But I did. These guys have been a great help and encouragement through some tough times for me and they probably don't even realize it. - Pagangoddess
* find a gym for the 1st time
* find a better gym
* find a gym when moving to a new city
* find a gym when traveling
We're looking for gyms that have what you need to do StrongLifts 5x5:
* Power Rack (closed) or Squats Racks (open)
* Olympic bars & lots of plates
* Let you Deadlift & Power Clean
* Managers that aren't retards
Post gyms where you're training or have trained and that qualify. Include this info:
* Country
* Region
* Name of gym
* Address
* Equipment
* Short review
* Website if available
We'll add the info to the list to get a useful guide for everyone.
###
Australia
* Sydney. Arena Sports Centre. A30 Western Ave, University of Sydney, NSW. Three power rack, two olympic platforms, bumber plates, GHR, Reverse Hypers a lot of machines. One of the best gyms in sydney that I have come across, can do olympic lifts, drop the bar on the olympic platform, heaps of barbells available, bumber plates... also has a glute ham raise machine and a reverse hyper. Equipment is kind of old but has absolutely everything for stronglifts. Also bands and chains are available!!
Belgium
* Vlaams-Brabant. First Class. Daalstraat 25, 1790 Teralfene. Equipment: olympic bars, open squat rack, lots of iron plates, lots of machines. Trained here 5 years, managers can be difficult.
* Ghent. S&SFitness. Koestraat 21, 9820 Merelbeke. Equipment: olympic bars (eleiko!), power rack, bumper plates, olympic platform, chalk, lots of machiens. Great gym, owner has deadlifted 200kg so knows what he's talking about.
* Limburg. Health City All-In. Vrankrijk 14, Bilzen. Equipment: squat rack, lots of dumbbells & plates, bench press stand, dip/pull-up setup. Lots of machines. 1 oly bar, 2 'normal' bars (the 10kg-version).
*Antwerp
Sporthal Cafetaria / GT
17 Esk. Licht Vliegwezenlaan 5
2490 Balen, Belgium
*They have a squat rack,two powerracks, some olympicbars and lots of other stuff I haven't used.
Possibility to deadlift, I don't know if powercleaning is allowed (no special floor)
*Review: nice, quiet gym and not too expensive (30euros a month)
Canada
*Ontario : Co-ed GoodLife gym in downtown Kingston, Ontario, Canada. They only have two squat racks, but they are rarely used. Otherwise, all the gear you need is there. Plenty of idle Olympic bars. I don't think chalk is allowed. At least, I see no signs of chalk use. No one has stopped me from doing power cleans. I'd prefer a gym with more of a 5x5/3x5 strength program focus, but this suits my purposes for now.
*Website - http://www.goodlifefitness.com/club.aspx?ClubNo=074
Iceland
Region: Hafnarfjörður (town south of Reykjavik, west)
Name of gym: Super gym
Address: Drangahrauni 1B
Equipment: Squat rack with adjustable bars, olympic bars, Smith machine, dumbbells, 2 benches for bench press, some machines I have no idea what they do. They have a special area for strongman training.
Short review: No-nonsense gym for power lifters and strongmen/strongwomen. The gym is ran by Gemma Magnússon (you might know her as Gemma Taylor) and her husband, Benedikt Magnússon, Iceland's strongest man. They're also wholesalers for Captains of Crush grippers.
Website: No website yet, but they have a Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=92462265335
India
* Thane. Leena Mogre's Fitness Centre. Equipment - Power Rack, Lots of Barbells, Lots of rubber coated plates(1.25 kg - 20 kg), Good flooring in lifting area. Trainers / Managers are all BB guys but once they know you're doing your own shit, don't bother you.
* New Delhi. Siddharth's Concept Fitness Studio. J Block CR Park,(near Market No.1 and Shiva Temple). Plates available- Four 2.5 lbs plates. Two 2.5kg rubber plates. Four 5 kg rubber plates. Four 10kg rubber plates. Two 10kg iron plates. Four 20kg iron plates. Two 25 lbs plates. Two 15 lbs plates. Power rack. Bench. One 17kg barbell(in the power rack). One 12kg barbell. Today have asked them to get one standard 20kg olympic barbell. Will report when it gets delivered. Weight room in basement. 4 wall fans and 1 AC. A bit crude setup but then it's a weight room after all. Rubber matting on the floor. One trainer, is a BB guy but is knowledgeable about high bar squats and overhead squats. Gym manager Siddharth also a BB guy with 20+ year BB experience. Generally a good atmosphere to workout. Once they see you know what you are doing, they are generally co-operative and will not bother you. Cardio machines also available.
*Bangalore
Name of gym: Gold Gym
Address: RMZ Infinity, Old Madras Road
Equipment: power rack, bench press, Olympic bars and lot of plates and many other weight machines and cardio machines
Short review: clean & hygienic, has shower and locker facility, has a steam room. wont bother you if you are doing your own stuff. every 30-45 day assessment and measurement. no specific deadlift/power clean area, have to do it in the power rack.
