Getting a fit body and maintaining your health is just a couple of reasons to exercise. But going to the gym gets boring (and expensive) really quickly, and it always feels like there are better things to do. Especially when you have kids!
The good news is there really are better things you can do besides going to the gym that help you stay fit as well. Here are some of the best places to exercise in the Klang Valley. Some are family friendly, and best of all – free!
The Great Outdoors
Scattered around the Klang Valley are wonderful pockets of greenery, home to lush flora and fauna, challenging hiking trails, waterfalls, fabulous views and even campsites. Get your bike out for a weekend, or simply go for a trek; most destinations feature trails of varying difficulty.
Close to the city, there’s FRIM in Kepong, the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve Trail right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Gasing and Taman Rimba Ampang. Go a bit further out and there’s the Kota Damansara Community, Kanching Recreational Forest, Bukit Tabur and Broga Hill.
Parks
Parks are great spaces for different recreational activities. Let the kids fly a kite, while you go for a jog. Some parks offer gigantic playgrounds, ideal for the little ones to let off some steam.
Others feature more extensive facilities, with badminton courts, football fields and even a lake with boating facilities. In the Klang Valley itself, you can find KLCC Park, Titiwangsa Park, KL Garden Park, Botanical Gardens, Lembah Kiara Park, Kepong Metropolitan Park and Central Park 2 Desa Parkcity.
Badminton
Located in Taman Megah and Puchong, Michael’s Badminton Academy (MBA) is an all in one space to hone your badminton skills. It is already attracting a steady stream of youngsters hoping to become the next Lee Chong Wei, with badminton lessons, professional coaching and even children’s badminton camps.
The kids can look forward to testing their skills on rubberised and parquet courts that regularly play host to international tournaments.
Paint Ball
This is a great activity to get the entire family sweating. It’s fun, it gets you running, crouching, sweating and burning calories without you even realising it! Best of all, you’ll need to exercise your brain to come up with the best strategy to get the better of your opponents.
Play for an hour straight and you can burn up to 400 calories. To get started, head on over to Xtion Paintball Park at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, Kombat Zone Paintball in Melawati or Mudtrekker Paintball Park and Shah Alam Extreme Park in Shah Alam.
Rock Climbing
Make no mistake, rock climbing is definitely a full body workout. Test your mettle and conquer your fear of heights with a sport that demands concentration and strength at Camp5, One Utama.
It’s is a state-of- the-art indoor climbing facility in One Utama which houses the most extensive rock climbing walls in the Klang Valley with over 1,600 square meters of roped climbing as well as lead climbing and bouldering in a 24m high, fully air-conditioned environment.
Routes are changed every 3-6 months so there’s always something new to challenge you, whether you’re a beginner or a pro.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing can be practiced for self-defense, but also for fun! This complete body workout will have you burning up to 800 calories an hour, putting you through a full routine incorporating warm up drills, shadow kicking, jumping rope and then bag work.
It’s a great way to relieve stress after a bad day at work. If you aren’t sure yet if kick boxing is the right work out for you, TNT Kickboxing at Sri Hartamas offers free trial classes.
Pole Dancing
Sceptics believe that pole dancing is something that only happens in a strip club, but this activity requires major strength, flexibility, endurance and control. It’s a mix of dance and gymnastics that tones the entire upper body and core.
An hour in pole dancing class will have you burn around 400 calories. Check out Bobbi’s Pole Studio in Bangsar if you would like to give it a spin!