Best gym you've ever been to?

[Dan C]

I'd like to hear about the best gym you've ever been to. I'm going to be opening a gym in the near future and I'm just trying to get an idea of what most peoples likes and dislikes are.

[minime]

Best gym I've been to is my current gym! Revolution Fitness Boston: It has everything a regular gym has but with an added 'functional training' room (bumper plates, kettlebells, rope, rings, boxes for box jumps..) There are crossfit classes too which I love but I realise the cost of becoming an affiliate is probably high.

What would make my gym better? a pool and a squash court! Oh, and lower membership cost grumble grumble...

[westside24]

Your gym should have at least 3 mirrors at each machine, so you can admire yourself while working out... haha or not...

the new gym they just opened in toledo called urban something? looks kick ass from what ive seen in the paper. its got basketball courts, olympic sized pool, giant hottub.

My gym has a pool and hottub too, but not nearly as big, but attached to the gym is also an Auto Repair shop, A Tanning Salon, Hair and Nail Salon, Nutrition Bar, Massage Therapy Place, and Laundry Facility. Theres also aerobics classes, yoga classes, step classes, kickboxing classes, all kinds of crap in addition to the 300 machines they have (even an area for handicap accesibilty) and theres nother half a gym dedicated for the free weight lifters. Its kinda like a mall when you walk in, the mall of fitness. Definately well designe to attract and keep people attracted to my gym.

Oh yeah and memberships are somehow only 20 bucks a month... actually mine is 15 because of discount thru my job.

[bodyshop20]

Raw iron with only the machines that are really needed, cable x overs pull downs etc.
Mirrors are a good aspect, showers are liked by many.
A cafe that sells only trainers needs as in what suits their training dietery needs, only found 1 gym with this facility.
Lots of muscle men women pictures, Videos playing of champs training for inspirational input.
My perfect gym would cost an arm and leg, but it would be a great gym.
Good luck Dan

[JMike]

My old gym in Edinburgh was outstanding. But to have those facilities you really need a lot of space.

For a smaller gym, I second the cafe. Sell protein shakes, fruit, flapjacks and porridge.

A laundry facility can really save space if your clients are coming from a distance. I saw a gym once where, for a monthly fee, you could rent shorts and a t-shirt, which you picked up at the front desk and dropped off after your workout. It was a really great idea.

Having the extra apparatus is important, and goes a long way in bringing in good clients. Kettlebells, dip belts and medicine balls all fit in here. You only need one set for that small percentage that need them and wont find them elsewhere.

Teaching is a great way to get people involved and earn some extra cash. Run sessions on Deadlifts, Cleans, Squats, 'How to improve you bench'. Basically pick a topic from the magazines and do the research. You've got the experience. Offer it at different levels, so beginners won't feel intimidated. Nutrition would be a great one too.

Get the girls in! A lot of women find it intimidating to workout when there aren't any other girls around. So court female friends that you know lift weights, and drag them in. Run 'Women and Weights' sessions to de-stigmatise them. Employ a female staff member (radical thinking, I know) and get her to spot in the free weights gym.

My old gym had a dedicated spotter. He just hung out in the free weights gym and would spot you on form or give an assist on bench etc. It was great to know that you could always get someone's help if you didn't know what you were doing. He was super-informed and a really nice guy which really made it work.

Get a camera/laptop. Sometimes the easiest way to know where you're going wrong is to see it. Let clients use (under supervision perhaps) the camera to record their deadlifts/clean/whatever and use the laptop to play it back. It doesn't need to be a great laptop or camera, heck a mobile phone would work. But a little outlay would be a great benefit to the client.

Have an internet access point. There are times when I can't remember how to do something. Or I want a bit of extra info on a lift. Being able to look it up would really help. Just watch block facebook and hotmail!

Hope those tips help, clearly I've wanted to run a gym for way too long.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by JMike

Employ a female staff member (radical thinking, I know).

LoL thats hilarious...

Dumbbells that go up to 150 pounds (or more).

More than one power cage so I can squat while "the other guys" can do their bicep curls in comfort.


Deadlift pit/platform. Can also be used for cleans and such.