Website: http://www.goldsgymbangalore.com/
Mexico
* Puebla. Cholula. UDLA Joe Morris Williams Gym A. Universtiy gym. Lots of power racks & plates, olympic platform, bumper plates. Free, but crowded in top hours.
New Zealand
* Hamilton. Waikato University Uni Rec Centre, on the Waikato University Campus. Equipment: one squat rack and two power cages, two bench presses, olympic bars and iron weights, plenty of dumbells and fixed weight barbells. Plenty of machines, cardio, a basketball court, endless swimming pools (like a treadmill for swimming), squash courts. Chalk is allowed, and the trainers leave you be.
* Porirua. Bodyworks. Porirua branch: 2 Parumoana Street. 2 squat racks, 2 normal benches, 6 olympic bars and round plates going up to 20 kg. Plenty of spots to do chins/pulls up, as well as plenty of open space on normal or soft-rubber floor to do other exercises. The gyms use Hammer Strength equipment. There is space in both gyms to do cleans and deadlifts, often on rubber mats. Staff relaxed.
* Wellington. Bodyworks. Inner city branch: 75 Thorndon Quay. Same branch as in Porirua. 3x as much equipment but can be very busy because of all the nearby office-workers.
Qatar
*Al Khor. "Al Massa Gym". At the petrol station on the Al Khor / Doha road, just as you leave Al Khor.
Equipment - Olympic bars, squat rack, DBs up to 65kg, plates from 1.25kg to 25kg, Hammer Strength machines. Small, expensive (like all Qatar gyms), not many people use it so waiting is at a minimum.
UK
* England. Pro Flex. Derbyshire UNIT 2 CALOW BROOK DRIVE HASLAND CHESTERFIELD S41 0DRSquat rack (open), Lots of plates, machines. Have been doing SL5x5 here since Nov 08. Only two oly bars and one is a bit bent. Not many people use them though. Can use chalk and do all the lifts you like. The manager is never there and the guys on reception just leave you to it!
* Somerset. Trimwise. Taunton. 2 Oly bars, squat rack, bench press, dumbbells up to 40kg, 300kg of plates. Small gym. Cleans & deadlifts are no problem. Chalk allowed. Staff nice and friendly, though they all seem to prefer BB routines. Monthly fee is £29.
* Reading, Berkshire (South). Name of gym - Sportspark. Address - Reading University Campus Equipment - Squat rack,deadlift area, olympic bars, smith machine, dumbells from 1kg up to 50kg, ez curl bars, 2 benches for bench press, 4-5 benches for dumbells, tons of machines, pull up/chin up cage with assist pad
Short review - Good gym for everyone, 2 floors, downstairs free weights area, upstairs cardio area with 20+ running machines, 10+ olyptical trainers, 10+ bikes, 5 rowing machines, many of the bikes and running machines are also equipped with TV. Also if you're a student they do many student offers.
Website - http://www.sport.reading.ac.uk/
*Scotland
* Region Dundee
* Name of gym ISE @ University of Dundee
* Address Old Hawkhill, Dundee
* Equipment Strength Performance Centre with 5 Quality poweracks each with 250kg plates, plenty of Olympic bars, Pull Up bars on each one, two racks of Dumbells (up to 40kg), couple of benches, tables etc. Separate gym with weight machines, running machines etc.
* Short review Really good gym for stronglifts. During the summer it's fairly empty, sometimes you can have the gym to yourself. During term time I haven't used it but It will be busier. You need to do an induction before you can use the SPC but this only really for safety and takes about 10mins. I'm a staff member at the uni so it only costs £15 / month but community can join for about £29/month.
* Website http://www.dundee.ac.uk/ise/fun/facilities/index.php (click SPC rather than 'Gym')
*South London (Streatham)
Virgin Active
20 Ockley Road, London, SW16 1UB
*Only 1 squat rack, but it's rarely used compared to smiths machine. Also, 1 flat bench w/ racks and 1 inverted bench w/ racks and 3-4 movable benches. Plenty of weights and DBs. 3-4 oly bars, although obviously this only leaves one free for DLs/cleans if the racks are all being used.
*Best to use during the day or late at night (9-10pm) as busy otherwise due to it being a commercial gym. Management are generally front-desk only; they do have PTs around sometimes, but they don't hang around that much. The late night crew also tend to be more into doing strength work rather than BB or aimless routines, so they keep to themselves and just work out. But it's South London so you'll get the occasional loud idiot with his mates, easily ignored though.
