Working out has always been viewed as a necessary evil by many individuals. But in China, millennials have found a way to exercise while having fun as they perform exercises while socializing at new fitness centers.
According to the Global Times, new gyms such as HITIE in Beijing, which opened last December, and iBodyRock near the Sanlitun business area, have successfully combined the atmosphere of a trendy nightclub with a traditional gym setup. As a result, millennials have been flocking to these gyms to keep fit while enjoying the trendy playlists selected by professional DJs. The gyms’ juice bars have also become major draws for young fitness enthusiasts.
25-year-old Katie Wang, who works at an office in Beijing, said that she has never expected to have fun while working out as she normally associated gyms with “sweat as well as pain.”
“I never expected that I would ever be this attracted to go to a gym,” said Wang to the Global Times.
While party workouts have just arrived in China, this type of gym setup has been ongoing in the U.S. since 2012. Places such as SoulCycle and Barry’s Bootcamp in New York City, as well as Nightclub Cardio in Houston, have been a massive hit among millennials for their unique fitness concepts.
Apparently, some of these gyms/nightclubs have become so popular that they've start to resemble actual V.I.P. clubs. According to the New York Times, some of these gyms now have waitlists, as classes sell out within minutes.
In China, these party gyms are drawing more female customers as women typically treat exercise as a lifestyle. It was also said that these gyms have given ladies the freedom to release their emotions and stress, which they couldn’t do before in traditional fitness centers.
With engaging music, flashing lights, cool drinks, and a fun atmosphere that entices young customers to work out, it clear that these party gyms will have staying power in China.