This gym is located on UC's campus and I believe you must be affiliated with the University to be a…read moremember here, but I could be wrong. Like most gyms, it really depends on what time you come to decide if you can get in a solid work out or not. Not a lot of free weights, machines are placed together in a haphazard way; not conducive to sets unless leg and bicep day is on your workout schedule. Squat racks and smith machines are plenty, but usually taken by UC athletes who are deadlifting. Equipment is in okay shape. There are spray bottles and towels available to ensure things are sanitized - in theory, that is. Here is my challenge with this gym: there are numerous signs reminding obtuse college students to wash their hands, practice basic human hygiene, wear appropriate clothing and shoes etc. Do you think anyone adheres to these rules? No. This is the smelliest gym I have EVER been to. EVER. Students are barefoot, in flip flops, wearing jeans - which to me just screams lawsuit (and a yeast infection) waiting to happen. At the end of the day, if you are a student here, this is probably an awesome place to work out - athletic 20 year olds, decent equipment, and lots of signs you won't read. As a grown up spending real money to work out here - try and come in the middle of the morning as you will miss out on all the annoyances.

The Gerald Ratner Athletic Center stands out amongst the neo-Gothic architecture of the University…read moreof Chicago thanks to its impressive contemporary design by noted architect Cesar Pelli in collaboration with local architecture firm OWP/P (now Cannon Design). The curvy rooflines and the spiky structural steel masts make their mark upon the northwest corner of the U of C campus. The Ratner includes facilities for swimming, basketball, and assorted workout facilities. The central atrium holds a sports Hall of Fame that includes the first Heisman Trophy, won by Maroon football hero Jay Berwanger.

This place is located on the West side of Lake Park Ave between the Whole Foods and TJs. There is…read moreparking which I believe is just North of the gym. The gym is on the 3rd floor. I put in the instructions for the parking (see photos). I did not use it because I just walked from my hotel. The front desk people were friendly to me so I had no issues with that. The positives were that it was not crowded and they had the hip machine (see photos). The negatives were that they are considered a signature club so I had to pay $10 because my membership is basic. Also no basketball court and only 2 squat racks so that could be a problem if it gets crowded. Not bad overall.

I really like this location! I switched here from a previous gym, and I've been pretty happy I did…read more There are a ton of cardio machines from rows, to bikes, to treadmills. I've never had an issue of waiting for a treadmill like I have at other places, so I like that they have so many. I've never experienced any of the machines being broken either -- cardio or weightlifting. I like how many variations of each machine they have. For example, they have two variations of the leg extensions, two of leg curls, and about a million for bicep curls lol. The staff is pretty nice, and I've been satisfied with the conditions of the locker room/bathrooms. Parking is also free for the first 2 hours. Only down side is that it's too hot in here! No matter the time of the year, summer or winter, it's hot!

Best trainer I've ever worked with! First work out is free! Jason is so knowledgeable and…read moreencouraging. He has over 10 years experience and was even a professional baseball player in Spain & Germany! He adjusts the workout to fit the needs and limitations of each client. I have seen him train athletes, people new to working out, young and old, men and women (even pregnant women!) He shows you how to correctly do each work out movement so that it's not confusing and keeps an eye on your posture so that you won't injure yourself in the process. Jason is relaxed and fun to work with which makes working out so much more enjoyable. Go meet Jason!! His first work out is free. Your body & swimsuit will thank you!!

Jason is a truly skilled trainer. His deep expertise in strength, conditioning, and body mechanics…read moreallow him to create personalized workouts that are effective and safe. It's a world of difference compared to exercising independently. And it's not just about the body--his positivity, drive, and patience support your efforts to stay focused and motivated. If you're in doubt, get in touch and experience it for yourself!

I have worked with Personal trainers in the past prior to COVID but stopped during the pandemic in…read morean attempt to do it on my own. But I wasn't making the progress the I wanted. I am also training for my 4th marathon and 1st triathlon. Working with Miguel and Shakka has been amazing. I am getting faster and stronger. I told them what I was looking for and I am getting exactly what I asked for (professionalism, motivation/encouragement and accountability). They provide a fun and inviting atmosphere. I highly recommend!

I've only been at Anthos for a couple of months so far, but it's really turning out to be the best…read moregym I've ever joined. When I describe it to my friends, I describe it as a gym for ambiverts. You get your own little section of the gym, so you really don't have to engage with anyone except the trainers if you don't want to. With that said, the other people who work out at the same time eventually become like a little family, so it's fun to have a little banter during the workout. I've never had to drag myself to go, it's fun! The trainers know what they're doing and are very helpful with form and motivation. If it's within your budget, I highly recommend it.

