Best of Toronto
The Best Fitness Clubs in Toronto
What's the best fitness club in Toronto? For many it's a loaded question. First you need to get past the idea that gyms are all out to get you with hidden fees and convoluted membership programs that change as often as the weather. Then you need to decide how much of your monthly budget should go toward a gym; and what facilities, classes and level of pampering are required to satisfy your needs. But ultimately, the location might drive the decision as we all know we're more likely to hit the gym the closer it is to work or home.
With this pretense in mind, it's no surprise that the vote for the best fitness club in Toronto was as close as any of the categories in our poll. Like our Best Brunch in Toronto results there's a bit of a downtown bias here with the inclusion of only two gyms north of Bloor. We've also omitted all the chains. Just check the flyers in your mailbox to be reminded of places like Extreme Fitness, Goodlife Fitness and Premier Fitness.
We've also omitted single-sex gyms (like Christine's Fitness) and the community centers - the places that are usually lighter on the wallet but often feature older equipment, less than ideal ventilation and communal showers. But it's unfair to paint them all with the same brush. For some better options, check out the Miles Nadal JCC or the local YMCA.
So who's on the list? Many of these gyms opened their doors in the last five years and were started by thirty-somethings who recognized the shortcomings of the more traditional fitness clubs. Leading the pack is Liberty Village's Kingwest Fitness, one of the many loft-like spaces that made the cut.
Kingwest Fitness
A spacious fitness club in a beautifully restored factory in Liberty Village, Kingwest Fitness offers spin, boxing and other classes and has a women's only section. More »
Totum
A stylish 3rd Uncle designed and Bruce Mau branded club on King West, Totum serves up a range of classes including Pilates and Muay Thai. More »
Eclipse Fitness
This second floor retreat on College features light-infused spin and fitness studios and a good mix of machines and free weights in a loft like space. More »
The Yorkville Club
Just steps from Whole Foods, the Yorkville Club provides a range of classes, cardio, yoga, spin and pilates to help sweat away all those organic calories. More »
Bloor Street Boxing and Fitness
One of the leading boxing facilities in Toronto. The second floor features the ring that Mohammed Ali and Rocky Marciano fought in New York's Times Square. More »
The King West Club
This sub-level club across from the CBC is stocked with a good range of cardio equipment, free weights and machines. More »
99 Sudbury
Still a work in progress, 99 Sudbury is slated to offer a full range of classes, yoga, squash, free weights, machines and cardio. More »
Revolution Fitness
This high-end club in the Financial District sets you up with a fitness entourage to monitor your workouts, nutrition and daily progress. More »
H.I.T. Fitness
H.I.T Fitness offers a unique training system the revolves around their proprietary H.I.T Fit ROM Machine. More »
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Eye of the tiger, Rock.
I have a Goodlife membership now and while it's crowded, I prefer it.
Some folks live east of Yonge, you know.
- There are eight shower stalls in the men's locker room but only four of them have doors with all kinds of sludge and scum on them.
- The floor in the locker room is painted concrete. Slippery when wet and potentially dangerous.
- At any given time at least one cardio machine is out of order.
- the spinning bikes were crammed into the cardio area making the whole area feel cramped. It's hard to get to some of the machines without climbing over people.
- Full-sized lockers are in short supply. I usually have to cram my stuff in one of the small lockers.
- The sauna is kind of gross. I suppose it's hard to keep the wooden benches clean but they must be able to do something to make it more hygeinic, no?
- The entire place could use a good cleaning, especially the locker rooms.
But as I said, it's a good gym all in all. Not expensive, has everything you need for a workout, and free classes.
The guys there are so supportive. They always come up to you in the locker room to pat your bum and tell you how good you look.
It's a pretty good club, especially if you're willing to pay more - beyond the basic fee - for extras such as permanent locker (no need to carry your gym bag around all day), laundry service (no need to take your smelly gym clothes home to wash either) and towel service.
I've been a member for a few years, recently researched other, less expensive clubs closer to home and decided to stay with the JCC.
Things I like:
They're non-profit so at any time I could see their financial statements. With some of the other clubs I'd wonder what I'm paying for. When I belonged to Fitness One at Yonge and Charles, I knew exactly what my $15/month WASN'T paying for (good ventilation, proper cleaning, just to name two). I like the non-profit business model.
I like that they're established and aren't going anywhere and no one can "buy them out", compromising quality and interrupting their business.
I like the value I get and the instructors that work there.
I'd like to see more weights and more barbells especially, but I do fine with what's there, as do the big, muscular guys who look like powerlifting competitors. Someone told me that the JCC has plans to enlarge their weight room.
http://blogto.com/sports_play/2008/03/diesel_fitness_to_close/
UGH sorry that mentality pisses me off.
