I am embarrassed to say this: Last Sunday was the first time I stepped into OTH, Our Tampines Hub. Yep, quite late to check it out despite the numerous posts from friends’ raving about it. In fact, they’re already preparing for their 1st year anniversary coming up soon in November!
Proudly calling itself Singapore’s first-ever integrated community and lifestyle hub, the complex contained multiple government agencies such as People’s Association, ActiveSG, HDB, and many more. You can find a myriad of shopping and dining, a cinema, senior care centre and medical facilities. Also offering a sports-centric theme, I was surprised to walk past a full-fledged stadium, right next to the retail area. Swimming pools, tennis courts, hockey and futsal courts all available for public booking.
Swimming on the rooftop
Searching for the swimming pools to attend an event got me walking around in circles for awhile. I guess I am still stuck in the past, thinking the swimming pools must be located somewhere on the ground floor. I was so wrong! Not only were the ActiveSG swimmings pools built way up there on Level 6, it features a total of 6 swimming pools with varying features and depths, all for different purposes:
Image source: ActiveSG
Whether you wish to do your swim laps at the competition pool, bring the kids to play at the interactive water play area or even relax at the jacuzzi, it’s all there!
Free sessions galore for Singapore
I love the idea of bringing sports and fitness right into the community space. It’s been such an arduous task getting people to join fitness classes. Sure, I’d admit that one more participant for me class definitely boosts my earning from that session. However the greater intent is to get folks to start exercising, being active, getting out of their sedentary lifestyle.
Are you aware HPB had been heavily invested in doing this over the past years, providing free sessions at nearby parks, shopping malls and even office spaces? I salute their cause and good efforts, working together with the various parties to offer free workout programmes.
Some fellow instructors may not be altogether happy about this, as the these free sessions draw potential paying students away from their classes. But for me, I’d just say – be glad more people are being exposed to your programs and have access to exercising, so give it your best for every session, free or not! I have some students who subsequently joined my classes too, so don’t just see it as another free program. Or worse still, present a slipshod session which only tarnishes your own reputation as an instructor and the fitness program itself.
Money makes the world go round?
Having said this, the sad part of it? I have learned that even with these free classes it still does not motivate some people to start exercising. Time, is usually the greatest excuse: “I end work late,”. “I need to rush home.”, “It’s too far for me to attend.”, etc. My friends, there are hundreds of free programmes and locations for these workouts, scheduled every single day and various time slots. If only you choose to, simply planning ahead to head to one of these session in your calendar.
Get moving today!
Make no excuses anymore. It’s hard to start. But once you get going and find a session you enjoy, may it be the kickoff to your new active self and a better you! Grab a friend, go to the links above to find a class. Likewise, there are plenty of classes held at the CCs and Sports Centres and gym facilities for you to sign up for. It won’t hurt your purse at all for these paid sessions, yet on top of them you might be able to enjoy additional facilities or perks like aircon studios, shower rooms, towel service, complimentary refreshments, etc.
Comment, share with me if you have registered for any of these sessions you read about from this post! I’d love to hear if my thoughts here initiated any form of traction in encouraging more people towards a more active lifestyle.
Remember, like many other things in life, it’s always a choice.