The older two of the University of Chicago athletic centers. This place is definitely feeling the…read moreweight of years. No pretty colors or shiny new equipment here. Instead, Henry Crown caters to people who like to workout to the scent of generations of sweat, blood, and tears. The 800 indoor track and the batting cages are great for the winter. In general, the machines are in good shape, and rarely busy. Unlike the nearby Ratner Athletic Center, nobody has to wait for the machine they want. HC also has a large, open room that is perfect for martial arts-bags, mirrors, and mats. Henry Crown is free to enrolled UC students, and memberships can be purchased. A discount is available to University-affiliated individuals and their families.

As others mentioned, yes, Henry Crown is old and dirty…read more In spite of its grime, though, HCFH is still the superior gym on campus if your goals are strength-related. With 6 power-racks and benches, free weights, a full-sized indoor track court, and squash/racquetball courts, Henry Crown is a place for serious gym-goers looking for serious results. If you want to watch TV while bouncing on an elliptical in a pristine, air-conditioned environment, go to Ratner. I daresay that people frequenting Henry Crown are not looking for this experience and if what you seek is a well-stocked and serious place to work out, this is where you'll be!

I'm typically here every Monday through Thursday in the mornings because my fitness coach teaches…read moregroup fitness classes and also does personal training. The space is perfect for people who want to do personal training or teach their own classes. They have a parking lot behind the building for paid parking, street parking, and even access to the bank parking lot early in the morning before it opens. The facility has quiet bathrooms with showers and a lower level with additional training areas and fitness equipment. It's an ideal spot for someone who prefers supporting a locally owned business instead of major chains like Planet Fitness or Snap. This gym really offers a unique experience, especially being a Chicago-based business!

I had to cut out quite a bit of my review as it was to long to Yelp. Here are the highlights:…read more - Member etiquette and Cleanliness: I can't tell you how many times someone takes something I'm using when my stuff is sitting right there OR members use the benches as a personal locker for personal items while they aren't using it for a workout. This even happens when trainers are on the room and sometimes it's the trainers themselves! Trainers also eat warm meals in the gym so you have to smell their meal while you work out. Often barbells and plates are not put back at all, even with a trainer present, dumbbell shelf is a mess. Crumpled paper towel, piles of lifting chalk, empty bottles, remnants of the awful yoga mats litter the ground. No in person management present just trainers, I've never seen so many trainers in one gym before. The lack of in person management shows. Sometimes there's no TP in the bathroom for example in the winter the metal stairs will not be shoveled for snow or salted for ice. A couple of times I have slid on the ice. There's not even a bag around for members to do it themselves. -The Actual Space: is quite limited. The downstairs free weight area is rather small and if even 5 people are down there the place feels full and this is actually a recent improvement from the upstairs room. It's also spread out over 3 main rooms on two floors so there's a lot of walking to get to different equipment and for many you cant switch without going down a flight of stairs. The free weight area feels dungeon like with no windows and a low ceiling. There are windows in the bjj area you can kind of see from the doors but it's not the same. It feels like your lifting in a basement (and you are). It also smells like rubber to the point I've gotten headaches and has poor ventilation. It also amplifies sound so it's overwhelming with trainers, music etc going. The vibe feels more like your lifting in your friends home gym in his unfinished basement with equipment he got at a garage sale then working out in a professional facility. The space itself isn't well maintained either. The fire extinguisher upstairs has broken glass that's sharp and jagged just chilling for over a year now (was like that before I joined), plates and dumbbell's are left out, or put back incorrectly, piles of lifting chalk, drinks etc.. can be found on the floor. Members don't rerack anything (which is true for every gym in the Hyde park area). There's some cube drawers and a shoe rack but no locker room. So, you're carrying all your stuff with you throughout your workout since you can't lock anything up. There is a bathroom with a single shower and toilet in a separate room. -The Equipment: There is an overall lack of machines. There is almost a full set of leg machines but is missing calf. The only upper body machines are a chest press and assisted dip/pullup and cable machines. No machines or abs, arms, shoulders, other muscles like you would see in other gyms. There are 4 squat racks, 1 smith machine, 1 leg press, 1 set of dumbbells (5 pound increments) so minimal to the amount of people using them. No preacher curl rack, no deadlift racks. You'll use the 2 main squat racks for most of our workout and so does everyone else. The equipment is a mismatch of quality. 2 of the squat racks are really nice like you would expect in a professional gym. 2 are small and wobbly like you would expect in a home basement gym. The machines are a mismatch of brand and colors. It feels like all the equipment was purchased used at a garage sale. Not a big deal if it was maintained well but it's not. Not all machine plates are in pounds. There are not enough weight plates to go around. If someone's going heavy on the leg press good luck on a squat rack. Similarly, there are not enough barbells downstairs. There is one barbell that's broken and has been laying on the floor for months. If one person is deadlifting, there are not enough for the racks. They are also inconsistent some are rubber, some are iron, some have handles. Your stack will always look lopsided. Only 1 pair of 2.5 plates in the whole gym. The equipment isn't in great shape. Bent out of shape barbells, some adjustable benches are bent at certain holes making them dangerous. Clips don't work and plates slide off. -My biggest issue: large group fitness classes from about 5am to 9am most days as well as evening prime time after work (think). This means if you're a lone wolf free weightlifter like me who goes in the morning your competing with sometimes 10 to 15 other people in a group class. You won't get a squat rack, all the dumbbell's are taken etc.. It's loud and chaotic and you'll adjust your planned workout every day to take whatever is left over. -The gym cost is $75 a month, up to $40 more than chain gyms in the area which are as low as $10 - $35 and I just can't justify the cost for what you get.