ANYHOW- from my experiences, and my best friend works at GoodLife Fitness, they are by FAR the most trusted, stable, and integrity based gym in Canada. Of course, people have bad experiences with everything all the time, I even bought a pair of $300 Versace sunglasses that broke after 2 days, but in the end, NO OTHER fitness club has been around for 30 years and they have a corporate head office, fair rates, they do NOT price negotiate, they take on a personal approach with members and do a lot of great things to keep them working out and improve their health.
you're stupid to join a no-name club, have fun when they steal $500 from you and close down after 6 months.
paying in full is the dumbest thing you can do at a fitness club (Trust me, i've worked for them), we used to laugh at charging people money upfront.
Oh, and can it be next door to my apartment, too? That'd be awesome... thanks!
Mike
Best money we've ever spent. Our vote for best gym goes to the one Home Health Canada put in our home.
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Arnaldo Castaneda.
Powder Blue Productions APD & Presenter CANADA
The staff is very helpful and doesn't pressure you. The club is also a comfortable environment for anyone.
I renewed my membership once and spent almost $2,000 in personal training that wasn't the greatest. Also, I found the sales tactics used by some employees to be overly agressive to the point of alienating members such as myself. As a result, I decided to cancel my membership.
My partner and I have been members of Fitness Connection for over three months and in that time have encountered an upsetting lack of services that were advertised on their website and fliers but were never delivered. I have brought these issues to the attention on more than one occasion and was met with either resistance or empty promises to improve conditions.
I have repeatedly raised concerns about the following inadequacies:
Inoperative whirlpool;
Inadequate operating instructions for the steam room;
Inadequate lighting in the women's locker room;
Insufficient quantity and poor quality of hair dryers;
Inoperative shower in the men's locker room;
Cardio machines that have been out of order for weeks;
No towels available to customers (it happened again today!);
Insufficient level of cleanliness (the same hair and dust balls building up for days at a time).
We have patiently awaited a response to these issues without any noticeable improvement in the conditions. We met with an apathetic attitude as they appear to have toward their gym and customers.
I was a member of Good Life Fitness for several years and frequented numerous locations and have never encountered the level disservice that I have seen in the last three months. The facilities were always properly maintained, clean and staffed with courteous employees who all knew my name within a week. I still have to request a towel at Fitness Connection since not all the staff has bothered to remember whether or not I use the service.
I signed up with Fitness Connection because of the attractive price(Couple of hundred less a year then GL), but now I realize you get what you pay for. While Good Life is a bit more expensive, they run their facilities with a level of professionalism far beyond what I've seen at this gym.
Bang fitness
99 Sudburry
And much more
I just opened up a small facility in the Annex that offers Private and Group Fitness Programs. No memberships - just pay for the services you use. I'm the owner. I have no partners. I am not backed by any corporate entity. My classes have an 80% re-enrollment rate. It's $25/class, but if you're interested in having a high quality small group training experience - it might just be what you're looking for. Come by an try a class for free. I've got MENS, WOMENS, and COED classes. I'm also accepting Private Training clients. See you soon!
Also, there are no good words about Davisville club management. I accidently left a heart monitor transmitter in the change room. No one returned it to the reception desk. Being upset about this loss I contacted the club GM Rebecca to help me establish a dialog with the club members in a form of an informal ad. – a printed paper about my loss with my contact info. Rebecca sounded negative and confrontational suggesting that it is club policy not to allow ads. Well, after contacting GM I feel even more disgusted about the Davisville club and its members. I was just left with my problem paying around 100CAD for my membership so that some Rebecca’s can enjoy it.
In short: Good Life Davisville club and its management both SUCK big time.
For info email me at sunkist154@hotmail.com :)
THANKS
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Gordon Borges
Owner/operator of Fitness by Gordon
Check it out!
Having been a member of the King West Club, King West Fitness, Good Life Union station / Liberty village and Revolution Fitness, there is nothing that even comes close to Bang fitness!
If you want to see results, have fun and push yourself to a new level, then this is the place to do it.
Geoff and his crew are serious yet fun. There is a great atmosphere at the gym, and there are members with all types of abilities working together.
Take a look at the testimonials from Alwyn Cosgrove and Dr John Berardi: http://bangfitness.com/about/
Need I say more!
They also have Massage but didn't look like it was up and running yet. The trainer said something about that they are still looking to hire someone. By the time you read this they should be up and running.
So if you are near the Danforth I highly recommend Elements of Fitness, you won't be disappointed. Check out the link below for their website and contact info if interested. As a point of reference I am a 32 year old male, but I could see anyone of any sex or age enjoying this place.
http://e-fit.ca
Been to lots of other gyms and had trainers before. Have had the best results doing the CrossFit stuff. It's not for faint of heart, I thought I was going to last about 2 days. But the coaching is exceptional and I've seen anyone from 17- 70 years old there learning how to do pull-ups, kettle bell swings. That gave me lots of encouragement. Price is so much less than personal training and I see better/quicker results.
I've heard good things about Bang. Not sure what their coaching is. All I can say is that I have been taught really good technique and the coaches are really particular about doing things right.
you can find them online and I was given a free trial, which any gym should offer if they are decent. www.crossfitacademyoflions.com
good thread. there are lots of choices so it's nice to hear what's out there. you can't always listen to the advertising, so real experience is what counts.
