An amazing class, great fun and a great teacher. Doesn't even feel like exercise!!!read more

I started zumba about a year after having baby number 3. I had not done any exercise for ages and…read morethe baby never slept so I was always tired. I dragged myself along to Jolenes class and I am so glad that I did. I went with a friend and we had such a good time without realising we were having a really good workout! Jolene is really smiley and everyone is really friendly not intimidating like gyms can be. I can't recommend these classes enough especially if you have kids and free time is precious.

Excellent place to train and get fit I went from running…read morehalf a mile and very unfit to completing a mini marathon in London Well recommended and would advise anyone wanting to lose a few pounds and get fit try it out

I have been with Bodysharp for over 4 years throughout my journey around the world. Mikey is a…read moregreat visionary and motivator who trained me for my sisters wedding achieving astounding results in 8 weeks, he is consistently dedicated to his craft and always puts so much life and fun into his workouts. Recently I started training with Sabreena and I have to say she is such an inspiration, motivated me through my difficult times and is very patient throughout our training programme. This programme with a virtual trainer is ideal for those who often relocate for work, or don't have the time to get to the gym. I train before work and after work. The app is so incredibly simple to follow and the programme is changing my life and mentality for the ultimate best results in every aspect of my waking life. Thank you team, you are more than a fitness studio and personal trainers, you are family. Keep inspiring and sharing your gift with the world!

We truly are spoilt and blessed with parks here in this corner of South Brum. You rarely have to…read moretravel more than a mile before you find an enclave of greenery and peace and quiet. Bourneville Park is a small but well-designed and maintained park that has the added bonus of having a stream running through it. There is a kids play area that my son loves and we're often here as it's just a short walk from our house. I rarely let my dogs off the lead in this park as it seems to be a popular park for kids, and so whilst there are no signs saying otherwise, I tend to respect the general feel of the place. That said, it's a good place to walk them round on the lead.

I love this park, it is wonderful. It is so green and luscious. I spent a lot of time here when I…read morewas a child and still visit it now for picnics or just to escape the nearby hustle and bustle of the city. There are lots of trees and it has a large stream snaking through it too, which I used to splash around in as a kid! It is great for cycling through and also for walking your dog or taking your kids here to play. It can get quite busy here in the summer, as you can imagine everyone wants to chill out and sunbathe and enough the nice weather. Occasionally an ice-cream van will pull up near the entrance of the park, which is ideal on sunny days. I think it is a really beautiful park and I would recommend it if you want somewhere to sit and forget city life!

Whilst I realise this is a review for a big chain, I really think this one needs to be shouted…read moreabout! Context: I am a fat girl. I don't want to be a fat girl any more. I have been a member of a number of gyms in the past, and for many many reasons hated it and quit. I was determined this time to find one that would work for me. Enter Bannatyne's Brindley Place: The bizarre decor immediately appealed. The pool is dimly lit, so I don't feel super self conscious about my bits being on show, and the gym itself is never rammed full of people so I never feel I'm being looked at. The muscly oiled men keep to themselves in a separate area with free weights which also helps me feel less anxious about visiting. But the real reason this place is awesome is because of two very specific people: 1) Steve Northam - he inducted me into the gym, he puts up with my whinging and my craziness over any kind of exertion, and at times he can be a little bit strange too (he does competitive fencing! Amazing, right?!) but above all he encourages me to keep at it. And it seems to be working. 2) Lee - a personal trainer who runs the spinning class on Thursday mornings and Sunday evenings. He warms us up to COUNTING CROWS (yes, I know, it shouldn't make sense but IT DOES!) and continues the sessions mixing Lady Gaga and Alanis Morrissette and Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon and on the rare occasion we manage to twist his arm to turn on the disco lights, it's like doing a bike ride at Snobs. And I've discovered I LOVE it. So. Indie / metal spinning, and crazy helpful instructors? On that note I'm IN. (ahhh cheesy ending, I know, but I couldn't resist :)

I booked this spa day through the wanada site which included use of all the health club facilities…read morea facial and a free take home product! A great way to spend a Saturday with a friend :-) Arriving at 10:30 I was determined to make use of all the facilities, and that's exactly what we did. My friend and I were shown around the health club - free water machine,changing rooms, swimming pool, steam room, jacuzzi and sauna. We spent spent our time relaxing on the loungers reading magazines and generally just chillaxing using the jacuzzi and steam and sauna rooms. The changing room facilities are great complete with the usual showers, toliets, lockers (don't forget a £1 coin!) drier for swimming costumes and hairdryers. You can also bring in your own hair straighteners to plug in. We each had a facial in the spa whereby they used a range of Elemis products on our skin which resulted in super soft skin. The spa staff were friendly and professional and I must say I felt very relaxed after my treatment as it included a head massage too. I will defintely returning for another spa day.

All in all this gym is a solid one. It doesn't have any of the frills you get at some places- no…read moretoiletries in the changing rooms, free teas/coffees etc but it does have: - a pool - a decent free weights section - a good selection of classes (particularly great yoga class) I've never had to wait for a cardio machine and the staff are always friendly. This isn't a grunting gym, you know, there are the odd few who make bizarre noises (Although I did once hear someone shout "I am spartan" whilst doing a dead lift), but mostly they seem to go elsewhere. It's not a lift the heaviest thing you can lift then slam it down it on the floor because you can't actually lift it properly kind of gym either. All in all I'm a fan. It went a bit downhill at the end of it's stint as a Virgin Active (I left it was looking so shabby) but a fresh lick of paint has done it some good and it's looking better again now under the new branding of Nuffield Health.

