Energia Fitness Club

Riding on the upscale boutique fitness wave currently sweeping the nation, the Energia Fitness Club has set up shop on the banks of the Singapore River in impressive style. Sleek interior fittings in red, orange and black lend credence to its claim to be the chic one-stop fitness enclave for discerning, style-conscious working executives or committed fitness nuts with resources.

Naturally, it’s got all the best gear from Life Fitness and a core team of trainers offering tailor-made fitness programmes which make use of the more rarefied equipment like the speed-enhancing Plyometrics, muscle-strengthening Kettlebells and the ABT Blast popular with women looking to reshape their abs, butt and thighs.

The punching bag, boxing mitts, weight machines and dumbbell racks are thoughtfully grouped together, so despite its small scale, there’s plenty of space on the gym floor.

Unlike most fitness clubs, there’s a DJ – who, incidentally, moonlights as a personal trainer – spinning groovy, high-energy (as the name Energia suggests) beats that set the right mood for hardcore, high-concentration workouts.

It’s a winning combination, but one caveat: despite the swish finishes here, at times its exclusivity can pervade too strongly and often you can’t help feel cloistered by the ever-present gaze of the gym’s more sculpted denizens.

Thankfully though, the well-stocked café provides a more low-key retreat, with staff on hand ready to whip up various healthy concoctions. After a session of their hour-long high-energy programmes, you’ll surely need these. Jonathan TanMembership fee: 10 sessions at $90 each and 20 sessions at $80 each.