Gym Gossip

Hi Everyone,

After trying 2 different chains I finally found a gym I loved on my 3rd try. I know when I was looking for a gym I would have loved the inside scoop from members on what they loved or hated about the gyms they went to. Gyms can also have very different services in Canada as compared to the states. So give us your inside scoop on the gyms you have been or are a member at. 

Sara.

Premiere Fitness I joined Premier Fitness first in 1998 at 18 years old. I joined the gym in Burlington mainly because it was the closest one to me. They had a pool, a women's only gym, weight section and were generally a very clean gym. 

Over the years I visited a few different Premiere locations some very well kept and some with tiles falling off the wall in the showers and scary looking bathrooms. 

The reason I left Premier was the billing issues, which I later found out that at least 3 of my friends had experienced the same problem. Basically they would bill my credit card odd and uncontracted amounts. This happened both when I paid the full cash-out fee up front and when I was on a monthly plan. They always reversed the charge, but I would have to get a face to face meeting with the manager, bring in my contract with my credit card statement every month to get it reversed. 

I never got them to stop doing this even after I quit the gym I had to fully pay off my credit card, cancel the card entirely and file numerous claims with Visa and Premiere to et the charges to stop. It was a nightmare.

Bally Total Fitness I joined Bally on Gordon Mills Rd (?) just off the 404 highway north of Finch (location now closed) in 2004. They had nice shiny weight equipment, a pool, and were fairly clean. I was also happy that they would accept a cheque instead of my credit card number which I was not willing to go through again. It also seems they knew exactly why I wasn't handing over the credit card when I said I'd been a member at Premiere. 

Bally was okay, but they could have kept their cardio equipment in better maintenance the eliptical's often squeeked which drove me nuts. My main complaint about that Bally's location was no women's only gym and it was definitely a gym where people went to see and be seen and pick up one another. Something I was not looking for. 

King West Fitness This is a small independent gym I joined in 2005 it is located in Liberty Village, on East Liberty Street very close to where I live. I like many things about this gym.

It does not have a pool, but it does have a women's only gym with cardio, weight machines and free weights. 

Also, they are part of the Pro-Alliance of independent gyms which means that just like chain gyms where you can visit their different locations you can visit any of these independent gyms that have signed up. 

KWF is in an old brick and beam building and they have a hard wood cardio floor which is often surrounded by local art work. 

The building has those huge old factory windows that give it great light at anytime of day. 

They have capped their membership so you never need to wait for equipment. And they are really in touch with the local community so if you're into small and local is beautiful as I am, it's a great gym.

And they have the nicest receptionist ever. Concetta. 

Extreme Fitness Toronto: I joined Extreme Fitness in Toronto a Year ago January at a "special" rate of $82/month (for towel service incl.).  Let me tell you: It's worth every penny!

Their facilities are always immaculate, the people who attend are friendly, and the trainers are extremely nice.  Also, they had SO MUCH equipment that finding a machine was never a problem (I went on Weeknights after 6:30 PM).

Once my membership was up the charges stopped, and I never had a problem with billing or administration.

As a side note, Supersized, I signed up for fitness one back when I lived in Burlington BECAUSE of what I'd heard about Premiere.  Glad I did.