I've been a member of Ochsner Fitness Center for about 3-4 years, and my experience has definitely…read morehad its ups and downs. Unfortunately, over the last year or so, I've found myself noticing more downs than ups.
When I first joined, the facility had more of a country-club feel. It felt clean, well-maintained, and like you were getting something a little above your average gym experience. Lately, that feeling has really faded. The facility often feels crowded, and in general, it feels like it could use a really thorough cleaning and some TLC. Even the outdoor lap pools have started to have a noticeable sweaty/chlorine-type smell, which is particularly unpleasant when you're there specifically to swim laps.
The pool has always been one of the biggest reasons I've stayed a member, and there are still things I genuinely enjoy about it. However, the summer months can be frustrating because a significant number of lap lanes are used for summer camps and recreational swimming. That's understandable, but it can mean waiting for a lane, and not everyone is comfortable with or willing to share lanes. It can make what should be a fairly straightforward workout unnecessarily awkward.
I've also never really felt particularly welcomed or comfortable in most of the group fitness classes. Yoga and several of the other classes just never felt like they were a great fit for me. The exception is the spin classes. Those have consistently been well done, welcoming, challenging without being unreasonable, and good at accommodating different fitness levels. Those are probably the classes I would specifically recommend.
The overall atmosphere is also very family-focused, which is certainly not a bad thing, but it contributes to the facility feeling busy and crowded at times. Over time, I found that the atmosphere just wasn't what I was looking for in a gym.
The food situation is mixed. I wasn't particularly impressed with most of the regular food offerings and thought many of the items were overpriced, although the smoothies were consistently good and reasonably priced. The poolside food available during the summer is actually one of the highlights -- good casual/snacky food that works well when you're spending time at the pool.
Customer service has also been inconsistent and, at times, lacking. For a facility positioned as a higher-end fitness center, I expected a more consistently attentive level of service.
Another disappointment has been the locker rooms. I understand there are logistical/plumbing reasons why the women's locker room renovations haven't happened while the men's locker rooms have been updated, and I can appreciate that there may be legitimate constraints. But as a female member, it's still disappointing to see one side receive significant updates while the other remains in need of attention.
Ultimately, I don't regret being a member for several years. There were things I genuinely enjoyed, especially the pools, certain spin instructors/classes, smoothies, and the overall convenience of having so many amenities in one place. But I think the facility has lost some of the polish and atmosphere that initially made the membership feel worthwhile. After several years, I found myself feeling more frustrated than impressed, which ultimately led me to decide it was time to move on.