I used to work at the YMCA, and train at the West End Y, and they have been upgraded to the point of uselessness. They are just stuffed full of gear that looks shiny to the novice, but really does nothing but crowd the place.
Bang on the other hand, is lean and mean. Astro turf on the floor, kettlebells lining the wall, a big tire, lots of specialty bars, GHR, Power Racks, TRX straps, AND an Olympic lifting platform, bumpers and high quality training bar.
Geoff will put you through a full Functional Movement Screen, and design programs of escalating difficulty for you, all of which are supervised by friendly and qualified staff.
Check it out.
Actually, I worked at the YMCA for 9 yrs (North York) and they "restructured". As it turns out it was because I am WHITE.
I wrote a letter to the Chairman stating facts about what I'd seen during and what I'd been told by others (members and staff) and they told me that suddenly alot of NON- Canadian/english speaking people where being hired. The GM is from Chilie. Horgay Rojas is his name.
The Chairman sided with Horgay 100% I quote "Oh he's doing a GREAT job. He's doing everything we want him to do!"
So, this means that the YMCA is Racist. They are also constantly hitting up the members for money for "donations".
Since I'd been there for 9yrs, I've seen how they are. The have PLENTY of $. but, they like to play the sympathy card and say "but, it's for THE CHILDREN.... Don't disapoint them... :(.".
DON'T put your money into any YMCA!
Obama on Monday announced the deal with Republican leaders. The deal would also extend unemployment benefits for 13 months while lowering the payroll tax by two percentage points for a year.
The compromise, worked out in negotiations involving the White House, the Treasury and congressional leaders from both parties, includes provisions that each side doesn't like, Obama said in a hastily arranged statement to reporters after discussing the proposed deal with Democratic leaders.
"It's not perfect," Obama said of the plan, which also would continue tax breaks for students and families contained in the 2009 stimulus bill and allow businesses to write off all investments they make next year. "We cannot play politics at a time when the American people are looking for us to solve problems."
As outlined by Obama and sources, the deal would add up to hundreds of billions of dollars in more federal spending or lower revenue in coming years at a time when the president, Republican leaders and a federal deficit commission appointed by the president all say that the growing federal debt must be brought under control.
House Democrats, who have approved a measure extending the Bush-era tax cuts for family incomes up to $250,000 a year, indicated earlier Monday they were unhappy with the negotiations that the White House was conducting with congressional Republicans.
"We won't rubber stamp a deal between the White House and (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell," one Democratic congressional source said. "We want to make it clear. Don't take our support for granted."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, were among Democratic leaders who attended a White House meeting with Obama and Biden to discuss the proposed deal.
According to the senior Democratic source, Obama and Biden told the congressional Democrats that the proposed deal was the best they could expect.
Democrats contend the nation must prevent working-class Americans from facing higher taxes, as promised by Obama in his 2008 election campaign, but can't afford the extra hundreds of billions of dollars it would cost to maintain the tax cuts for the wealthy. Republicans argue that the economy remains too weak to allow anyone's taxes to increase.
http://e-fit.ca
its just a bad gym.
So listen up: EXPECT to pay $50-60 per month for your average decent membership. Wonder why Fitness One WENT OUT OF BUSINESS ($10 a month you IDIOTS!). If the gym has SLIMMEY sales people and managers...RUN you morons. If you cant figure that out, i sincerely hope they fleece you out of every dime. If the gym offers ridiculous promos and seems busy.... RUN! its about volume not service. If your expecting someone else to shed those FAT POUNDS that you have put on, GET A LIFE or PLASTIC Surgery you lazy fat pig! The only person resposible for your health is you. STOP BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE!!!
FAT LAZY PIGS are the norm. Whiners who want everything for free, and never willing to put in the effort.
ENJOY your UGLY FAT BODIES losers!
Def not worth checking this place out!
Don't go near Extreme Ripoff!!!
Personal training is the biggest rip off out there. If u want a personal trainer negotiate for a deal outside the gym. Negotiate for a training buddy, not a trainer. Pay the trainer not the gym. If they won't do this, another person will. Realize that though many personal trainers are well intentioned it isn't a regulated industry (& CANFIT Pro doesn't count as assurance of education or ability, its a money scheme)
Look at ur potential trainer. Are they in shape, do they have the ideal body. If not pass. A gut on a personal trainer is a turnoff. So are overweight ones. If ur personal trainer looks like Arnold, expect that you'll do Arnold's workout, cause that what the PT knows. Watch them work out. See if they know what they're doing. Ask another gym member (preferably a gym rat) if the personal trainer is executing the exercises correctly. Ask the PT about THEIR personal fitness routine. If u never see them actually work out in the gym, forget them. If u only see them do weights & no cardio forget them. If u never see them stretch forget them. The prize is a PT who also instructs classes. From my experience, many of the PT's can't even make it thru a 1 hour cardio class. I've seen it. If they never say "hello", "how's your day/your training", or smile, even though you're NOT THEIR CLIENT, forget them. IMHO there's too many arrogant gloomy guses in the PT field. When u find a good one, keep them.