Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 64

Lifestyle DID YOU KNOW? Parkour is a discipline developed in France in the 1980s that involves movement based on military obstacle course training. Part of the challenge of the activity is to think creatively, imagining the possible ways to traverse a complex environment. THE MOVEMENT PLAYGROUND Tired of your little wild one bouncing off your walls? Take them somewhere it’s actually encouraged! The Movement Playground offers parkour classes to harness your child’s ninja skills and reckless abandon, put- ting these apparently inborn traits to use in a safe and stimulating environment. Within an expansive, ware- house gym space, The Movement Playground replicates a gritty, backstreet-city feel, creating a fun “playground” of sorts, right here in the concrete jungle of Bangkok. Outfitted with pylon obstacle courses, balance beams, boxing bags, ropes, balls, truck tires, stretching mats, met- al monkey bars and free weights, this is a kids’ dream- come-true, with two highlights being its indestructibility and the room to run wild. And the group classes on offer take kids through a series of strengthening exercises and agility-building stunts that build balance and stamina. Perhaps the best thing about the recreational sports at The Movement Playground is that there is no gear or uni- form needed to participate. Free running and parkour are known as activities of “the urban playground” and thus require only comfy, loose-fitting apparel — no $60 cleats 64 WANDERLUST that your kid is going to outgrow in six months! Gear up with shorts and a tee-shirt — if you’re really feeling the grunge, your flat-bill cap worn backwards too — and you’re all set to tackle some tricks. This newly-acquired facility in Bangna is easily located and accessible to Mega Bangna, giving you time to grab a coffee with a friend while your little ones burn off some steam. Free trial classes allow you see if parkour is your kids “thing” before committing to classes, but we’re pret- ty sure they’ll be begging you to sign them up and you’ll be happy for your living room to remain intact, while they the scale walls and swing from the ceiling some- where else. CONTACT 93 Bang Na 33, Bang Na — Trat Rd. Bang Na Bangkok 10260 Phone: [phone] Facebook: fb.com/TheMovementPlayground Email: [email protected] WWW.WANDERLUSTMAG.COM