Ultimate Fitness Centre is a newly opened gym and kickboxing facility opened just off City Road. It…read moreseems to be a replacement for the old Cardiff Kick Boxing outlet at 166 City Road. Denzil Lawrence and Spiro Micallef who used to operate out of this facility are now using Ultimate Fitness Centre, and the new premises carries the Cardiff Kickboxing insignia. I don't profess to know a huge amount about kickboxing, but it seems that Ultimate Fitness Centre are offering something a little different. Lee, a Muay Thai instructor, claims that Ultimate Fitness Centre are the only authentic Muay Thai Club in Cardiff, Barry, Rhondda and Vale of Glamorgan. He says that "there are many who claim this but can't back it with results, documentation or history". Apparently Muay Thai is different from kickboxing in that it is technically superior, and therefore I imagine it presents more of a challenge. Ring Lee for further details: 07792204881 Denzil Lawrence: 07932 253849 Spiro Micallef: 07710 477524

I have a lot of pent-up rage, so I thought taking a few classes at the Ultimate Fitness Centre…read morewould be like therapy, only funner. Armed with my fellow female partner-in-crime, I was ready for my first tutorial in ass kicking. The tuition is one of several offered by the gym, which includes a beginner class on Mondays and Thursdays at 6. You feel like you're in an authentic set up here, which of course adds to the Rocky-esque experience I was hoping for. The warm-up includes running, push-ups and sit-ups, followed by pairing up with a partner for a lesson in punching, kicking and elbow wielding (my favourite) using standard boxing gloves and pads. As my friend and I were the only two girls in the class, our instructor took extra time to explain self-defence manoeuvres which fell on gracious ears. The class is only £4 for the hour, and no sign up or registration is required. I'd recommend purchasing your own set of gloves, as the ones on offer smell like what you'd expect from sweaty boxing gear. Yeah, this ain't nothing like Boxercise. And I'm so going back.

The park plaza certainly is a jack of all trades. From the fabulous hotel itself to the excellent…read moreLaguna bar and this, the spa and gym smack bang in the middle of Cardiff. A friend of mine was a member there and so suggested I come and try it out for the day. Of course we bypassed the gym and went straight for the equally taxing pool/steam room/jacuzzi. The pool area is an oasis of calm in the middle of a very busy city. The walls are tranquil blue and it's has the feeling of being pure indulgence. The water is treated with a combination of UV and chlorine which means you don't get that OTT feeling of dry horrible skin that you get in other pools that just use chlorine. People watching is great here, for some reason the most beautiful men in Cardiff chose to swim at this establishment. Great if you're a bit of a perve like me but it's advisable to keep your wits about you to avoid drowning.

In this area of the city centre there are at least three good gyms all competing for membership:…read morethis, the Laguna Health & Spa at the Park Plaza Hotel; Vitality, around the corner, which is based upstairs above Henry's Bar on Park Place and doesn't have a pool; and the Hilton's small LivingWell gym, which can get busy during peak times. This cluster of gyms in close proximity has created plenty of competition between them to attract membership, so there are usually some promotions on at each of them to try to lure you in. The Laguna is good for those into swimming, and its pool is filtered using UV rather than just chlorine (unlike the Hilton's LivingWell pool), which makes for a less chemical swimming experience. They have a relaxing jacuzzi and a steam room next to the pool, and the changing rooms are very smartly done out. Here you definitely get the feeling you can indulge rather than just exercise hard, and it's a relaxing space to spend some time after work or at the weekend. If you want a real treat, the spa also has a range of beauty and relaxation treatments, most of them fairly expensive (as is the case with most spas). They also have a proper gym, of course, and about 35 exercise classes a week (unlike the Hilton LivingWell, which has no space to hold group classes). The gym has cardio vascular stations including treadmills, rowers, cross-trainers, steppers and walking machines, plus fixed resistance stations, a free weight area, a warm up and stretching area, a Power-Plate® Machine, and screens showing sport, news and music while you work out.

This is a members only gym, and yes I am a member so of course I think its good…read more Its out on the new industrial estate by Cardiff City football grounds and this gyms only been open a few months so its in very good condition. Now I have to admit that I can't see very well and I am not going to wear my glasses to the gym which did lead to some amount of confusion for me because there are so many mirrors that I thought the place was massive! It is pretty big, just not as big as I first thought it was!! Anyway its good because it has plenty of every machine so you don't have to wait to use anything. They also have a whole big section of spinning bikes and a large mat area for floor exercises. There's also two separate studio's with one being specially for yoga and relaxation. Its kept very clean and can probably get really busy in the evening, but I go off peak which offers really good value for money at £27 per month. It costs a tenner more if you want to go in the evening.