Ive gone to a couple different workouts here and I'm not sure if a membership would be worth it…read more Hyde Park is not great with amenities, so I don't want to speak poorly of the business model...but for almost 200.00 a month and they don't provide towels? Just seems a little weird considering other gyms have less membership fees and provide towels. The space is clean and the recpetion/welcome desk was my FAVORITE part of my visits!

I have been a member at this studio for over two years, lately there has been so many changes and…read moremostly negative by the owners. The studio has such a great front crew and coaches. The employees go above and beyond to help out and the coaches are the heart of the gym - without them this place will shut down soon. I am so pissed off that they let go so many good coaches, recently their Head Coach Hector who was a true asset and gave everything but yet the studio and him part ways. So many people taking about cancelling their memberships because they are already not happy about certain days not having coaches to hold classes. These owners just ignorant and dumb. - that's it !!!!

Gyro !!!!!! Some of the best healthy foods you can eat come and check out Mr. Peak. He will have…read moreyou laughing and you will be enjoying your food. It's a clean place you don't wanna miss out on this.

It was quite simple to join this club. The staff was helpful and friendly. There's a lot of stuff…read moregoing on here for all interest and ages. They have a couple fitness studios, 2 indoor pools, a weight room, stretching room. They have a tech room & a kids zone for kids under 8 years old. They have some new equipment including a Peloton. Everything looks pretty clean & they also have saunas for post workout recovery.

I went back here after they finished remodeling, and I think it looks very nice. I will say it…read morelooked like they got new machines but also kept the old machines as well which was a little confusing to me. It is decorated nicely, and I feel like there are more machines for people to use. Also, there are more free weight stations which is nice. My issue with LA Fitness continues to be the same, it's over crowded for my preferences. Overall the gym is nice, and I would go back if I needed to hit the gym and didn't want to go far from my house.

The bronzeville location is my favorite location as it pertains to the Hyde Park as well as the…read moreSouth Loop. The Bronzeville location is always bustling with activity. I can't wait to go to see the renovations that they have done and will update my review after that. The Wednesday night classes are always lit and I appreciate that there is always someone at least in the women's bathroom making sure that it is clean in the evening time. This location also has a smoothie bar in there as well so I can quickly get something to refill after a workout. Parking in the lot gets packed fast too

This is my favorite place in all of Chicago. Divine Em is the owner and has done such a beautiful…read morejob of creating a space that welcomes everyone who walks through the door. Black owned & woman owned, with teachers of every background and demographic teaching classes for first timers all the way up to best of the best. There's something here for everyone! I also went to a birthday party here and it was so much fun. Literally a gem.

I've been coming to fly club for a little over a year now and I can truly say that it has changed…read moremy life. Learning pole in a supportive community of other women has given me a sense of ownership over my body and sensuality that I didn't know was possible. Over the past year I've seen my confidence and physical fitness improve tremendously. I now impress myself with the tricks I can do on the pole even though I started with no prior experience. Their class structure starts very beginner friendly but has a clear trajectory that made improving easy. Fly club is an incredibly welcoming community that goes out of their way to provide a safe space to everyone- from nervous newbies that aren't confident in their physical fitness to experienced dancers with professional backgrounds in the club scene. I seriously cannot recommend this place enough as it's been a truly healing environment for me.