To sum up this review in one sentence, I will echo another reviewer who said: this gym is only for those who want to actually work out.
If you'd like more details, I invite you to read ahead.
The monthly premiums are higher than most places, however I feel the old adage "you get what you pay for" does apply here. Also, as Teqneeq is only one facility, they have needed to up their membership prices to not only keep up with their competition but to pay their bills (San Diego is getting scarily expensive)
There are zero crowds. Zero vanity. Zero "gym-timidation" (except that which you manufacture in your own mind....yes I am guilty of this). Authentic vibes only. Very friendly, down-to-earth members. Parking is super easy and FREE (I am biased because as a former Angelino, free parking felt like finding a diamond (or is it needle?) in a haystack).
There is plenty of space in the gym, too. Huge indoor turf field. Plenty of variety of machines and training aids (weighted medicine balls, fitness balls, barbells, kettle bells, mats, dowels, monster truck tires, and those apparatuses that you can attach a chain to yourself and pull a heavy load across the turf). There are even duplicates of some weight machines which greatly decreases wait times to use them.
The place is kept METICULOUSLY clean, thanks to the new custodian who makes my weekly house cleans seem lazy and lackluster. He is REALLY good. They even upgraded their cleaner solutions (for wiping down machines) to have essential oils in them (smells like a mix of eucalyptus and peppermint). For me it makes wiping down the machines feel more....invigorating! :)
You must schedule a tour to join, however... zero pressure to sign up once you do take a tour. I signed up because I wanted to. I didn't feel like I was being treated like a statistic.
One factor that goes into me joining a gym is how easy it is to cancel a membership. There was a time in my life where, for financial reasons, I had to cancel my membership, so I sent customer service an email and I was out ON THE SAME DAY. Zero questions asked. Felt like a breath of fresh air.
A couple things I'd like to clear up based on my experience as a member for a year:
1.) It seems some people have been having issues with the owner, Dom. My experience with him has been great. I see him as an authentic, fair, down-to-earth human being. He is a "straight shooter" so to speak. Honest and direct, doesn't sugarcoat stuff or beat around the bush, and tells things like it is. I think that is what throws some people off, but I feel it is unreasonable to judge him as being unfair, mean, or crazy. We are all crazy in our own ways and many of us don't want to be seen that way or admit it. Sometimes we project our own anxieties and insecurities on others. I invite people to be more open-minded, not be so fast to lay down judgements, and follow that golden rule "treat others how you'd like to be treated."
2.) The 15 rules of etiquette: Please don't misinterpret these rules as a 100% prohibition of technology. Dare I say, in 2024, it is a good thing to have a gym owner who is aware of the dangers of excessive technology use. A big part of being a Teqneeq member is the mindfulness aspect and the strengthening of the mind-body connection. The limitations put on technology use at Teqneeq are NOT absolute, meaning, no one is going to kick you out the minute you take out your phone. There is no black and white. There is grey area, a matter of degree, just like in real life. I feel like the violations imposed on some members are cases where the rules were broken to such a significant degree so as to causes major disruptions in other members' experience. High frequency, long duration violations. In fact, most people here do use their phones. I use my phone. As most members here do to listen to music, look up training videos, and sometimes even take calls (politely and usually this is done out of the way of the other members).
To come full circle from the beginning of this review, these etiquette rules seem to attract the people who make this place the lovely place that it is: the person who actually wants to work out.
I invite you to consider taking a (free) tour and make a decision for yourself. The only way to know for sure if Teqneeq is right for you, is to get out of your head and experience it yourself. Something I'm still working on. In fact, I'm going to submit this review right now, get out of my head, off the computer and drive to Teqneeq! read more