Fitness and Wellness: The Best Gyms and Yoga Studios in Cúcuta (Seriously, I'm Exhausted)
okay, so. i'm a touring session drummer, right? which means my 'wellness' routine usually involves chugging lukewarm coffee and hoping my back doesn't seize up mid-fill. but we're in Cúcuta now, and even I can admit this place has a weird, compelling energy. plus, my chiropractor back home threatened to cut me off if I didn't start stretching. so, gyms and yoga. here we go.
right, so, Cúcuta. the weather's been… intense. like, a humid blanket wrapped around you 24/7. it’s the kind of heat that makes your drumsticks feel like they’re melting. and you know, it’s close to Venezuela, which is… a lot. People are moving through, trying to find stability. Rent's surprisingly reasonable, though. I heard you can snag a decent apartment near the city center for around $250-$350 a month. Jobs? Tough. Mostly retail and service, unless you're fluent in like, five languages and have a degree in something obscure. My buddy tried to get a gig teaching English, but the competition is fierce.
let's talk gyms. i hit up *Fitness First a couple of times. It's a chain, so you know what you're getting - lots of treadmills, some weight machines, the usual. It's clean, air-conditioned (thank god), and the staff are… trying. I overheard a guy complaining that the cable machine was always broken. Classic. It's on the pricier side, around $60-$80 a month, but hey, at least you can sweat out the stress of navigating Colombian traffic. Check out their TripAdvisor page https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297477-d13878833-Reviews-Fitness_First_Cucuta-Cucuta_North_of_Colombia.html for more opinions.
but honestly? the yoga scene is where it's at. i stumbled into Yoga Mandala completely by accident. It’s tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, and the instructor, Ana, is… something else. Like, she radiates calm, even when a stray dog wandered into the studio during class. The classes are mostly in Spanish, which was a challenge, but everyone was super welcoming. It’s a small space, but it feels… genuine. I paid about $10 for a drop-in class. A local warned me about the mosquitos after sunset, though. Apparently, they're vicious.
Pro-Tip: Bring bug spray. Seriously. Everywhere.
Gear List (for the traveling musician/yoga enthusiast):
Yoga mat (obviously)
Resistance bands (for those cramped tour bus muscles)
Small foam roller (back pain is real)
Bug spray (did I mention mosquitos?)
Spanish phrasebook (or Duolingo, whatever)
there's also this smaller place, *Studio Zen, that keeps popping up on local Facebook groups. Apparently, they specialize in hot yoga. I haven't checked it out yet, but the reviews are… interesting. One person said the instructor yells motivational phrases in Spanish. Another said the studio smells faintly of incense and desperation. You can find some chatter about it on this local forum https://www.facebook.com/groups/CucutaInfo/.
Overheard Gossip:
> “Did you hear about the guy who tried to open a CrossFit gym in the Zona Industrial? Apparently, nobody in that area wants to lift heavy things before 9 am.”
Overheard Gossip:
> “Yoga Mandala? Yeah, Ana’s amazing. But don’t go on Tuesdays. She’s experimenting with goat yoga. It’s… chaotic.”
Overheard Gossip:
> “Fitness First is fine, but the music is always terrible. Like, 80s power ballads. Who picks that?”
and then there's Body & Soul Gym*, which seems to cater to a more serious bodybuilding crowd. I peeked in - lots of serious faces, lots of protein shakes. Not really my vibe, but if you're into that sort of thing, it's definitely an option. Yelp has a few reviews https://www.yelp.com/biz/body-and-soul-gym-cucuta.
look, i'm not a wellness guru. i'm a drummer who's trying to avoid crippling back pain. but if you're in Cúcuta and need a place to sweat it out, these are your best bets. just… be prepared for the humidity. and the mosquitos. and maybe the occasional goat.
and hey, if you see Ana from Yoga Mandala, tell her I said hi. and ask her about the goat yoga. i'm genuinely curious now.
(ps: i'm also looking for a decent coffee shop. recommendations welcome. my caffeine levels are dangerously low.) check out this subreddit for local recommendations https://www.reddit.com/r/Cucuta/)
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