I used to think that I could divide my friends between gym bunnies and those, like me, who detested…read morethe thought. I'm much more a fan of tennis, rounders in the park or a quick skip or so, all done ve-ery occasionally I might add. The Hayloft, for the few visits that I made (I never signed up, not a convert yet) was relatively painless. It seemed like more of a girl's gym and now has a hairdresser, yoga and pilates classes, aerobics and sunbeds proving my point. I literally couldn't even tell you what equipment I tried out. The treadmill and the rowing machine definitely. But anyone reading this knows more about what goes into a gym I'm sure. There were lots of scary looking black machines. That said, I got a good workout and the atmosphere was friendly as were the staff. If I were going to become a gym bunny any time soon this is where I would ... hop.

Nope. Not a fan of this one at all. I didn't feel comfortable here. It seemed too much was crammed…read morein one space. Their equipment is fantastic and modern but as a gym, I don't think it works. Once, a few of us ladies went for a whole day and had our makeup done, nails and hair. That was great but it was expensive! This is the bit I do not get. This business is positioned in a relatively small town so charging high street prices is a bit mean. It should be more for the locals instead of trying to be fancy and up-to-date. I can't see my Grandma going there for her haircut as the stairs are metal and too steep into the place.

Master A's meets my criteria because: 1. Muay thai-trained…read moreteacher from Thailand. 2. Cardio workout. 3. Good muay thai technique. 4. Home to pro fighters (which speaks to the quality of training). 5. Clean enough (for a martial arts gym, mind you). 6. Reasonable fees (despite the posted policies, which seem prohibitive, the proprietor is welcoming and accommodating). 7. Friendly people. I have only two minor qualms: The gym is small and classes can be cramped. The schedule isn't very flexible. There are only two classes offered per day, and the earlier class is for beginners and mostly kids. That leaves 5 adult/intermediate classes per week and little open mat time.

I have heard good things about this Judo club from people who have been there previously. I have…read moredone Judo before and i am looking forward to getting back into it. Will be able to comment better in a few weeks possibly. Though having done research i was suprised to see a lot of Martial arts places popping up around Wigan and specifically Mixed Martial Arts following the explosion of the UFC, should anyone with to begin learning Mixed Martial Arts there is healthy choice. If any information is needed send me a message.

I've been doing this class now for six month and am working towards my third belt. When I first…read morestarted I didn't know what to expect. I wanted to be able to defend myself but at the same time didn't want to get beaten up in the process. The first class was a taster session and I'm not very coordinated, however the instructor was very patient and went though everything at my pace. I'm still loving this class as much as ever and the classes are designed for Adults and Children alike to join in. It's like a big family where every one helps each other. There are no macho displays which was what I dreaded.

I joined the centre when I moved to Manchester because of its convenience. There are around 5…read moreclasses a night including boxercise, aerobics, LBT, aqua aerobics and body conditioning. It seems to be the same woman who runs them all, so they are quite similar. There is a guy who does the boxing ones and cardio classes. It is a really nice centre set in an old building - doesnt look like a gym from the outside. Inside they have one gym hall which has lots of weights, resistance bands, steps and exercise bars. All the classes I have been to I have really enjoyed - would be nice if she got a different cd though! The gym upstairs is good - plenty of equipment. It tends to get a bit busy at around 5.30 to 7 but thats to be expected from any gym I guess. They also have a 25m swimming pool that I have only used once but enjoyed using it. There is a sauna, lockers and changing rooms. They have kids lessons and ladies only swimming and sauna sessions. There is a vending machine as well. In the gym they have all the usual weights, rowers, treadmills, cross trainers and bikes unfortunately no steppers. A good friendly gym if you dont want the craziness of a massive city centre gym. I paid £209 for a years student membership but they also have a 9 month one.

