Update: Kate is no longer teaching pilates in Cambodia. We’ll let you know if she comes back!

“When you move to Cambodia, you’re going to experience a lot of stress. It’s really important to keep balanced.” So says Kate Liana, Phnom Penh’s only certified pilates teacher.

Phnom Penh pilates teacher Kate Liana teaches several pilates classes each week.

And she’s right, in that Phnom Penh offers a lot of possible stressors, both physical (far too much nightlife, the heat) and emotional (the traffic, sick water buffalo). In the face of all of these things “it’s important to stay balanced by including some healthy things in your life that are fun and social.”

She’s talking about pilates, of course, that physical conditioning workout that focuses on the body’s core, and strengthening the abdominals, legs, arms, hips and back. Many of us know it as “hard yoga.”

Kate has been studying pilates for 12 years and was certified seven years ago in New York City. She now teaches in several places around Phnom Penh. “People think of pilates as hard work and yoga as de-stressing. But pilates is, too. It’s a lot of hard work but we do a lot of breath work so it’s also good for stress reduction.”

You can join one of Kate’s pilates classes in Phnom Penh, listed below, or sign up for private instruction.

The Place

Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunchtime 12:15 to 1:15PM and Fridays 6:00 to 6:45PM at The Place. The Place is a private gym (and one of the nicest in Phnom Penh) but non-members can use the gym for one day for $15. All classes are free for members.

90 Sihanouk Blvd at Street 51 (across from Wat Langka), Phnom Penh
T: 023 999 799
theplace-gym.com

NataRaj Yoga

Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings 6:30 to 7:30PM at NataRaj. Classes at NataRaj are open to the public and cost cost $9 each for non-Khmers, or you can pre-purchase 10 classes for $80. They will be opening a new air-conditioned studio next month.

#52 St 302, Phnom Penh
T: 012 250 817; 090 311 341
yogacambodia.com

InterContinental Hotel Fitness Center

Wednesday evening 5:30 to 6:30PM and Saturday mornings 11:00 to noon at the InterContinental Hotel Fitness Center. Classes are free for members. Non-members can buy a daily pass for $10 that allows them to take classes that day and use the facilities, or $15 on weekdays and holidays. They also offer a pre-paid card good for 10 group classes (including yoga and aerobics) for $50.

296 Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Phnom Penh
T: 023 424 888 ext. 4721

You can also set up private individual or group pilates classes with Kate by appointment. T: 017 236 025