Go Gym Chiang Mai

Whilst passing 3 days in Chiang Mai trying to sort visa issues I have found a gem of a gym I want to recommend.

Go Gym Chiang Mai. It's in the north of the city just off the superhighway junction with the 107 road to Pai. There is a map on their Facebook page.

The gym is on an industrial estate and is essentially a load of equipment in a hanger, open on all sides except for some chain link fencing. It's about as heavy metal as it gets. Especially when the surrounding hangers start their working days. Garages, car valeting companies, and an iron works.

From what I could tell the gym is owned by a Thai guy who also owns a motorcycle chop shop. Totally adds to the feeling. Especially when they are busy welding nearby whilst you work out.

The equipment is all good stuff (Hammer Strength), very clean and plentiful so no waiting for squat racks or smith machines. The showering facilities are extremely basic compared to the UK, but working.... so luxury compared to some places in Thailand.
At the reception they offer healthy food and protein shakes in a little cafe area. Nice touch. All the staff were really helpful and friendly and it was only 60baht per day for entry. Open 8am - midnight. So for 60 baht (£1.10) you can get multiple session in during the day.

I'd go in the morning, hit a muscle group then ride round to the MAYA shopping centre. Watch a movie at the cinema and then head back to the gym for a different muscle group then head the other way on the superhighway to the Central Festival shopping centre to watch a second movie there (I didn't want the cinema staff realising I was on a movie binge).

It was interesting to see the clientele at the gym. There were a lot of super jacked up Thai guys. Body builders with questionable supplement programs and lots of biker looking dudes. Lots of tattoos on show and also lots of bike and bike gang merchandise. Not sure if its linked but I noticed the club house for the 'Mongols - Chiang Mai' was only a short distance away.

Anyway, great gym. Nice people. Easy to find. Cheap.

Gotta say after all the Muay Thai and conditioning  training it was really nice to feel the muscle fatigue from a simple weights session. I haven't felt that 'pump' and 'burn' in ages. It's such a different feeling to fatigue brought on through endurance training.

The grass is always greener! I found this stuff boring back in the UK. Granted I was only at it 3 days, but it was really enjoyable, and I feel stronger for having done it. Training like that and seeing yourself in the mirrors was a good confidence booster.