With the Olympics just finishing and my efforts to achieve a world record in being a couch potato also ending, my mind has been on fitness and sports in Phuket. But finding what is available for staying fit and healthy in Phuket can be a chore since the availability of facilities is seen as limited. Also, the prevailing heat when exercising outdoors is restrictive. With a little planning and awareness, however, it is possible to get the most out of life here — without damaging your health in the process.

If doing exercise solo is your thing, lately there has been a large increase all over the island in the number of health and fitness gyms. Gyms are an excellent way of maintaining fitness, particularly for those who like air conditioned comfort and watching TV. There are too many gyms to mention here, so ask around for what’s available. Most offer daily, monthly or yearly memberships, and many have Thai, resident and tourist pricing policies.

Some include spa, sauna and steam baths, personal trainers and aerobics classes. Some of the major hotel chains offer packages including swimming pool, tennis and squash court access. Housing estates around Phuket, such as Land and House on Chaofa Road and the Phuket Villa developments, also allow outside members to join.

At Saphan Hin, where many facilities have seen better days, there is an extensive range of facilities on offer, including tennis, basketball and badminton courts, football pitches, a gym, as well as daily classes of tae kwon do. Membership is available, as are casual visits. It is a challenge to find out what is open and when, and how much things cost. I suggest you have a native speaker call or, better still, go along with you to inspect facilities and discuss options.

For running, you need to keep away from the traffic and off the beach. Try Suan Luang Park, which also has tai chi, or the Hash House Harriers (HHH), dubbed “the drinking club with a running problem”. HHH organizes weekly runs and meets every Saturday at the Expat Hotel, Patong. Google the group for more information.

For those wanting to try beach volleyball, an informal group has played on Karon Beach, just north of the circle, for several years. Drop in on a game on Friday afternoons around 5pm. For rugby there is the Phuket Vagabonds, which organizes regular matches and tournaments. They train and play touch rugby during school terms at the British International School each Thursday at 4.30pm. Touch rugby is also often played on Sunday afternoons in front of Diver’s Bar at Surin Beach.

For those looking for an adrenaline rush, kite surfing is available for all ages at Nai Yang Beach during low season and Chalong Bay during the high season. See www.kitesurfingphuket.com for more information. There is also cricket with regular matches played at the school near the entrance to Laguna each Sunday and the occasional touring side. Check www.phuketcricket.com for details.

Muay Thai is also popular, and there are about four or five Thai boxing centres in Phuket, mostly in the Chalong-Kata area, and one near the Phuket Zoo. They not only provide instruction in this art, which is rapidly increasing in popularity, but also offer fitness programs.

Surprisingly, getting a game of football (soccer) is easy, with the game being played all over Phuket on some good and some not-so-good pitches. Mostly played by friendly Thais, the actual games can be competitive. Most players will welcome a foreigner to join in for a kick-around.

Aerobics, the exercise of choice for many Thai ladies, appears to change homes frequently. You can usually get a good workout during the evenings at the main Tesco Lotus car park and at Suan Luang Park.

There is also golf, and with an increasing number of courses on the island, it can be expensive. It’s much cheaper if you leave the buggy in the shed and walk the course. The Phuket Expat Golf Society has regular tournaments and can offer discounted green fees for residents. There are also regular tournaments, some serious, some more fun and Loch Palm has a discount yearly membership program for Phuket residents.

Finally there are the pubs that organize a range of sports more suited to lounge lizards and couch potatoes. Whilst darts and pool may not get you fit, they can take you away from the TV.