Mi Gym, a new independent health club on Kite Beach Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, had its grand opening on 1 December 2008.

The club, located on the five-mile beach, is housed in a character-filled former bar/restaurant within an older sports-focused hotel.

The main gym measures 280sq m, with a 60sq m yoga loft overlooking the beach.

There’s also a fitness platform for group exercise, a swimming pool with aqua fitness stations, a skate ramp used for jujitsu classes as well as skateboarding, a beach volleyball court, kitesurfing school and a therapy studio. Members also have access to kayaks and snorkelling gear.

The club was set up by “fitness industry veterans who moved away from the rat race to live on the beach”, says Mi Gym owner Steven Bowcutt.

The refit cost more than US$200,000, with strength equipment supplied by Hoist, racks and benches by Body Solid and CV from Vision Fitness and Life Fitness. Other equipment includes the TRX® Suspension Trainer® and bikes by Real Ryders and LeMond.

The target market consists of locals, foreigners in residence, tourists, kitesurfers, sailers and windsurfers. Instructors include a world class kitesurfer – the beach enjoys 240 ‘kiteable’ days each year.