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Personal trainers are on the rise in Hong Kong. In a 100-miles-an-hour city like ours, working out regularly is one of the ways to make time for yourself and focus on your health and well-being. Paradoxically, due to the fast pace of living, it can be hard to stick to a routine, which is why many have turned to personal trainers, the famous “PT.”
PTs are fitness experts offering one-on-one sessions, tailored to your level, needs, and goals, whether you are training for your next competition, looking to build muscle, lose weight, or simply improve your well-being.
Getting a PT to meet your fitness goals is not cheap, but it’ll be worth it once you start seeing the results. We’ve searched through town to figure out what PT services in Hong Kong entail, where to find the right one for you, and what the advantages are versus group classes or working out solo. Here’s everything you need to know about personal training in Hong Kong.
There are multiple reasons why you might feel like it’s time to graduate from working out solo and in group classes to hiring a personal trainer. One of the main reasons that you’ll hear from fervent users who benefit from PT training is that you can really see and feel the results. It’s not magic, and getting a personal trainer means you’ll probably have to put in more work than in a group class! The training is personalised, and it’s harder to give up, so you should reap the fruits of your labour faster.
Contrary to popular belief, PTs are not reserved for professional athletes. In fact, PTs are recommended for beginners—they can teach you the correct techniques and prevent easily avoidable injuries before you feel comfortable hitting the gym by yourself.
You can also consider working with a personal trainer if you are recovering from an injury, a competition, or even giving birth. Pre-birth and post-birth, certain types of exercises can make all the difference, and there are a lot of personal trainers in Hong Kong who offer services specific to the pregnancy journey.
For fitness junkies who hit the gym on the daily, most will usually reach a plateau in their training journey, simply because the body is getting used to the type of strain and effort. A personal trainer is here to alternate and fine-tune your routine, helping you move on from that stagnating place and onto the next level.
Whatever your situation, the most important thing to ask yourself is: what is your goal? From losing weight to toning, building mass, training your cardio and flexibility, working on your mental health, combatting stress, or preparing for your next big competition, having a clear goal is essential.
Personal trainers are not all the same. In fact, there is a wide variety of services on offer, starting with the type of sports or fitness you want to practise. When we think of a personal trainer, our mind pictures a muscular guy who will shout at you to get more reps in while you squat and lift weights at the gym. In reality, you can hire a trainer for weight-lifting, but also running, boxing, yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, or any other discipline that floats your boat.
Once you’ve picked a sport, you still have to choose where your PT will train you. Most gyms and studios in Hong Kong offer personal training packages, including the likes of Pure, Coastal Fitness, Dee Dream Life, The Goat Boxing Club, The Gym, Hybrid Gym, Precision Fitness. and more. Approach the reception at any of these gyms to get more details or book a PT trial.
Looking for something even more focused? A multitude of PT-only gyms also operate around town. Pay a visit to Aqua Terra Performance, Ultimate Performance, One Personal Training, Raw Personal Training, Athletic Club, or Dragon Fitness and Coaching for a variety of training methods.
There is one more option available if you are looking for a more personalised training experience but are not ready to commit to a PT, and Hong Kong is full of them: small gyms. Studios around town which only welcome four to eight people at a time, due to the small space available, such as House of Fitness or PilatesBeats, are everywhere.
Although it is definitely the more expensive option, calling on an at-home personal trainer is ideal if you’re starting out a new activity. Check out Active Me for in-home personal training in Hong Kong. Not everyone in Hong Kong has enough space in their homes to work out properly, but we have plenty of outdoor spaces! Your PT can come to the park closest to your home, which can make for quite the recreational practice. Additionally, your personal trainer will usually bring the equipment to you!
Another at-home option is engaging a virtual personal trainer, a good alternative if you don’t feel like investing too much. Virtual packages usually include a fitness assessment, a coaching plan, and personalised catch-ups along the way. Contact FitnessU or Pure for Hong Kong-based services. Remember: this is a very autonomous practice, and no one will be physically present to correct your movements, which is why it is best if you already have some kind of guided experience.
You’ve established your goal and what type of training you need, which only leaves one thing: finding the right personal trainer. There are a few things to look out for, but don’t worry if you can’t find a good fit straight away. Finding a personal trainer is not an easy task, and it’s okay to leave a trial session unconvinced—that doesn’t mean you are giving up on your goals. Get back to researching, and you’ll find the right fit eventually!
An essential element to take into account is the trainer’s certifications. Multiple schools offer personal training certification in Hong Kong, with the most widespread one being the NASM Certified Personal Trainer Certification. Other certifications exist for different sports, and you can look out for CrossFit-affiliated gyms and ask about certified yoga or Pilates teachers, for example. Other than certification, human connection is very important, and you should ask a trainer about their communication style before hiring them.
The key word is comparison! Compare prices, locations, reviews, and credentials. Some online tools can help you with that, such as Pit Stop and Toby, but the best thing to do is to ask around. Chances are, your friends and colleagues have already tried and tested multiple PTs, and you can grill them about their experience. One PT session can go from $500 to $2,000 on average, and you’ll ideally book two to three sessions a week. For that kind of investment, you’re allowed to be picky.
All in all, set your goals, find your space, beware of unrealistic promises, and find a PT who matches your energy. Now all you have to do is work out!
Born and raised in the French countryside, Lily arrived in Hong Kong looking for an adventure. Passionate about books, she spent some time in Parisian publishing houses and is the author of an illustrated book about hair. Life in Hong Kong for her entails looking for seaside places to eat and a lot of hiking.
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