Depends upon what you're looking for. I was looking for two things: proximity (or I wouldn't go) and luxury. I can't speak much for pricing, group classes or personal training.
I chose Genesis because it had great cardio machines, a friendly staff, free tanning, towels, fully loaded locker rooms, serious fitness-minded people (not a meat market). When it closed, my membership was sold to Gold's. No towels. No soap in the locker room, much less anything else. The "trainers" acted more like bouncers, flexing their arms in the corners and ignoring questions. Fees for tanning. Expensive smoothies and power shakes. Meat Market. I went maybe five times and said fuck it.
A couple of my friends bailed and went to Pulse, which is where I ended up. Me & the kids are $84 a month, and that includes all group classes, nursery, towels, training help whenever I need it, great equipment, an olympic-sized pool and no meat market. There's one location at the Sheraton in RTP, so I can go at lunch. There's another around the corner from my house in N. Raleigh (Celebration at Six Forks). No excuses about it being inconvenient.
Of course, this is the place where the trainer Ron Washington totally tried to rip me off, and it took months to straighten it out with his management, who kept him on the staff even after they made him pay me what he stole. But in the land of horrible HMOs and even worse gyms, it's not so terribly bad.
Thanks for the suggestions/reviews. My ideal gym would be close (no more than 10 minutes from my home/office), and have lots of free weights (esp. a squat rack), and rowing machines. I don't particularly care if there luxurious amenities (towels, sauna, jacuzzi), but everything should be clean, and basic toiletries (paper towels and hand soap) should be available. I'll check out Pulse.
The Pulse locations at Highwoods and Celebration at Six Forks have larger and more comprehensive weight rooms. The gym at the Sheraton isn't as focused on weights, but they're in the middle of remodeling and who knows what they'll do.
If you end up signing at Pulse, mention me and I'll get a free fleece jacket.
I actually have memberships at 2 -- I will sometimes go to a random Gold's, and sometimes go to the Y on Hillsboro St. I think they both run me about 35 each/month. The Y is much less a meatmarket. Some Gold's are better than others -- I tend to work out at the newest one in Cary. I'm pretty low-maintenance, though. Stick me in front of a huge flat-sreen, on a treadmill, and I'm good to go.
I've been going to Spa for close to a year now. I have no expereince with any other gyms, so I can't really compare... but here's what's up with Spa....
I pay about $35.00 a month, which covers use of the entire facility (all clasess except Pilates, the wet area (pool, whirpool, sauna), traininers when i need it), friendly, knowledgeable staff, diverse membership (ie it's not all local wanna be linebackers pumpin' up even more), clean locker rooms/showers. Classes vary from spinning, kickboxing, water aerobics, step, hi/lo impact, body flex, yoga, pilates.
They don't have towels, soap, etc in the bathrooms... but i'd much rather use my own products anyway. They don't have locations all over the place (1 each in cary, n.raleigh, rtp, durham, chapel hill). The raleigh location doesn't have babysitting, i don't know about the others.
If you don't need soap, babysitting, or a tanning bed... and just want to sweat a little... try out Spa. They'll give you 7 day pass to try everything out before committing. Or I could hook you up with a 30 day pass if you want.
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archerships
no subject
Date: 2003-01-19 06:55 pm (UTC)I chose Genesis because it had great cardio machines, a friendly staff, free tanning, towels, fully loaded locker rooms, serious fitness-minded people (not a meat market). When it closed, my membership was sold to Gold's. No towels. No soap in the locker room, much less anything else. The "trainers" acted more like bouncers, flexing their arms in the corners and ignoring questions. Fees for tanning. Expensive smoothies and power shakes. Meat Market. I went maybe five times and said fuck it.
A couple of my friends bailed and went to Pulse, which is where I ended up. Me & the kids are $84 a month, and that includes all group classes, nursery, towels, training help whenever I need it, great equipment, an olympic-sized pool and no meat market. There's one location at the Sheraton in RTP, so I can go at lunch. There's another around the corner from my house in N. Raleigh (Celebration at Six Forks). No excuses about it being inconvenient.
Of course, this is the place where the trainer Ron Washington totally tried to rip me off, and it took months to straighten it out with his management, who kept him on the staff even after they made him pay me what he stole. But in the land of horrible HMOs and even worse gyms, it's not so terribly bad.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-20 11:36 am (UTC)Squating
Date: 2003-01-20 01:12 pm (UTC)Enough with my spiel... i'm starting to sound like i work there.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-20 02:11 pm (UTC)If you end up signing at Pulse, mention me and I'll get a free fleece jacket.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-19 07:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-20 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-20 04:41 am (UTC)I used to have a membership with them, and let's just say they sucked, and had a nasty habit of withdrawing my dues TWICE a month, instead of once.
Rar
I go to Golds right now. It's great, plus they have locations EVERYWHERE. As in, going to Hong Kong? Cool, they have one there you can use. ;)
no subject
Date: 2003-01-20 11:44 am (UTC)Spa Health
Date: 2003-01-20 05:21 am (UTC)I pay about $35.00 a month, which covers use of the entire facility (all clasess except Pilates, the wet area (pool, whirpool, sauna), traininers when i need it), friendly, knowledgeable staff, diverse membership (ie it's not all local wanna be linebackers pumpin' up even more), clean locker rooms/showers. Classes vary from spinning, kickboxing, water aerobics, step, hi/lo impact, body flex, yoga, pilates.
They don't have towels, soap, etc in the bathrooms... but i'd much rather use my own products anyway. They don't have locations all over the place (1 each in cary, n.raleigh, rtp, durham, chapel hill). The raleigh location doesn't have babysitting, i don't know about the others.
If you don't need soap, babysitting, or a tanning bed... and just want to sweat a little... try out Spa. They'll give you 7 day pass to try everything out before committing. Or I could hook you up with a 30 day pass if you want.
Happy Monday!
Re: Spa Health
Date: 2003-01-20 11:46 am (UTC)