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BEST GYMS
IN AMERICA
We polled fitness pros and active readers
across the country to find the hottest body
shops around. Whether you’re looking
for the perfect place to drop pounds or lift
weights, make like a pretzel or save dough,
check out our top 20 list. By Nicole Dorsey-Straff
FITNESSmagazine.COM | APRIL 2010
73
GYM CHAINS
BEST ALTERNATIVE
AMBIANCE
BEST CLASSES
24 Hour
Fitness Clubs
More than 400 locations
nationwide
(24HourFitness.com)
Starting at $30 for a
monthly membership
DavidBartonGym
Seven locations in
Chicago, Miami,
New York and Seattle
(davidbartongym.com)
$125 for a monthly membership, plus an initiation
fee; day pass, $25
Equinox
Fitness Clubs
48 locations nationwide
(equinox.com)
Starting at $130 for a
monthly membership,
plus an initiation fee
BEST SCULPTING
STUDIO
BEST WOMEN-ONLY
CLUB
74
FITNESSmagazine.COM | april 2010
Gold’s Gym
More than 500 locations
nationwide
(goldsgym.com)
Starting at $30 for a
monthly membership
Healthworks
Five locations in
Massachusetts
(healthworksfitness.com)
Starting at $36 for a
monthly membership
With a huge network of clubs throughout the country, some of
which stay open around the clock, 24 Hour Fitness members can
work out almost anytime, anywhere. Every sprawling location
(up to 100,000 square feet) features the latest strength and cardio
equipment plus a variety of classes, including quirky fare like Hot
Hula, a Polynesian-style core-sculpting dance workout with live
drumming. For extra weight-loss help, members can buy the
bodybugg ($199, mystore.24hourfitness.com), a wear-on-yourarm calorie-burn monitor, and have a coach adjust their routines
according to its readings. “The staff takes pride in what they do
and make it a supportive environment,” member Joy Kuraoka says.
Don’t be deceived by these funkily decorated clubs: Hipsters
are not the only ones who benefit! In addition to live DJs and
disco lights three nights a week, DavidBartonGyms are also
known for their stellar personal trainers and hard-core classes,
which are designed and taught by those trainers rather than
group fitness instructors. Six-Pack Attack, Pain & Pleasure and
Xpress Cycle are among the member favorites. The sparkling
locker rooms are stocked with high-quality lotions, shampoos
and conditioners. “The amazing space, the trainers, the
equipment and all of the amenities make it a cool place that
I love to visit,” member Leslie Wolfson says.
Not only does Equinox demand basic fitness certifications
from its trainers and instructors, but the boutique chain also
puts employees through signature continuing-education
courses, developed by physical therapists and sports medicine
pros, in which they learn skills like body-composition analysis
and metabolic testing. Group fitness classes, including energetic
Parkour Power Play and intense kettlebell training, are top-notch
too. And don’t be surprised if you recognize your instructor from
top-selling workout DVDs. “Any kind of fat-burning cardio class
at Equinox totally rocks; all of the instructors are pros, and they
play fantastic music,” member Tracy Madans says.
Gold’s Gym members praise the chain for its strength training
and body sculpting offerings, including free weights galore,
great personal trainers and group exercise classes like
Body Pump and Body Attack. Gold’s bigger locations (up to
120,000 square feet) also offer rock climbing, free child care
while you work out, smoothie bars and Cardio Cinemas—movie
theaters filled with exercise equipment. Additional benefits
include on-site physical therapists and Kid’s Clubs, which
teach children how to lead healthy, active lives. “There’s a very
friendly and knowledgeable staff here who are always willing
to help you train,” member Sonya Phillips says.
Members rave about Healthworks’s amazing female-friendly
programming: 100 classes weekly, including Pilates, boxing,
belly dancing and Mommy and Me sessions. Nursery services
are available at all locations, and locker rooms have immaculate
sauna and steam rooms. Plus, there’s an impressive rockclimbing wall at one location and an on-site nail salon at
another. “I joined Healthworks because I needed a no-judgment
atmosphere where I could change the way I thought about my
body. The trainers helped me prepare for a half-marathon,
and I lost 50 pounds,” member Hannah White says.
