It’s not all ‘work’ at Singapore. There is as much to play and exercise. The wide coastal line provides ample options for running and jogging. The housing complexes have basketball rings, Table Tennis tables and snooker tables. There is always a gym close to work or home, ending all the excuses that we have for not living an active life!.
The Singapore government too plays its part in promoting a fun, active and leading healthy life. As a result there is a strong ‘fitness culture’ which easily spills over onto Indian expats. Let’s face it, we Indians are not known for our brawns and it is time to change that.
“I have seen many Indians who were never into fitness when they were in the country, go to gyms regularly, run or walk thanks to the fitness culture in the country,” says Rajesh Sharma who has moved to the country five years back.
Gyming in Singapore
Those who want to stay fit are spoilt for choice. Starting from kickboxing yoga to urban trekking that uses a Nordic walking technique or an K-Pop dance to Pop songs with aerobic and body tuning moves; Singapore has a wild mix of interesting forms of workouts that can keep people engaged and fit.
It is very convenient to choose or try what works for you. Same goes for how much you want to pay for it. There are two kinds of gyms in Singapore. The first are the public gyms which are run by the government as a part of their Active SG campaign. They are the cheapest option with rates as low as 2.50 SGD for adults for two hours. Students and Senior Citizens can pay lesser but expats might have to pay slightly higher rates. Those who have a citizenship need not pay the extra charge. The difference in rates for Singaporeans and others however is minimal.
Public gyms have basic equipment and can get crowded during peak hours. Those who want to the benefit of high-end equipment saunas, pools, studios and specialised workouts can choose the commercial gyms. The rates of some of these chains can be higher than public gyms as most subscriptions starts at $100 a month. Some of the premium commercial gyms are Virgin Fitness run by the Richard Branson run Virgin Group. Chains like True Fitness and Fitness First are known for their centers at prime locations like Marina Bay, Velocity@Novena Square, Suntec City Mall and Viva Business Park. Sky Fitness and Pure Fitness offer premium workout options for those who want to enjoy the advantages of a personalized trainers and other luxuries while working out.
Sports in Singapore
It is not only an active lifestyle that the country promotes but also a sporting lifestyle. The country is flush with amenities that makes it easier to pick sports. HDB homes house amenities for tennis, basketball, squash bringing sports right into the neighbourhood. Dragon boating, sailing, kayaking, are other vigorous and fun sports one can indulge in.
Sports Hub
Singapore government's biggest proof for its commitment to sports is the Sports Hub. An integrated sports and entertainment hub that has options for community sports, malls and play areas for children. Apart from a 50,000 seater National Stadium, the hub boasts of world-class facilities for all forms of sporting events including American football. It has also skating rinks for children as well as adults, play areas and also rock climbing, water sporting centers providing a variety of options to the sport-loving nation.
Golfing in Singapore
Singapore allows golfers to work on their handicaps with wide range of greens and ample coaches. The country has more golf courses per square kilometer than any other country in the world, so it would be easy to run into one. Read our story, ‘Golf In Singapore? Include neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia to the menu’ by Lip Ooi, Golf commentator and coach, for the complete lowdown on golf in Singapore.
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