Protein "bar" for my post workout drink (at reasonable prices, of course!).

But you already know all of this! What are some of your ideas?

[pseudonym]

agreed with Ironman Dan; you've had more time in good, and I'm sure average, gyms than many of us have had hot breakfasts - what are your thoughts?

For my input though, a great gym requires;

the 'alternative' implements mentioned above (Kettlebells, Plyo Boxes, Ropes etc...). Don't forget medicine balls ... real ones all the way up to 10/12 kg, not the shyte ones with handles on the side (yegawds they give me the sh!ts)

Oly Lifting Platforms (cheap as chips to build out of rubber and plywood).

Bumper plates (in addition to 'real iron' of course).

Minimal machines, maximal work space (the more power racks and benches the better).

Dedicated pullup space (i.e. freestanding frame or frame bolted to the wall/ceiing). Combined dip/chinup stations or chinup bars on power racks are less than ideal in my world.

More important than equipment and aesthetics however is the 'vibe', chalk is allowed, yelling and screaming (and sometimes maybe swearing) is OK too, at the very least you should be able to grunt and/or breathe heavy without a staff member getting all up in your face.

Hard work should be encouraged/expected, a board detailing gym records for certain events and organised events (perhaps to break said records) promote a sense of community which make speople feel like they belong which keeps them coming back to train harder and harder.

Experienced and knowledgeable staff are also a given - a 19 year old kid who cannot run 2.4km in under 13 minutes is not to call himself a PT or be given anything even closely resembling a job as one in a good gym... staff social skills are very important too (duh!)

From a business perspective I'd say look into endorsing/working with (growing?) a crossfit affiliate in your area (I know the guy that runs the gym our group train out of is making most of his income from the rent our coach pays ... we're the only people there most of the time). This is a niche market you can easily set yourself up to cater for (the stats on the growth of the CF brand is staggering). I'm not saying you should affiliate (although the whole process only costs about a grand I think) more so look at finding someone in your area who has or wants to but lacks the space or finances or whatever to get their own gym.

Feel like I'm preaching to the choir here - I'm excited to see what sort of powerlifting/strongman facility you'll end up with.

keep us posted!

[minime]

It is only $1000 a year for the affiliate fee for crossfit, i checked. You would have to become certified before the end of the first year though (another 1000 i think)

I would look into it first, see if being an affiliate would bring you enough extra business to justify the cost.

I am excited to see what your facility is like!

[Dan C]

I've shyed away from posting my thoughts on the subject simply because I have so many!

I think first and foremost the atmosphere has to be right. I regularly make 1hr+ drives to workout at the right place. And it's rarely because of the equipment either, it's because of the people. Good training partners, knowledgable coaches, an encouraging environment... I'll make a day out of that stuff!

There's a lot of things that can be done to create that environment too, and it all starts with the gym owner. Tough guys, assh0les and juice monsters will have no place in my gym. There needs to be a sense of camaraderie and I plan to know every member by first name, and introduce new members to as many people as I can.

The record board is a good idea as far as motivating people to perform better. I plan on having several "challenge" pieces too, be it the Inch dumbbell, the Blob, the #3 gripper, the SSST, the 135lb squat for reps challenge... whatever.

As far as equipment, it's no secret that I'm a fan of freeweight exercises. Machines would be limited to a leg press, a high/low cable pulley, a roman chair and maybe a pullover. Squat racks, half racks and power racks tall enough for a 6ft man to do standing overhead lockouts. Probably have a treadmill or two but a Concept 2 Rower is a must. Kettlebells, bumpers plates, strongman equipment and grip toys goes without saying. There would be a place for bodyweight exercises as far as chins, dips and ab work is concerned. A stretch rack like the ones found in the old "gymnasiums" would be cool too. Maybe a peg board, agility ladder, dot mat and some other odds and ends.

There needs to be a room for group classes and a smaller room could be used for massage, consultations, by-appointment babysitting, whatever.

I'd probably hire a college kid who is majoring in a related field to answer phones, clean equipment, update records, etc. I'd pay them minimum wage but allow them to do homework on their downtime. Of course, they must be friendly and likeable, they wouldn't train people but I'd encourage them to shadow me, observe and learn.