PRE VIOUS PAGE : CORE Y HENDRICKSON /AUROR A PHOTOS. THIS PAGE : ERIK L AIGNEL ( DAVIDBARTONGYM )
BEST BIG-BOX
GYM
YOGA STUDIOS
BEST SPA-LIKE
EXPERIENCE
BEST MUSICAL
MOTIVATION
BEST CLASSES
BEST INSTRUCTORS
76
FITNESSmagazine.COM | APRIL 2010
COIL Yoga
Fresno, California
(coilyoga.com)
Starting at $15 for
one class
Exhale
15 locations nationwide
(exhalespa.com)
Starting at $115 for a
monthly membership;
$11 and up for one class
Sanctuary
for Yoga
Nashville
(sanctuaryforyoga.com)
Starting at $15 for
one class
YogaWorks
23 locations in California
and New York
(yogaworks.com)
Starting at $112 for a
monthly membership;
$22 and up for one class
Pure Yoga
Two locations in
New York City
(pureyoga.com)
Starting at $140 for a
monthly membership;
$30 and up for an
unlimited day pass
Pick from 23 classes weekly in this earthy 1,500-square-foot
space residing in a 200-year-old historic building. Well-known
for its 90-minute calming Restorative sessions, COIL (as in
Conscious, Open, Integrated, Living) always sweats the small
stuff: Instructors bring cool cloths soaked in essential oils to
exercisers in the summer and steaming cups of tea in the winter.
COIL also offers kids’ yoga in the summer, so the whole family can
perfect its poses. Intimate classes fit 26 people, and instructors
arrive 20 minutes beforehand to chat with students and light candles and incense. “The teachers here have inspired and supported
my fitness journey for six years,” member Susan Angustia says.
Exhale locations, with serene teak-and-bamboo interiors, offer
75-plus weekly yoga classes, including Absolute Beginner Yoga
and Music Yoga Flow, in addition to their signature Core Fusion
sculpting sessions. Most instructors have completed about
500 hours of Yoga Alliance certification, 300 more than what is
required. Post-workout perks include on-site pampering options
such as deep tissue massages and detoxifying facials in Exhale’s
luxurious spas. “The energy is electrifying, the teaching is superlative, and the staff is knowledgeable and welcoming,” devotee
Jaime Rosenstein says.
This is not your typical zen den. Expect myriad flow and
power yoga classes, held nearly every hour, at this beautiful,
2,200-square-foot studio. There’s the popular 6 a.m. Power
Latte class, a flowing vinyasa series designed to jump-start
your day in lieu of java. The 60-minute Power Lunch class
features rock and roll, techno and hip-hop tunes, while the
post-work Yin Yoga is accompanied by a slow, sensuous
sound track. “I really enjoy the evening classes; the candles
and beautiful music allow for a deep, close-of-day practice,”
member Sarah-Jane Hill says. “It’s worth dragging your
tired self to the mat and just letting go!”
YogaWorks has become the Starbucks of asanas. Each
beautiful eco-conscious studio hosts more than 100 inspired
all-level classes each week, including signature offerings like
YogaWorks Slim, traditional disciplines like athletic ashtanga
and special sessions like prenatal and kids’ yoga. One of
the largest teacher-training schools in the world, YogaWorks
requires its instructors to earn 500 hours of certification.
“I always walk out feeling replenished,” longtime member
Debbie Margolius says. “Thanks to the number of classes,
I never miss getting my joyous yoga fix!”
The first U.S. studio of this Hong Kong–based yoga company
opened its doors two years ago. Both eco-chic approximately
20,000-square-foot spaces were designed with sustainable
materials and feature spa-like locker rooms and lounging areas.
Resident world-renowned instructors (most have taught more
than five years and have multiple certifications) abound in a weekly
schedule that includes 125 sessions and 27 different styles of
yoga, such as Iyengar, jivamukti and hot. Classes hold an average
of 20 students, who can book floor space online. “The quality of
each teacher is amazing, and the space itself is tranquil, serene
and gorgeously organic,” member Tiziana Bason says.
