I have to have a trainer that can push me and I'm confident they know what they are doing. Chris is…read morea fantastic adaptable trainer that can train a team with variable fitness levels. He leads by example and makes your feel comfortable (whilst in pain lol).

From the owner: - Personal and or Group Training - Boxing Classes (Pads and…read moreBag work) - Fat loss training - Strength and Conditioning - Massage and Remedial Therapy - Cardio and Endurance Training - Sports Specific Training - High Performance Fitness Training - Strength, flexibility and resistance training - Swiss ball training - Core and lower back conditioning - Tailored fitness programs

OH GOD MY LEGS. Kaya…read morehas been kicking my ass for the past month and this is the only sentence I can utter after one of their killer pilates reformer classes. Kaya is part of that new breed of gym where you really feel like you should be dressed up when you go in - it's just that beautiful. Hardwood floors, geometric architecture, you could confuse this gym with a trendy new Northside cafe. I am addicted to their pilates reformer classes. They are touch but achievable and you honestly feel stronger the next day. They also host Barre classes, boxing classes and a variety of different yoga classes in temperature controlled rooms. One of the coolest things about Kaya (at least in my eyes) is the electronic lockers. At my last gym, I was given a beaten-up key to a grotty locker, but here the lockers are ready for you to input your very own 4-number code. Easy. Simple. Secure. If you work/live in the city and are looking for a decent gym, look no further.

Looking for a space to get your health kick on? Look no further then Kaya. With their range of…read moreclasses, people pop in and out straight from work and the daily grind, and into workout clothes for a session to get themselves back in order. Its a health club. You wouldn't come here for the gym, even though they have what you need here. But the classes? Oh yes. You may look into some of the rooms and think to yourself, what the heck are these machines? Why that is Reformer Pilates. Get on one and find out for yourself, cause it'll be your new friend. This session made me remember that I had a core. Who knew? And after those 45 minutes of intense not expecting to get sweaty -but I did, I was most definitely sore the next day. And I loved that. Yoga has always been my go-to. Nidra yoga with Ashleigh here is something everyone should do to get in touch with your inner peace. Its so soothing, almost like a grown up nap time. But it's so so much better than that, like mind out of body stuff. Plus, it's much more rewarding. Yin and meditation was with Derek; yin yoga really focuses on getting to know one pose and learning what is comfortable for you. Being someone who normally does vinyasa, yin is calming, and it's good to stretch yourself in one pose. I walked out feeling like a pigeon pose champ. The barre class. Holy cow, for anyone looking for that dancer-type body, this one's for you. I had zero idea of what I signed up for, except for Google pictures and making up some concept in my mind. The Monday night session with Kirby kicked my butt, well my legs actually. It was so different from what I imagined it'd be like, and a lot more strenuous. I was that person taking little intermittent breaks just to compose myself. Yep, not ashamed, I just was not used to that intensity in a workout. For days following this, my legs felt like straight up jello. Kirby was great, she was extremely motivating and fun, and mixes it up. Matt, the Membership Advisor, is a sweetheart and the perfect go-to person for enquiries and help. I mean, everyone is nice and friendly at Kaya, but Matt was welcoming as well. The location is ideal, convenient for any city folk as it's the top of the emporium and it feels like a sanctuary sitting up there. What better way to sweat yourself back into shape then on top of a mall?

Great club, top line equipment, friendly social interactions, recommend if you are local or passing…read morethrough.

Full disclosure: I'm approaching 40 years old and haven't been a member of a gym in my life…read more That's a lie. I was a member of a rival gym a couple of years ago. When I joined up I was given an introductory personal training session in which I was reminded how unfit I was and sent packing with a detailed report on my woeful state of health. Or that's how it felt. Totally demoralising and I never went back. That was the background to my contact with Virgin Active (Bourke St.), following a new determination to get fit. It loomed in the background as I perused their site and filled in the contact form. So much so that I shared it with them when they called me back the same day. And again when I had a tour. But my experience with Virgin was nothing like what I experienced elsewhere. It was positive, inclusive, accommodating. They looked to take their cues from me and support my goals rather than impose their own standards. I could talk about the equipment (loads of it), the space (masses of it), or the range of activities (pool/spa/sauna? Check. Indoor rock climbing? Check.) I could mention the cleanliness of the venue or friendliness of the staff. But what it comes down to here is care. Is this a warehouse full of keep fit stuff or does it house a culture of care? It's the latter. Virgin Active have my ongoing business because at each stage they have proven themselves to care about who I am, where I'm at and what I'm aiming for. And that's valuable.

