I recently checked out this gym, and while there were some positive aspects, there were definitely…read moreareas for improvement.
Location & Amenities: The location is pretty convenient, situated in a shopping center with plenty of parking and good lighting. The building itself is clean and spacious with large windows offering nice views. Inside, you'll find the essentials: a restroom, Aquafina water (though I personally prefer spring water), reusable sweat towels, and fans. If you're lucky, you'll get a trainer who actually uses music during your sessions - a nice touch!
Scheduling: Scheduling could be a lot more efficient. Right now, it involves a lot of back-and-forth texting to coordinate with a trainer. An app with a shared calendar showing available slots (Google Calendar is free and would work great!) could streamline this process a ton. Having an easier way to see and select available times would save both clients and trainers a lot of hassle.
Equipment: As for equipment, there's a decent range of basics: TRX band, dumbbells, a bench, kettlebells, resistance bands, and a punching bag. The only machine is an eliptical. There aren't any larger weights, like barbells, which might be perfect if you want to focus on a minimalistic, at-home-style workout. However, if you're looking to learn how to use a fully equipped gym, this location may fall short.
App Use: The gym uses an app called Trainerize, which is supposed to help track workouts and progress. It seems to have some great features, if your trainer enables/uses them, but you lose access when you stop paying for the training. Some trainers barely use it, others don't use it at all, and it gets frustrating when there's no consistency. One trainer created routines I could do on my own schedule (program), another trainer created a routine I could complete only once when they remembered to schedule it (workout of the day), and I had a final trainer who promised to upload my routine but never did. Not ideal when you're trying to stay on top of your fitness routine and your mental load is already overwhelming!
Trainer Experience: Over six months, I went through three different trainers. One change was my choice; the other was due to a trainer leaving. While the trainers were generally professional, I felt like my personal goals were overlooked. I came in wanting to lose fat and address muscle imbalances (cross-syndrome) and posture issues. With cross syndrome, there are muscles underused muscles that need strengthening and overused muscles that need stretching to get things back in balance. I felt like we used whole body strengthening routines that weren't tailored to my specific needs.
When transitioning between trainers, there seemed to be little to no communication or transfer of information. This meant I had to repeat my fitness background and goals, and even redo exercises at lower weights because my progress wasn't relayed. It'd be great if they offered a complimentary transition session whenever a trainer change happens to ensure a smooth handoff, proper transfer of knowledge/data, and avoid wasting time.
On top of that, on multiple occasions, my last trainer actually had me sanitizing the equipment during our session. IMO, trainers should take care of this step so that the paid time is focused on training, not cleaning.
IMHO, this gym could be a solid choice for beginners who need basic fitness guidance and are looking to develop an at-home routine. But if you're someone with more experience who is looking for a truly personalized training program and/or a program that makes full use of a gym's capabilities, you might want to look elsewhere.