PALM BE ACH AT THE OMPHONY OCE AN RESORT ( E XHALE ) . MARION CURTIS ( YOGAWORKS )
BEST SMALL
STUDIO
WELLNESS CENTERS
BEST MOM-AND-POP
SHAPE-UP SPOT
BEST FOR FIT
FAMILIES
BEST ECO-FRIENDLY
EXERCISE
BEST HOLISTIC
APPROACH
78
FITNESSmagazine.COM | APRIL 2010
Cooper
Aerobics Center
Dallas
(cooperaerobics.com)
Starting at $157 for a
monthly membership,
plus an initiation fee
Brick Bodies Seven locations in
Maryland
(brickbodies.com)
$500 for an annual
membership
Spectrum
Athletic Clubs
23 locations in
California and Texas
(spectrumclubs.com)
Starting at $99 for a
monthly family
membership, plus
an initiation fee
The Green
Microgym
Portland, Oregon
(thegreenmicrogym.com)
Starting at $39 for a
monthly membership,
plus an initiation fee
Club Zum
Seattle
(clubzum.com)
$150 for a monthly
membership
This 40,000-square-foot fitness center offers 100 innovative
classes each week, like Pi-Yo, Aquastride, Salsaerobics and
Strictly Strength. Members also have access to two pools, an
outdoor track and a café stocked with healthy meals and snacks.
But the real boon for those with weight-loss goals is the added
support: Besides the usual personal trainers, Cooper’s staff
includes registered dieticians who provide nutrition consultations.
The center also hosts lifestyle modification courses and weightloss classes twice a week. “When I joined seven years ago, I
was tired of the typical gym scene. Cooper encourages wellness
as a way of life,” member Toby Graham says.
Each of these low-key neighborhood gyms, owned by exercise
DVD veterans and husband-and-wife duo Lynne and Victor Brick,
is stocked with standard workout tools and offers cardio classes
such as cycling, dance and kickboxing almost every hour. But it’s
the ultra-supportive staff that keeps Brick Bodies members coming back for more. The signature Extreme Brickover Weight Loss
Program includes nutritional guidance by registered dieticians,
motivational advice and sessions with personal trainers. “I love
the group personal training, the variety of classes—especially
Body Combat—and the staff. I haven’t met my weight goal yet,
but I’m enjoying the journey!” member Tori Knight says.
This upscale athletic-club chain features the latest equipment
and a well-run Kids Club, where children can participate in
games and arts-and-crafts projects while their parents work
out. You’ll find popular yoga, kickboxing, Spinning and Zumba
classes alongside kid-friendly fare like mazes, sports walls
and bounce houses. Most locations have a café for quick
post-workout lunches, a junior Olympic-size swimming pool
for laps and aqua classes for all ages. “I’m rewarded by being
able to get my exercise in for the day, while my son is rewarded
by all the love he gets at the Kids Club. We both leave happy,”
member Angie Catania says.
Save the environment and burn calories at the same time at this
compact 3,000-square-foot gym: It runs on solar power as well
as on patent-pending machines that generate renewable energy
as you exercise on them. New members get a free fitness
assessment, a 30-minute massage and a swipe card that allows
open-door access to the club from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Plus, for every hour of electricity you generate, you gain $1
toward gift certificates at local businesses. Its carbon footprint
is already 85 percent less per square foot than that of other
gyms. “I always get a good workout, and I’m inspired to walk
there and back to save gas,” member Tiffany Morrison says.
This newly renovated 20,000-square-foot industrial space houses
a staff with expertise in personal training, physical therapy, sports
performance, massage therapy and nutrition. New members
receive a fitness evaluation, postural analysis, and strength and
flexibility tests to establish a starting point from which to build,
plus one free training session a month to make sure they progress.
In addition to top-of-the-line equipment, Zum also offers about
20 classes, nutrition consultations and sports training tools, like
a rock-climbing wall. “Zum’s strength is in its trainers,” eight-year
member Sara Dickerman says. “They motivate you to perform
your best, but you’re having fun while you work out.”
