Phuket Business: Making gym cool again

PHUKET: There sure are some exiting sports out there – diving, rock climbing, free running, gym fitness training… wait, the gym? It might be challenging and fulfilling but few would call it exciting. At least this is how things were up until now. A new place here in Phuket is on a mission to change that image.

“Unit-27 has been open since November 2013,” says Liam Griffin, business development and client liaison manager at Unit-27 gym. “An average of 50 clients per day train here, modestly speaking. We have a limit on the amount of people in our classes, this is to ensure that our instructor to client ratio is kept at one to five and we emphasize quality above all else,” he explains.

And it’s the quality that seems to draw people to Unit-27, a custom designed, specialized gym facility created to fill the need for a scientifically-proven full-fitness facility in Chalong.

“The combination of our fully-qualified instructors and state-of-the-art facility provide for a structured and safe development of physical, mental and social health,” says Liam.

You won’t find the ever-present basic work-out machines here; Unit-27 is more than a few pressing benches and treadmills dumped in a room with mirrors. Brand new equipment such as a 30-foot rope climb, scrambling nets, tyre flips, a prowler and more, combined with the knowledge and experience of its team of highly qualified, English speaking instructors and a friendly atmosphere, ensure a fun and effective workout.

There are three training sessions a day. A one hour “Morning Glory” class at 8am (30 person limit) is a blend of sprints, runs and explosive power training designed to ensure the rest of your day goes hard and strong.

Next comes the “Rapid Fire” (11am-12:30pm, 25 person limit) that concentrates on completing the set at the amount of reps in each exercise and gives a greater emphasis on strength-based training, as the weights can be adjusted to suit the individual’s fitness level. Another element of the “Rapid Fire” program is that it is an intrinsic workout, where partners motivate each other to complete the course in the best time suited.

The third daily session comes under the name “Reloaded” (2:30-4pm, 30 person capacity) and is a hardcore and rounded strength and conditioning session designed to improve explosive power, strength, mobility and injury prevention. It is predominantly time based (20 seconds on, 10 secs off), with up to 30 stations on any given day. Due to the time basis of the circuits, this metabolic conditioning offers a wide range of activities.

And that’s not all. Yoga classes three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7-8am), free weights and private sessions in between classes and the weekly “Sunday Showtime” – a cinema and/or informative session ranging from nutrition to health or general fitness, will keep your mind and muscles fit and busy for a long time, especially since there is more to come.

“We are currently expanding our gym, adding new classes and new facilities such as spinning, ice baths and other amenities that give the customers a multitude of activities,” says Liam.

If you are already excited about the prospect of going to the gym, maybe for the first time in your life, Liam is not surprised.

“Our program is suitable for everyone, everyone that wishes to get fit and anyone who would like to try something new and exciting with trained professional athletes. [We offer] total conditioning of the body, for those who want to lose weight and for those who want to enhance their MMA [mixed martial arts] or Muay Thai training, this is the place to do so. There are a lot of people who want to get into shape, live healthy and try something fun, new and exciting. Unit-27 offers pure fitness.”

Unit-27 is located at 9/49 Moo 5, Tambon Chalong, Amphur Muang, Phuket. For more info call 076 367380, e-mail info@unit-27.com or go to: unit-27.com

— Maciek Klimowicz