You would be forgiven for thinking that this gym does not belong to a chain group called Fitness…read moreFirst. I was gifted a corporate gym membership; of which sadly had to be returned after six months of use. Although in saying this, I was fortunate to enjoy two casual classes two weeks ago as the company I used to work for had failed to cancel my membership here. An abundant bonus. The classes are exceptional, and so are the instructors - especially Brandon on a Friday afternoon when you join him at 5:30pm for Body Attack, and with him again at 6:30pm for Body Balance - two fantastic Les Mills workouts, and he is a great start to the weekend. The reception staff defy the service you would normally receive from chain stores - they actually know your name and thus greet you by your name the moment they see you before handing in your membership card to be swiped. And when you misplace your card; it is usually immediately ready to re-collect. The launch classes of new releases on the Les Mills workouts are always so much fun. There is a different theme for each new release where you might have to dress up in halloween clothes for instance, and sometimes instructors run special classes for fundraising purposes where you cannot get in without a gold coin donation. Something Brandon did on one of his Friday afternoon Body Attack classes which went for a marathon 90 minutes once; instead of the normal 60 minutes which is intense enough.

This gym is great! It has everything you need! Gym gear, weights training, stretch room, lots of…read moreprograms that come included with your membership! Sauna, steam, relaxation room! It's just great. It has recently undergone improvement in the toilets and upgraded, which has been fantastic! The weight training has lots of equipment, so no matter how busy you can improvise with something else or you wont be waiting long for the next available! I have used a personal trainer here, however found that to be a little to pricey! Apart from that, all is good! A great gym and great location!

Most members or casuals would not disagree if we said this place needed a good, hard clean and a…read morerenovation (overdue ten years ago). But there's something that draws us to Olympia. It's a dirty & grubby, iron-pumping institution. Open I think 365 days per year which is great for those of us who would prefer to pump some iron rather than sitting around, eating crap & drinking beer on our public holidays. This is the kind of place you'd likely see the likes of Rocky / Arnie sweating it out. The owner, Paul, is very welcoming & is always willing to offer a helping hand if needed. So if you want a shiny, happy & sparkling gym, try your local FF or Genesis. If you want a place to lift heavy s**t with the big boys, then this is your place. Memberships are super inexpensive and of course, like anything, you get what you pay for. x

I feel a bit weird reviewing this gym. Sort of like I'm cheating on my long-time favourite, Virgin…read moreActive. The fact of the matter is however, I no longer work in the city. So making a special trip in for Virgin seems a little extreme. Moreover, at just $23 a fortnight, North Melbourne Recreation is a darn sight cheaper than the big V. Joining North Melbourne Rec gives you access to a surprising number of different facilities for that weeny price too... the basketball stadium (home court of the Melbourne Tigers), tennis courts, Carlton baths, North Melbourne swimming pool and of course, the gym. I generally go during off-peak hours so I can't comment on how busy it gets, but I've been impressed at how smoothly things seems to run during the more in-demand times. For those who are so inclined, it's probably also worth noting that as this is the home ground for the Melbourne Tigers (basketball) AND the North Melbourne Kangaroos (AFL) you often aren't short of eye candy. What it's really about for me though, is that it's clean, new and supervised. The latter being important for those of us who may have a nasty habit of passing out on occasion!

the NMRC has loads to offer almost everyone, from pool to gym and even basketball and netball…read morecourts! Personally I am a fan of the pool! There is the usual 25m lap pool divided up in to fast, medium and slow but the big star of the North Melbourne pool isn't the lap pool. it is the three other, interconnected pools. Starting at a baby pool, which must only be a few centimeters deep and is totally covered by a shade cloth. This is connected by a small pebble path to a toddler pool, with steps and 'beach entry' so the little ones can approach it with ease. For those who don't know, a 'beach entry' is just a gentle sloping ramp from the side down to the bottom of the pool so it almost feels like a beach, if you ignore the lack of sand. The toddler pool is only partially covered by a shade cloth, so parents can get a tan as well as playing with the little ones. Next is the main pool, also connected by a pebble path to the toddler pool (I don't know why i found that so cool, maybe it was just the burble of the water or the more natural feel) The main pool is where all the action is! Like the toddler pool, it has steps and a 'beach entry' and steps. It has a few little ledges to sit on and for children to play, In the middle is a huge water umbrella to make sure you stay cool on the 40+ days. All in all this is a great pool for all ages!