BRIAN HARKIN ( COOPER AEROBICS ) . BRICK BODIES REISTERSTOWN SPINNING ROOM ( BRICK BODIES ) . BARBIE HULL ( GREEN MICROGYM ) . ANDREW WALSH ( CLUB ZUM )
BEST PLACE TO
LOSE WEIGHT
SPORTS-MINDED CLUBS
Institute
of Human
Performance
Boca Raton, Florida
(ihpfit.com)
Starting at $45 for a
monthly membership
BEST FOR URBAN
ATHLETES
The Sports
Center at
Chelsea Piers
New York City
(chelseapiers.com/sc)
Starting at $158 for a
monthly membership
BEST SURF AND TURF
The East
Bank Club
Chicago
(eastbankclub.com)
Starting at $170 for a
monthly membership,
plus an initiation fee
BEST CROSS-TRAINING
CENTER
BEST FOR THE
COMPETITIVE SET
Treehouse
Athletic Club
Draper, Utah
(tacfitness.com)
Starting at $69 for a
monthly membership
Greenwood
Athletic and
Tennis Club
Greenwood Village,
Colorado
(greenwoodathletic
club.com)
Starting at $82 for a
monthly membership,
plus an initiation fee
80
FITNESSmagazine.COM | APRIL 2010
This family-run facility delivers some of the best training in the
biz, regardless of what level athlete you happen to be. Just
7,200 square feet, the open studio caters to competitive athletes,
weekend warriors and regular Janes looking to lose weight.
Founder Juan Carlos Santana serves as a consultant to the
industry’s strength-equipment manufacturers, so the space has
the latest machines. Classes are intimate, with about 10 people in
each using stability balls, resistance bands and other functional
training tools. “I’m a busy mother with two children, and the club
created a plan that works perfectly for me and my schedule,”
says member Valerie Gotay, a National Judo Champion.
The stadium-size Sports Center at Chelsea Piers is equal parts
playground and athlete’s escape, with a regulation-size boxing
ring, a sand volleyball court, a quarter-mile indoor track, a rockclimbing wall, three basketball courts, a sports-drills center and a
25-yard indoor swimming pool. Not to mention a 14,000-squarefoot weight-lifting deck. There’s a full group fitness schedule, and
members can sign up for triathlon-training clinics or meet with
sports-specific trainers. Other perks: a spa and a café. “Once
you’re inside, you forget that you’re in the middle of Manhattan.
There are glass windows everywhere, so you’re always looking
at the Hudson River,” member Ann Marie Delaney says.
The East Bank Club is like Disney World for the sporty set: It has
two indoor pools, an adults’ and a kids’ outdoor pool, eight indoor
tennis courts, three racquetball courts and a golf center with
five driving stations. For everyday exercisers, the club also has
450 pieces of cardio equipment, a quarter-mile indoor track
and a 60-bike cycling room, as well as four exercise studios that
house more than 190 group exercise classes a week. Members
can pay for on-site body-fat and VO 2 -max testing, as well as
nutrition consultations. “The customer service is phenomenal,
and I’ve never waited for a piece of cardio equipment. You can’t
beat that!” says Nikki Miskowicz, a member for nearly 10 years.
In Treehouse’s vast 72,000-square-foot space, you’ll find five
workout studios; three racquetball courts; a 30-foot climbing
wall; one junior Olympic-size swimming pool; one pool dedicated
to therapy, water yoga and advanced lap swim; and a wellness
department that provides nutrition consultations, chiropractic
treatments and weight-management services. The club has
a roster of more than 100 fitness classes each week, but it draws
a devout athletic following thanks to its great triathlon club, free
running sessions and metabolic testing. “There’s something for
everyone here, and the instructors do an awesome job of really
pushing you—in a good way,” member Lisa Newell says.
This 142,000-square-foot behemoth includes seven clay indoor
and five outdoor tennis courts and four pools, including a yearround outdoor lap pool with a heated deck. Members can take
swim lessons, join a competitive swim team or participate in
triathlon-training clinics. Greenwood’s highly certified coaching
staff leads sports-specific classes and conditioning drills regularly. Members can also get their sports fix in 120 fitness classes,
including kickboxing, yoga and boot camp. “Greenwood goes
above and beyond effective exercise equipment and exciting
classes. Over the past 17 years there, I’ve discovered countless
ways to take better care of myself,” member Ashley Poole says. n
IHPFIT.COM ( INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN PERFORMANCE ) . FRED GEORGE ( CHELSE A PIERS ) . BRUCE VAN INWEGEN ( E AST BANK CLUB ) . JENNIFER KOPLIN ( TREEHOUSE ) . TIFFANY LE VINE ( GREENWOOD )
BEST FUNCTIONAL
FITNESS