At first glance, it may seem as though surfing is the only sporting activity on offer in Canggu, and anyone who dislikes the ocean will be left on the sand among the broken shells and umbrellas. However, the recent boom in the town’s population has meant that you can get sweaty and fit a whole range of different ways – which is pretty important when you’re living in a place with such good-looking residents. Whether serene yoga, gruelling crossfit or laps of butterfly are your thing, this not-so-sleepy beach town has it all.
Samadi Bali
Jalan Padang Linjong 39
The setup at Samadi is so goddamn breathtaking that your chakras basically align as soon as you arrive. The open-plan yoga studio is exceptionally designed, and the grounds provide a serene backdrop for any practice, from mysore and ashtanga to ecstatic dance and kirtan. Samadi also completely lacks pretension: the experienced yoga teachers are inclusive and patient, and you’re likely to make friends with other yogis over a kombucha at the on-site café. The venue also offers teacher training, accommodation and holistic wellness treatments. Another bonus is that every Sunday, Samadi holds a gorgeous hippie market. Come by between 9 and 4 to snap up some organic veggies, essential oils, homemade beauty products and groovy clothes and jewellery.
CrossFit Wanderlust
Jalan Raya Padonan No.6
Whether you’re a complete rookie or a CrossFit veteran, everyone at Wanderlust will embrace you with open (and rather muscly) arms. Located in Padonan, the gym is open seven days a week from 7am, and is the largest and best equipped CrossFit venue on the island. It prides itself on “building better humans” inside and out, and the coaches are charismatic, enthusiastic and professional. The variety of classes on offer is huge: in addition to CrossFit, you can give things such as Olympic weightlifting, mobility, and Metcon a crack. It gets pretty bloody hot inside, but you are in Bali after all, and that’s nothing an icy-cold coconut can’t cure once you’re done.
FINNS Recreation Club
Jalan Pantai Berawa
With four hectares of fun, FINNS Recreation Club – which used to be known as the Canggu Club –offers an unbeatable range of activities for kids of all ages (including the ones with jobs and kids of their own). With soccer fields, Splash Water Park, Bounce Trampoline Centre, Strike Ten Pin Bowling, Cubby House Kids Club and a large gym, there is no possibility of boredom. They also hold events throughout the year, so check their website for their monthly calendar and mix up your weeks in Canggu. An adult’s day pass costs 150k if you come between 5 – 8pm, or 250k between 6 – 4. Weekly and monthly membership options are also available.
Taman Segara Madu
Jalan Batu Bolong No. 27B
If you like your laps of freestyle to take place in a more local setting, and be peppered with a tumble on a waterslide, come on down to Taman Segara Madu Waterpark. Located at the top of Batu Bolong, the recreational facilities are among the most affordable in Canggu, and the venue even boasts an Olympic length swimming pool. The in-house restaurant serves up tasty Bali favourites such as kopiand nasi goreng, and its air-conditioned function rooms can also be booked for super cheap if you and your swimming pals ever have business to attend to.
Desa Seni
Jalan Subak Sari No. 13
The classes on offer at Berawa’s Desa Seni are a little more expensive than usual, but from the moment you park your scooter in valet parking and walk into the tranquil utopia, you will understand why. This tropical paradise offers many types of yoga, from kundalini to vinyasa flow. The mats are free and the studio is open and airy with surround-sound speakers playing soul-calming tunes. Share a free ginger tea after class with other yogis while you sprawl your stretchy self on a day bed.
S2S Crossfit
Jalan Raya Semat, Berawa
With a strong emphasis on community, S2S (Strength to Strength) is both a CrossFit gym and a great place for meeting people. Each day offers a fresh work out developed by their fantastic instructors, who know how to get the most out of your body. Their high-intensity sessions will have you lifting Olympic weights, practicing gymnastics, and cardio, cardio and more cardio. CrossFit is hard and rewarding, and will get you sweating and grunting, though don’t be scared – they provide light classes for the newbies. A one-class pass is 200k, whereas monthly membership costs upwards from 1.1 million.
2BeFit Bootcamp
Pantai Batu Bolong– right out the front of Old Man’s (and we know you know where that is)
For those who feel claustrophobic in gyms and are over regretting monthly memberships that are never used, 2BeFit offers an awesome alternative to exercise. The local trainers use improvised equipment, really proving that you don’t need a full gym to stay fit. You will sweat your way through bicep curls with coconut hand weights and dead lifts of bell bars made of bamboo and sandbags, while looking out over the beautiful Balinese ocean, counting down the minutes that you can run into the water. A session is a mere 70k, and classes are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Avenue Fitness
Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No.55
Avenue Fitness is worth a visit for the air conditioning alone. It’s modern, spotless and hosts well-taught classes – yoga, combat, including, for the more adventurous, belly dancing! It is a bit on the small side, but the staff are lovely and receptive to feedback and its community of fitness-loving gym junkies are loyal and warm. A casual pass costs 150k, which, considering you can do a fitness class, use the equipment and then wind down with a yin yoga session, isn’t bad value.
COMO Resort Gym
Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan, Echo Beach
Large and full of light, the gym at COMO Uma’s claim to fame – aside from being located in a luxury resort – is its Jungle Sports centre. No, there’s no rope swings and palm trees; Jungle Sports is a TRX-style workout where you build muscles and burn a tonne of calories using suspension equipment. Also on offer are a variety of LifeFitness Exercise machines, daily yoga and Pilates classes, and surf lessons.
