Atama Sports Club- Kempinski

Hotel Kempinski Zografski

1000 James Bouchier Blvd.

1407 Sofia

Phone: 962 09 99

HOT sex, hot bodies and hot weather seem to be all thought of in the same image. The hot weather has arrived in Bulgaria and if the other two haven't, then its time to take a look at what's on offer in Sofia.
The best place to be on a hot day is the beach on the Black Sea, but for some it is the worst place to be seen if one is still carrying the extra kilos of winter. The subject of what to do to get fit over summer has now become a regular topic over coffee or dinner with friends. So, the quest to find the best health and fitness club in Sofia began.
The essential ingredients for fitness centres are good equipment, pleasant surroundings, polite and helpful staff, and a facility that encourages you to return time and time again, self-motivated, to work hard and achieve personal goals.
What makes the newly renovated Atama health and fitness centre stand out  is the world-class fitness room. Owner Tatyana Karaboikova stylishly designed the decor of dark brown walls, wooden floors, orchids arranged in the centre of each Feng-Shui-placed equipment group, aided by motivational background music, that will inspire the laziest of fitness-phobes.
The fitness equipment really is the core of what brings people to a health club. Atama are Bulgaria's importers and distributors of the Technogym range of equipment and have such a close relationship with the Italian Company that they were selected to be the first to have the new ergonomic range of exercise machines in the world.
Technogym fitness equipment is leading the way in world fitness equipment, not just in looks, but, more importantly, in practical functionality. The look and feel carries a modern Italian finish while the motion works the muscles at their maximum benefit throughout a fitness regime.
To supplement a comprehensive weights workout, Atama has a range of new cardio vascular equipment: bicycles, treadmills, cross trainers and step machines, of which the newest are integrated with audio-visual equipment to keep you entertained while, begrudgingly and often boringly, forcing yourself to shed those unwanted kilos. If you can't stand passing the time on the dreaded cardio machines, then there is a range of aerobic style classes from yoga and tae bo to kick boxing, at various times throughout the day.
And for the person looking for something else, soon they will be holding Tantra sex classes. Sign me up!
The aromatherapy massage is truly special with the skilled therapists taking five minutes to begin with to understand what is going on in your life so they can recommend the right style of massage and essential oils. My therapist Zoya carefully selected five oils with the intention to first relax me and then revitalise me with energy an hour after the treatment. I guess it worked, I danced the night away until sunrise.
Massage rooms' feel are important. The main room is peaceful, candle lit and quiet giving the right relaxing ambience. The second is attached to the men's locker room and can be a little noisy, but the high quality of the massage soon relieves any distractions. At 35 leva it's a bargain!
I consider cleanliness next to godliness and there is nothing worse than sitting down on some cardio or weights machine and lying in someone else's pool of sweat. Clean perspiration towels are readily available in the centre of the room, and paper towels with disinfectant are strategically placed to encourage members to wipe up after themselves.
An important part of many health clubs that are overlooked are the changing rooms. The Atama - Kempinski has three changing rooms, the newest situated in the gym, housed with modern-style lockers, each key with a wrist strap for those who spend half their workout hour searching for the key that dropped out of their pocket, and modern clean shower facilities.
The times have changed and the new millennium has seen a new era in fitness facilities and attitude. It seems that the ways of old where we positioned ourselves at a free weights station, digging deep to motivate ourselves or have our feet under something heavy while painfully counting out sit-ups, has gone. Most reputable gyms have a team of personal trainers ready and waiting to give its members a helping hand in personal motivation. The Atama sports club is no different.
The catch, as with most facilities, is the floor trainers who only talk to regulars or to the beautiful girls who need a helping hand, leaving those who are unfamiliar to find their own way.
The club's atmosphere is conducive not only for health, but provides a social setting for its young professionals, actors, pop stars and also for the others like you and me. The club has a bar, Japanese style garden restaurant, and more recently the lease of the Sakura restaurant, specialising in fine Japanese cuisine.
Tatyana's approach suggests that the facility is part of her, and not to take anything away from it, she says that it is always a work in progress and she's continually looking at how to make improvements.
Additionally to the fitness centre the club provides: 
- Solariums: Egoline both vertical and horizontal range 
- Indoor Pool: Temperature 27 degrees with permanent lifeguard. Swimming lessons are available.
- Massage: Aromatherapy, therapeutic and sports. 
- Tennis: Two courts, one indoor and one outdoor for all weather conditions
- Sauna

The biggest downside to this club is that it gets busy in the peak times first thing in the morning and between six and 9pm. A sign that many Sofia fitness freaks think this is the right place to be.

Membership options range from 90 leva for five sessions to:
- 195 leva for one month 
- 485 leva for three months
- 755 leva for six months
- 1390 leva for 12 months

All prices are for full use of the facilities including fitness centre, swimming pool, sauna, and solarium.

This article is the first in a series, that will continue over the next few weeks, reviewing leading health and fitness centres.