It'll be a "trainer friendly" gym where personal trainers are allowed to bring their clients to the gym. Both trainer and client must be current members and there will be a $10 fee to the trainer and he/she is willing to set his/her own prices. I figure if trainers can get by using the equipment that I will have available, they're philosophy can't be too much different than my own and they must know a thing or two. Of course, soliciting members on the gym floor will be prohibited. They can market their services anyway they see fit but use of my name and logo must be approved before making it's way into any printed material.

Chalk, sweating and grunting will be encouraged but I will openly poke fun of anybody doing any unnecessary screaming. Offensive language will not be tolerated in the presence of ladies or young people, but I might turn a deaf ear to the group of lifters traininig hard in an otherwise uncrowded gym. Yelling obscenities has no place here so the policy will be no profanity.

I also plan to sell equipment, lifting paraphenilia, apparel, sports drinks and protein supplements. Eventually plan ot have books, DVD's and training manuals for sale as well.

I could go on for days about this stuff. I have actually... for months I've been working on a business plan that details most of what I've posted above.

I've got more, but I'm interested in hearing more about what you all think. You guys are like my members' case study.

[westside24]

well, you realize what you descibed in your future gym, would really only attract people who are already experienced. It dont sound too beginner friendly. which this may be what you want, but I would personally try to get a large diversity of people in the gym...more people equals more money. <-- I know you know this, But I just wanted to say it.

[luke.w]

Originally Posted by westside24

well, you realize what you descibed in your future gym, would really only attract people who are already experienced. It dont sound too beginner friendly. which this may be what you want, but I would personally try to get a large diversity of people in the gym...more people equals more money. <-- I know you know this, But I just wanted to say it.

marketing and word of mouth can draw begginners to something like this
(i think??)
(I'd say Dan has word of mouth on his side right now, he has a way with the people, plus his credentials in training and what he's accomplished).

IMO "crossfit" is appealing to most who may have an interest in challenging their fitness levels (with weight training) one thing IMO keeping the roid monsters out will help, because take the world gym logo of the big gorilla lifting (and the old gold gym logo) those really attract that crowd, so most people think they need to be or will become "gorillas" to challenge themselves with compound movements, however those gyms are backed by so much space and money wise they can get away with it, with their massive cardio/arobic floors.

those youbetube videos are marketing that training well I believe, heck I myself would rather watch those crossfitters than alot of that powerlifting stuff, and much of crossfit weighttraining is really powerlifting, but much more appealing the way they carry themselves, and their skills.

crossfit, it's the future!!!

[Dan C]

Originally Posted by westside24

well, you realize what you descibed in your future gym, would really only attract people who are already experienced. It dont sound too beginner friendly. which this may be what you want, but I would personally try to get a large diversity of people in the gym...more people equals more money. <-- I know you know this, But I just wanted to say it.

Interesting comments. Of course, I want to make money with this venture but at the same time I don't want to create some kind of "chrome and fern" meat market with neon lights and mirrors everywhere.

So what in your opinion would make my idea "beginner friendly"?

[luke.w]

Originally Posted by Dan C

I don't want to create some kind of "chrome and fern" meat market with neon lights and mirrors everywhere.

I haven't set foot in a gym in years (I have a 7day VIP to "merrit" I'm thinking of using for the adventure), but some guy posted a pic of himself at the gym, WOW he looked like he was in a star-trek film, sleveless super tight underarmor shirt (the symbol looks like "star-trek") these chrome shiny earplugs/ipod? (looks spacey), crazy big gloves with wrist wraps (looked like he had moon gloves on), heartrate monitor strapped to the upper arm and the guy had a smooth bald head, to add then I saw the background, the gym itself, talk about space odessy 21st century.......

scary!

[Dan C]

Merritt isn't too bad, not as lame as Brick Bodies or Bally's, but close. If you go to the one in Towson, they've got a decent freeweight area that overlooks a HUGE cardio room. You might as well use it for what it's worth and do a few laps in the pool or kick back in the hot tub or sauna. It's not like you need to go there to workout, so why not use the things you don't have access to?

There's definitely something to be said about the "adventure" or just the change of scenery though.