楼
Tel: 0755 8601 9688
Training times: Several classes on Fri, Sat and Sun; see website for full schedule.
Price: 100 RMB per session (see website for membership fees)
Website: www.mmasz.com/training/schedule-and-booking
Getting there: take bus no. 1, 5, 11, 13, 62, 65, 69, 102, 107, 111, 202, 213 or 218 to Children's Park (儿童公园)

3) Belly Dancing  (肚皮舞)
For the women out there who fancy trying something a little bit different, why not give belly dancing a go? Far from a bizarre masque where corpulent people flaunt their fat, belly dancing is an intense fitness regime that has its roots in the Middle East, and apart from the stunningly beautiful traditional costumes worn by dancers, this activity is a fabulous way for you to tone your tummy. What's more is that belly dancing is good for your spine, can help strengthen your arms and shoulders and can allegedly help prevent the onset of osteoporosis. With all these excellent benefits, this is sure to be a popular choice for ladies in Shenzhen.

Mernisa Belly Dance Club（魅妮莎肚皮舞俱乐部）View In Map
Add: 11A, Unit 2, Builfing 1, Fumin Jiayuan,  9 Fumin Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen
地址: 深圳市福田区福民路9号福民佳园1座2单元11A (金田路口)
Tel: 0755 8321 0815 or 0755 8830 7649
E-mail：service@bellydancing.com.cn
Getting there: take the Longhua metro line to Fumin Lu station. Bus no. 60, 303 and 377 to Fumin Xincun will also take you there

4) Personal Trainer  (私人教练)
There may be some people in Shenzhen who feel that they have over indulged so much over the festive period that drastic action needs to be taken. For the truly guilt-ridden, why not consider a personal trainer. John Graham is a fully certified personal trainer based in Shekou, and can tailor his training sessions to your individual requirements. Whether you want to increase stamina, improve your golfing prowess or simply raise general fitness levels, John's professional service will surely have you looking like a Greek god in no time at all.

John Graham Fitness View In Map
Add:  2A002, Fisherman's Wharf, Dongjiaotou, Shekou, Nanshan District, Shenzhen (he will also come to your local gym or park)
地址: 深圳市南山区蛇口东角头渔港码头海吉星大楼A栋2A002
Tel: 134 1874 3673
Website: www.johngrahamfitness.com
Getting there: take bus no. b833, b834, m250 or m355 to Zheyuan Bucun stop

5) Golf  (高尔夫)
When Mark Twain exclaimed that “golf is a good walk ruined”, perhaps he was unaware of the health benefits that this noble sport can bestow upon its practitioners. It certainly does involve a lot of walking, that is true, but there is also a degree of fitness required to enable you to continually smash the ball around the course. Golf helps to strengthen your shoulders and upper arms, and if played correctly, will keep you in an overall state of generally good fitness. Shenzhen has no lack of golf courses, ranging from the impossibly expensive designed solely for the rich, to more affordable options. To get started, why not try out the inexpensive indoor driving range specifically designed for people on a budget.

Aigao Golf Club (爱高高尔夫俱乐部)View In Map
Add: 4th Floor, Natural Habitat Commercial Center, Xiangmei Bei Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen
地址: 深圳市福田区香梅北路天然居商业中心四楼
Tel: 158 1867 0402
Price: 200 RMB per session
Getting there: take the Shekou metro line to Xiangmei Bei station

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