Get Fit for the New Year: Free Heyrobics for Beijingers

To celebrate the sport’s growing accessibility, the Heyrobics team is offering all Beijinger readers free Heyrobics sessions at their new Lido location (at 3e International School) for the month of January.

The Lido sessions take place every Wednesday night from 6.45pm onwards (the time changes from week to week, so be sure to check out the schedule ahead of time at www.heyrobics.com) and will include Heyrobics circle training and core sessions (cardio, upper body, core and agility all in one). To join, just show up with the latest issue of our magazine, or email lido@heyrobics.com with your name and the number of people coming.

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, Heyrobics (or "Jympa") is the latest fitness phenomenon to hit Beijing. One of its leading pioneers, Linus Holmsater, tells us:

“Heyrobics is the biggest non-competitive sport in Sweden with more than 6 percent of the Swedish population as active members. They keep fit through what is essentially a one-hour workout performed by a single leader with easy-to-follow movements for the whole body. One could say it’s the Swedish equivalent of qigong, but on crack (and possibly done with Lady Gaga in the speakers)!”

In China, Heyrobics was only recently introduced at the Shanghai World Expo, but has become a fast-growing training form with a base in Beijing. Locations range from Sanlitun to Shunyi, students range from athletes to ayis. The main emphasis is that anyone can benefit from this form of exercise, regardless of age, skill or nationality. Heyrobics goes by the mantra: “Simple. Effective. Fun.” And in case the “fun” aspect is not made clear, the teachers also stick to a strict tradition of donning pink shorts for every session.

Classes at all other locations will be available for RMB 20, no signup necessary. Visit www.heyrobics.com for a comprehensive schedule and list of venues.