Moved to a new location to a larger premise finally. Old place was a bit tight but new space is…read moreawesome and spacious... if you can find it. Still the same friendly crew focused on cleanliness. Best strength training facility across neighbouring suburbs. It's a hidden gem!

Boutique gyms,there are a lot springing up around the suburbs…read more My partner recently joined a new 24-hour gym just up the road and after raving about how fantastic it is, he convinced me to come with him and have a look around. I have to admit, it is really nice. Brand new cardio and weight machines, including a fair few cross trainers and treadmills; beautiful and clean bathrooms with hairdryers, and a high tech security system are just some of the features that Anytime Fitness boasts. We had a chat to one of the personal trainers about the benefits and limitations of joining a 24-hour gym and he managed to convince me that it was a really useful and practical way to get in your exercise if you are strapped for time. One particular example he gave us was about a new mother who woke up every morning at 3am because her baby was crying. Instead of lying around in bed or getting frustrated, she would come to the gym with her daughter and do a workout instead. The other benefit I thought worth mentioning was the security system. People training can wear a sort of necklace with a button that once pushed sends out an emergency call to the police and a private security firm.

I have been going to this place since it opened a few months ago, I'd have to say it's probably the…read morebest gym I've been to (for me anyway). It's pretty big, it's always clean & it has a huge women's only section! They allow for casual visits as well, so on the weekends if I want to train with a friend I can.

Great gym, great staff in a great location! Huge free weights area with more squat racks than you…read morecould ever need! Staff are super friendly and helpful. You can train freely without having to worry about being too loud or dropping the weights. All other members are super respectful and I've only ever had pleasant interactions coming to this place. Overall a solid 10/10 gym with everything you could ever need if your goal is to get some serious lifting sessions in!

Aquarena is currently undergoing some major renovations but it still has a lot to offer. There is…read moreplenty of onsite parking and easily accessible by public transport. You don't have to be a member to make use of the facilities, casual passes are also available. The indoor and outdoor pools will be put to good use come summer; there are instructor-led aerobic/swimming/weights/yoga classes that cater to the young and old; and the weights facility has been relocated close to Westfield Doncaster due to the ongoing renovations. For parents with young kids, you can still get in your workout as there is an on-site day care centre. If you enrol your kids in the swimming lessons there is a cafe to cater to your caffeine and nutritional needs.

Being a typical Asian who can't swim I have been attending adult swimming lessons at Aquarena and…read moreit has been an amazing experience. Kobe my swimming instructor has been wonderful. She is very patient and extremely helpful. My journey from being scared of water to being able to now do backstroke and a little bit of freestyle would not be possible without Kobe's help! Aquarena's pools are clean and very safe with life guards on duty at all times. The change room facilities are also very clean and well maintained and the showers are perfect after a hard swim lesson As they now call me the 'tranfish' I have a lot to live up to and look forward to many more lessons next term. If you can't swim then I highly recommend booking in adult swim classes ASAP!

Pilates on Bourke is currently my favourite place for reformer classes. They are fairly small with…read moreonly 8 machines. This means lots of individual attention. And the instructors are super-helpful, not afraid to get hands on and complement you when you are getting better. The jumpboard classes are especially good, but I have not had a bad class here. I have also tried their barre class which was one of the better ones in the city. Natalya is really fun and her play list veers more into the pop territory, which is great for keeping the energy up during class.

From the owner: Opened in 2014, Pilates on Bourke provides state of the art Studio Pilates and Group Reformer…read morePilates classes as well as a range of Yoga and Barre Fusion classes. Our Pilates instructors are fully qualified and registered with the Pilates Alliance Australasia. Whether you are looking for rehabilitation, achieving peak physical fitness or anywhere in between, our teachers are able to tailor a program for your individual needs. After all, we want you to be the best you can be. We also provide osteopathy and remedial massage services through our allied health partners, Principle Four Osteopathy and Trademark Therapy in our spacious and relaxing consulting room. We have specially chosen our partners as we believe they provide a wonderful compliment to your Pilates and Yoga practice for all round well being.