US
* Jamestown New York. YMCA. 4th Street or Fairmount AVE in Lakewood New York--about 15 mins from Jamestown one. 1 power rack, 1 squat rack, 2 benchs for benching, lots of cardio and nautilus. Good gym, not really busy. Great eye candy over on the cardio
The power rack and squat rack are usually empty. Its also great if you have kids. They have a daycare that will watch your kids while you lift! Also programs for kids/adults for sports and also has 2 pools. Pools are clean.* PNW - Portland OR. Loprinzis 2414 41st street, Portland OR. Classic neighborhood gym. Wall to wall weights. Good staff that knows their stuff. All lifts allowed. They even have a roped off area and pre-set bar for Deads and power cleans. Only one power rack, but well used. They have most of the cable machines and well used aerobic equipment. Plus just tonnes (quite literally) of plates. And just because I noticed them, a full wall of 'round' dumbbells. A number of oyl and non-oly bars, plus some extra heavy 55 lb bars. 3-4 benches. Good place. No frills, but everything you need plus some to do SL5x5.
* Webster, NY. World Gym. 187 West Main Street Webster. 1 Power Rack, 1 Squat Rack, 1 Deadlift platform with rubber plates (no bumper plates though), 3 or 4 flat benches. Good gym for a low fee ($250 for 18 months). Owner, Brian, has a strict no-steroids policy. Facilities and equipment aren't state of the art, but they're well-maintained. Most of the people there are the Captain Upper-body type, meaning the Racks and platform are usually free. Olympic lifts are allowed, but only on deadlift platform. They also frown on dropping the weights and grunting. Chalk is not allowed, but a resin bowl is provided. The gym is also open 24 hours!
*New York, NY (Manhattan) - Mid-City Gym
*Address: 345 W42nd Street
*Equipment: Good stuff, about 3 squat racks, a lifting platform (though, amazingly enough, you can deadlift wherever if you have enough space and it's unintrusive), dumbbells that go to 120 lbs, kettlebells, ropes, strongmen-style log with the handles (!), cardio equipment.
*Review: If you don't know where it is, you're likely to walk right past it. I don't have much experience with the gym yet. It's the longest running gym in the country. The staff is very friendly and diesel, haha, nationally ranked powerlifters have gone to the gym. Very, very serious atmosphere. The only class they have is called "The Art of Strength", a class that employs said kettlebells, ropes, and logs; there's no spin classes here.
*McLean, Virginia
*Gym - Regency Sport & Health
*Address - 1800 Old Meadow Road
*Equipment - 2 Squat racks (1 closed), plates down to 2.5lbs, 2 flat benches & 2 incline benches, tons of weight machines & cardio equipment, kinesis resistance based technogym, lots of foam rollers, mats, balls, etc.
*Short review - Regency is a pretty big facility. Two pools, 19 tennis courts (including Prince's Court tennis), squash, & racket ball courts. People seem to love the assisted machines, and since there are 2, there is never a wait for a squat racks. In the 2 months I've been going to this gym (usually evenings), I've never had to wait to do an exercise. If there is a "Bodypump" class going on the area can be a bit crowded, but the equipment needed for SL are still open. For the most part, those doing strength training keep to themselves and are no BS. But, everyone has been nice if I've had a question.
*Website - http://www.sportandhealth.com/club.aspx?id=282&sn=96#
*Nation Wide
* Name of gym Bally fitness
* Address 203 W Big Beaver Rd,Troy, MI 48084 (248) 524-6474
* Equipment - At least one squat rack, lots of free weights, cardio equipments
* Short review - This is a nationwide chain. If you take $30 membership you can go to any Gym across the country. Some clubs have child care facility. Steam, Sauna, Swimming pool is also available at some locations.
* Website if available http://www.ballyfitness.com
*Charlottesville VA
*500 Albemarle Sq & 200 E Water St in Charlottesville.
There are also locations in Crozet VA, Richmond VA, and West Chester PA. I only work out in Cville locations but I would imagine the equipment is similar.
*Equipment - Two closed Squat Racks in each location. Several olympic bars w/plates down to 2.5lbs. Dumbells from 17lbs to 120lbs. Lots of other fixed barbell weights. Weight wise I can't think of anything they do not have. Dozens of weight machines and cardio equipment from treadmills, elipticals stairmasters etc. Aerobic classes like pilates, Cycling, athletic conditioning etc.
*Review - Until reading the problems others have finding a gym, I did not realize how good I had it. No problems deadlifting or powercleaning at either location though the Water St facilties floor is not as good. Several trainers at both locations. They leave you alone...even if you have crappy form. But if you need a spot they are always willing to help. Both locations have indoor pools with lap lanes a cafe w/healthy meals, snacks and drinks. 1st class operation. The only downside is price, wife and I pay about $150 a month for membership.
Good friendly management and employees. Members are also friendly people. Never had anyone insult or tell me how I should change my workout. I've talked to several about SL 5X5 but I think I am the only one at either location doing the program. Best thing is I go early in the AM and usually both squat racks are open. I am usually the only one doing squats or deads no matter what time of day I go. I don't think I've ever had to wait for more than 10 minutes to start my workout.
*Website - http://www.acac.com
SitemapIndex
RSS Feed