Step Up That Commitment to Getting Fit at BetaMe Fitness Transformation Center

If you're anything like me, then you'll have made multiple vague plans to "get fit" over the years but never really made that much of an effort beyond a few gym classes or making sure you cycle to work a few extra days a week. While there is a lot to be said for planning your own workouts, if you do need a little more of a push in the right direction, then new gym/fitness specialists BetaMe Fitness Transformation Center could be for you.

Unlike a traditional gym, BetaMe offers exclusively personal training, pairing you with a trainer who will work out a program to help you reach your fitness goal. As founder Leon Chen puts it, BetaMe is staffed by "fitness experts who deliver immersive and individualized training programs focused on rapid and sustained body transformation." All of the trainers speak English and you will recognize many faces who have worked at other top gyms in Beijing over the years. Their flagship program runs for 12 months with two to four one-on-one sessions a week. In order to encourage people to really commit, they have you put down a deposit at the start of your program, similar to how you would with a housing contract. 

BetaMe has only been open for a few months so I can't give you any examples of magical transformations just yet. However, I have had a couple of weeks worth of sessions myself and I have to say that they really put you through your paces. Although the sessions are only around 30-40 minutes, working one-on-one means there is nowhere to hide or take a sneaky break like there is in a group class — basically, you are working for every one of the 30 minutes. That being said, your trainer will, of course, modify your program based on your fitness level and goals.

Another aspect I like is that your trainer will encourage you to set short and long-term goals that are both physical and functional. So, for example, your short-term functional goal might be to do 10 full pull-ups (way harder than it sounds) while your long-term physical goal might be to lose a certain percentage of weight or body fat. Hitting your functional goals makes it a lot easier to press on and meet your long-term goals. 

In addition to the gym, there is a sauna, male and female showers, an assessment room (where they do scary things like tell you how much body fat you have), a yoga room, and a massage chair. After your workout, you can grab a protein shake or even a beer in the lounge area, which has pretty great views out over China World Mall and the CCTV tower. 

Pricing starts from RMB 380 per session, with the price per session going down depending on how many sessions per week you choose (Leon recommends three per week for best results) and is paid on a monthly subscription basis. For more information, call or add Leon on WeChat at 18810789817.

BetaMe Fitness Transformation Center
1806, 18/F, E-Tower, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区光华路数码01大厦18层1806室

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Photos: Robynne Tindall, courtesy of BetaMe