There is a comprehensive range of aerobic classes including, circuits, spinning, aerobics,…read morebox-ercise, chair based exercise classes and tai-chi. There are also aqua-fit classes in the swimming pool. Aqua Fit is £4 Per sessions and currenly two evenings per week, Monday 8 til 9 & Fri 7 til 8, the instructor is great fun, using spagehtti floats, ages range from 17 to 65 it is mostly women and there have been a few men join the class. Its great fun to get in shape meet new people and have a laugh.

I finally did it. After approximately half a year of toying with the idea of getting involved with…read morea Zumba class alongside my swimming, I bit the bullet, took advantage of the fact that I can take my lunch hour whenever I like with my fancy internet job, and after a bit of research on the fancy internet, I found Becky Maughan's super-friendly and straightforward website. The 9.30am one on a Thursday would suit me nicely as I like to get my exercise out of the way in the morning or daytime, and along I went, trainers on, sweat towel and water in hand, straight over to Palatine Road in Didsbury. I thought, meh, this'll be fine. I did dance classes for over a decade, I swim like a water-demon, it'll be a cinch. HOW WRONG I WAS. Disclaimer: wrong in a GOOD way. Zumba moves you in manners you can't even begin to imagine, and Becky is full of amazing enthusiastic energy. Despite working on my arms regularly due to swimming, her class had me lifting them above my head and keeping them there, and punching the air in front of me, so much so that the next day I felt that smug ache all over that I've not felt in such a long time. I'd worked HARD. Vary your exercise people... this is living proof that it's good for you! You spend so much time concentrating on the awesomely intricate (but far from impossible) steps that you barely notice you're breaking a sweat, and before you know it an hour of exercise has disappeared and it's time to go home. This is all thanks to Becky, who keeps everything straightforward and fun, and looks after everybody too. If you're new you'll be welcomed warmly and asked to fill in a short health questionnaire. Then it's time to get dancing! The classes usually take place at Parrs Wood High School, but the one I go to is at the United Reformed Church down the road - just make sure you check beforehand to see which location your session's at. I'm going to make this a regular occurrence, at least while I've still got easy access to the Didsbury bus route. Emma 1, wedding dress 0.

I'd been a traditional gym member for years after getting into the habit of going whilst at…read moreuniversity, but I became aware that I wasn't really pushing myself and had seriously plateaued fitness-wise. It was a trip to see some friends down in London which changed all this. Walking past Clapham Common I saw a large group of people wearing coloured bibs running and doing different exercises whilst under the instruction of three blokes in camouflage trousers. Making out that their t-shirts had 'BMF' on them I was intrigued so did an internet search (http://www.britmilfit.com/) when I got back home. Fast forward three-and-a-half years and I've not been in a gym since. The great outdoors has become my cross trainer, treadmill and step machine (cheesy yet true). The BMF philosophy is simple: outdoor fitness with like-minded folk by qualified and passionate former military instructors. Though some people might think this sounds intimidating it's not at all, everyone is welcoming and encouraging regardless of your fitness level. Personally, I love going to Heaton Park in particular. Not only because it's a huge park with different terrains and parts of it are stunning, but the people who attend every week are one of the main reasons you keep going back. Everyone motivates you and you can have a laugh during the sessions, all whilst getting the heart pumping and fat burned away. The aforementioned bib colours correspond to your fitness level with beginners (blue), intermediate (red) and advanced (green). Classes start with a warm up followed by at least 50 minutes of individual, paired and team exercises, ending with a cool down and stretches. The beauty of the classes is that no two are the same, each one differs in park location and exercise choices, that's what keeps it interesting compared to a standard gym session. Tip: Your first class is free and there is no obligation to join. Just fill out the online form to enroll before you go. Tip: A decent pair of outdoor running shoes is all you really need. Other than that, an old t-shirt on top and shorts, tracksuit bottoms or running leggings are ideal. In winter, base layer top and bottoms are recommended as well. Tip: Some parks also hold a dedicated 'Running Club' session which is at the same time as a normal class.