As a member of this gym for the past 5 years I would have given this 4 stars until the recent…read more'upgrade'. Where there used to be a very pleasant cafe area where you could relax, meet up with friends and get food and a decent coffee there is now what amounts to a an unwelcoming waiting area with a coffee machine. It gives a strong message that DW Sports doesn't want you hanging around after you've used their facilities. Message received and membership shortly to be cancelled.

Channel View is the Council owned Leisure Centre for Cardiff Way and there are a few things I…read morereally like about it. There's no swimming pool but its got all the other expected things like a gym with fitness classes, and various indoor courts for badminton and football. It also has a climbing wall and does loads of sessions for kids. Unusually there is also a music room, IT facility and cyber cafe. I like that they have women only gym periods because we can all feel a bit self conscious sometime and one of my favourite aspects it the outdoor gym they have, free and perfect for sunny days. Its basically quite simple obstacles that can add a bit of a variety to your jogging!

MANAGER SWEARS AT CUSTOMERS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN…read more After being told to go f-word myself I will not be returning to Channel View. On a previous day I'd left a rather sentimental item at the centre and after ringing up four times I was told they had found it. Upon arriving I asked the receptionist if she had it and was directed to a different office. In the corridor I was confronted by the manager who seemed to want to help at first but then for some reason grew furious when I told him what I was looking for. After five minutes of being angrily questioned I tried to walk away. He then shouted to me that he was the manager and that I should ''Go f**k yourself!". I was shocked. There was a children's play class next door and afterward some parents told me they could hear it. A very upsetting experience. Please think twice before giving these people your money to look after your children.

When you first join N7 training you may think the way things are run are slightly unconventional…read more The sessions are short and hard and you'd never think that short a session would make a difference! But it really has. As for the diet coaching, the Keto lifestyle is not something I had ever heard of before and I was sceptical about how fats could possibly make me lose weight. But low and behold it worked! Once again you've got to give something a go before judging and N7 training have really helped me achieve my health and fitness goals! I would definitely recommend them to anyone. They're so supportive and helpful, and you can feel that they want you to achieve your goals as much as you do

From the owner: Here at N7 Training we specialise in Healthy Weight Loss based out of our Studio behind Cardiff…read moretrain central station. We offer small group and 1-2-1 training in a non-intimidating environment. You won't find judgement, expectations or mirrors in this Studio but what you will get is a warm welcome, fun and exciting workouts and above all results. With our memberships you get the full benefits of our pre-planed exciting workout. Workouts that change weekly so you don't get bored and keeps challenging you week after week. You will also get nutritional support and guidance to follow our nutritional plan. A plan that will not only help you lose weight and feel great but doesn't involve starving yourself or consuming boring foods all day. Get in contact to find out more about our current offers.

I travel quite regularly with work, and since the Novotel is the hotel of choice for my business,…read moreI'm lucky enough to get to use the facilities here whenever I come down to Cardiff. In all honesty, I've used the pool facilities more often than the gym (forcing myself to get on an elliptical trainer when there's a spa pool I can relax in instead just never goes well!) but the gym facilities - while not the largest around - seem adequate for the clientele. A few treadmills, a few ellipticals as well as some stationary bikes in one side for the cardio junkies, while the other side of the gym is filled with free and static weights for the more buff of us (not me!). The pool is a reasonable size for a hotel swimming pool, with a beautiful spa pool (I love this thing!), a steam room and a sauna. I've also had a couple of times where I've been lucky enough to be the only person in there which is just bliss. Not sure how adequate it'd be if I were a paying member, but as a hotel perk it's pretty great.

From the owner: Exclusive, 4 Star Hotel-based Health & Fitness Club…read more InBalance Wellness by Novotel Cardiff offers contemporary and state-of-the-art facilities in a relaxing environment. Our highly trained and friendly staff offer a professional and motivational experience to help members achieve their personal goals. We offer complementary Lifestyle Consultations with tailor-made exercise programming to support you every step of the way. Whether your aim is to improve your fitness, tone up or to enhance general wellbeing, our facility caters for your needs and with a range of flexible membership tariffs, we will help you to achieve your goals. We offer quality service with the reassuring committment to every individual that we intend for you to make the most out of your membership. Facilities include: Resistance Gym Cardio Gym 15m Indoor Heated swimming pool Jacuzzi Steam Room Sauna Male & Female changing rooms Exercise Classes Personal Training Massage Treatments

This really is a good quality gym. It's not a fancy gym but a gym to work out correctly. Andrew…read moreand Fran really do know their stuff and made my husband I very welcome.