For the last few months I've been attending Nuffield Health in Birmingham City Centre, having moved…read morefrom the Rubery Great Park branch. As gyms in the city go this is one of the pricier ones, with membership costing £40-£50. However, I've found that it's a nice place to exercise, and it is conveniently located for the city centre. The gym has all of the facilities you'd expect. Upstairs there's a large cardio exercise area, with running machines, bikes and more, as well as a rock climbing wall and a large weights area with a good mix of free weights and machines.There's a separate weights area for women and there's an area dedicated to boxing (if that's your thing). I've found that the atmosphere is fairly relaxed and I don't have to waste time waiting to use the weights/machines that I want to. The pool area is a great place to swim or just to relax after a work out. It doesn't seem to get overly busy and it has two Jacuzzis, a steam room and a sauna.

I've been coming to the Dance Workshop in Moseley for about 8 months now. It's right in the centre…read moreof Moseley and offers quite the variety of classes for children and adults. There are 3 dance studios located inside. One of them is a bit of a pain to learn in if your class is busy. It has a support pillar right down to the floor in the centre of the room. But the other two are brilliant with no obstacles and good sound systems to boot. What's nice about this place (besides it's great location, cafe on site and friendly staff) is the seasonal changing of the classes. I'm currently taking a beginners commercial dance that was just added in January. There is also a new dance fitness class that works every muscle in your body! Classes are generally between £5 to £7. You don't have to reserve a spot either. Just show up and pay that day. The only problem I found is if the class is not heavily attended it is cancelled. It's the drawback of offering drop in classes. People may not show! It happened to my zumba class twice. Which is why you should bring your friends! Whether you are passionate for dance, looking for a fun way to exercise, or just looking to meet people, Dance Workshop offers something for everyone!

If you're anything like me, you'll love to dance! Be it salsa, belly-dancing or bhangra; I have a…read morezest for learning different dance forms around the world. And this is precisely what the Dance Workshop in Moseley offers. You can even try out tango, ballroom and Latin, ballet, contemporary, tap, street dance, rock and roll and for those who are wildly adventurous - pole dancing! If you're more into keeping fit then there are zumba, tai chi, Pilates and karate classes available too. Prices vary but generally it's around £5 for a class, which is pretty average for the area. The joint is hip with a Bohemian feel to the reception area. The staff give a pleasant and warm ambience to the place so you feel relaxed as soon as you enter. The entrance opens up to a coffee shop where you can hang out with friends or grab a bite after a workout with sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks.

Had great fun here for my brother's birthday with a couple of mates…read more Small carpark out front and easy check in- though do remember you'll need a little time for this- people who've climbed more often can check in novices and it's good for a range of abilities. I was stupid enough to go still with stupid long nails, so as a little point i'll say maybe don't do that yourselves to make the most of your time £10 for a day pass (I think 8 for members maybe?). There's a little cafe with cake, toasties, hot and cold drinks (soy etc available), basic changing rooms, loos, car park, and they do hold classes too. They provide little chalk bags, and let you get on with it on a range of colour coded courses, downstairs, and the small upstairs. The crash mats are generously deep and squishy, and there are some good challenges to get your fingertips stuck into. It was cold, which is the nature of the building, so i'd advise a hoodie you can take off once you're into it in the winter. I don't know how warm it gets in the summer months.

Very cool place for climbing/bouldering!!! Suitable for…read morestarters novices and experts. Really enjoying every time I am there. Also a good place for a first or second date ;) Very exciting routes which changes monthly I think. You will pay 10 £ for a day pass incl. climbing shoes. Looking forward for my next sessions.

Zen-Shin Back Belt Academy is a fantastic Shotokan Karate club. All of my family train. My son and…read moredaughter are both World Champions and would not be the children they are with out this club My daughter is also a black belt and my son is in the process of taking his. The instructors are committed, hard working and enthusiastic, they value each child and every child is treated as an individual. This club encourages students to be the very best they can be both as martial artists and as people. The chief instructor Kyoshi John Richards is an inspiration and was recently recognised in an award ceremony for his outstanding contribution to martial arts. Don't be intimidated by this, the club is very friendly and welcoming and many long standing friendships are forged during training. There is an opportunity for students to try out sessions free of charge before they commit, If you are looking for a Karate Class give Zen- Shin a go, I have no doubt that you will be impressed!

an incredible martial arts school, i would be very surprised to find a better school for karate or…read morekick boxing in the west Midlands area. all instructors are highly skilled and fully committed and all lead by Kyoshi John Richards 8th Dan, who's dedication and prowess make every class very high standard, as well as being one of the most friendly gentleman you'll ever meet. joining this school was by far my best decision, helping my achieve much needed weight loss and building my confidence and self esteem greatly all while learning the art of Shotokan Karate. for anyone looking to learn karate in the true and traditional way, i would seriously recommend Zen shin.