Gym Review: 5 Star Fitness, Hamilton

 5 Star Fitness is located on the east mountain in Hamilton just across the street from Total FX Fitness. The building was previously home to the Hamilton Roller Gardens.  Upon arrival, guests and members are greeted with a warm and classy reception area complete with a water fountain feature, a waiting area with comfortable couches and a juice bar.   The gym offers the look and feel of a larger gym combined with the community aspect of a small organization. Cleanliness is a top priority at 5 Star Fitness, and I have not been in a gym that is cleaner than this gym.

Facilities

Located on Stonechurch Road in Hamilton the building provides a large parking area for members. The reception, change rooms and gym are bright and welcoming. The main gym has a wide variety of resistance machines, free weights area and cardio area. There is also a dance studio/group class area. My favourite part of this gym is the boxing studio which is the largest and cleanest I have seen in Hamilton. They also provide physiotheraphy services and child care on site.

Staff

Reception staff are friendly and personable. They provide member services in a variety of aspects including the main desk, equipment shop and the juice bar.  

Change rooms

Change rooms are large and very clean. Showers are very large and well maintained. There is also a sauna available in the womens change room. Plenty of mirrors are available as well as plug ins for hair dryers.

Classes

5 Star Fitness offers a wide variety of group classes ranging from Pilates and Yoga to cardio, boot camp and MMA boxing.  There are even martial arts classes for  youth aged 4 to 12. 5 Star Fitness also offers some very unique programming such as Zumba Fitness and a Golf Training program.

Personal Trainers

5 Star Fitness offers an impressive line-up of personal trainers from a wide variety of fitness backgrounds.   Sessions need to be booked in advance. Check with reception for details.

Hours & Parking

This location is open 24 hours from Monday at 5am to Friday at 11pm:

Saturday:       7am - 8pm Sunday:         7am - 6pm

Parking is available at the side of the building.

Overall, 5 Star Fitness provides its members with a classy environment to pursue their fitness goals. They offer a wide variety of programs to suit just about anyone. This fall, they are planning on opening a second location in Stoney Creek. 

Gym Review: Century Physio & Fitness, Hamilton

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Here's a quick review on Century Physio & Fitness in Hamilton.

This gym has two locations in Hamilton. I had briefly described Century Fitness in a previous blog post. I will summarize what I noted with some added details:

Upper James location:

Facilities

Two levels; the lower level contains the administrative offices, daycare, change rooms, dance studio/women's area. The upper level contains the main gym which has cardio equipment, resistance machines and free weights area. There is also a customer service desk on the upper level.

The building is bright with natural light coming in from the west windows which cover the entire front wall. There are two water fountains upstairs and two main squeegee/paper towel stations.

The equipment is plentiful yet still allows for adequate space between so that you don't feel like you are being crowded. Equipment is maintained regularly. Individual TVs are found as part of the cardio equipment as well as plug ins for audio headphones.

Staff

This location is well staffed and attended. The reception area is central to the building and staff are friendly and attentive.  Personal Trainers are knowledgeable and can be seen attending to clients during various times of the day during the week.

Change rooms

The change rooms at this location are very nice.  Lots of mirrors. Lots of privacy with the locker areas divided into nooks. The women's change room has 4 private shower rooms. Each room has a sink, toilet and shower. This type of setup allows for total privacy. For those of you who are shy about changing and showering in a public facility, this type of setup is ideal. The change rooms are moderately clean and maintained.  

Classes

The aerobic studio is part of the women's only area and is adjacent to the women's change room. There is equipment placed on the outer perimeter of the studio floor for use as the women's only area. The area is relatively clean but could use some help from members to put away equipment after use. A class schedule is not posted but is available if you inquire at reception.

Personal Trainers

This location has many personal trainers available for one-on-one sessions. In addition to regular sessions, Century Fitness also has Physio available to members who require this service. This Physio service is covered under most health plans. Check with reception for details.

Hours & Parking

This location is open:

Mon - Thurs:  5am - 11pm Friday:           5am - 10pm Saturday:       8am - 6pm Sunday:         8am - 6pm Overall the Upper James Century Physio & Fitness gym offers solid facilities, friendly staff and extended hours to its members.  This particular location seems to attract members who are of the Baby Boomer generation, which is one of the largest groups who are keenly interested in improving their health and fitness. Upper Wentworth Location: Facilities This location also has two levels; the main level containing the reception area, daycare, change rooms, women's only area, juice bar, administrative offices, elevator to the upper level and a lap pool. The upper level contains the main gym, a room with hydraulic resistance equipment, boxing studio, washroom, cardio equipment, resistance machines and free weights area. There is also a customer service desk on the upper level. This building is also bright with natural light coming in from the north windows which cover the entire front wall. The elevator from the main floor brings you up to a catwalk on the upper level. There are two water fountains upstairs and two main squeegee/paper towel stations. The boxing studio is quite large and includes several bags hung around the perimeter with a boxing ring found in the centre of the room. You need to have a boxing membership to use this studio and ask for a key at the reception area to gain access.  Group classes and one-on-one boxing training is facilitated by the Hamilton Boxing Club. The women's only area which is accessible from the women's change room is quite small and dark. This space might be better utilized for another purpose or needs to be lightened and brightened to be more attractive to members. The main gym also has many TVs hanging above the cardio equipment. Staff This location is also well staffed and attended. The reception area is larger at this location and extends outwards from the offices. Overall the staff are friendly and attentive. Personal Trainers at this location are also knowledgeable and can be seen attending to clients during various times of the day during the week. Change rooms The change rooms at this location are nice.  Good privacy with the locker areas divided into nooks. There are no private showers available at this location. There are private saunas. The change rooms are moderately clean and maintained. Classes The aerobic studio is on the upper level. The studio is very bright and clean. Many members utilize this space for warm-up or cool down exercises when classes are not running.  A class schedule is not posted but is available if you inquire at reception. Personal Trainers This location has also many personal trainers available for one-on-one sessions. In addition to regular sessions, Century Fitness also has Physio available to members who require this service. This Physio service is covered under most health plans. Check with reception for details. Hours & Parking This location is open: Mon - Thurs: 24 hours Friday: 5am - 10pm Saturday: 8am - 6pm Sunday: 8am - 6pm Overall the Upper Wentworth Century Physio & Fitness gym offers solid facilities, friendly staff and extended hours to its members. This particular location seems to attract members who are of a very different demographic than its Upper James location. Members here at Upper Wentworth tend to be in their mid 20's to mid 30's. I invite you to visit Century Physio & Fitness. They offer a one week trial pass to new members which gives you the chance to check out both locations and try out the many great fitness solutions they provide their members.

Put Your Toys away Please!

Ah, got your attention eh?

Today I am going to express the benefits of "treat your neighbour as yourself" theory as applied to the fitness club that you are a member of.

Now surely most of this is common sense and most of you already do these things without even really thinking about it, your actions are just a normal reflex.

Cleanliness in your fitness club is probably, above all, the most important element next to excellent customer service, that you can expect to see each and every time you enter your gym. Cleanliness reflects a positive image and supports confidence in the gym organization.

Cleanliness also extends to keeping equipment clean and well maintained at all times.

Basic aspects of a clean gym include:

Clean and sanitized washroom, shower and changeroom facilities

Floors that are clean and free of visible dust and grit

Glass and mirrors are free of finger prints and smudges

Adequate and maintained air circulation and temperature control

Sanitation stations ALWAYS equiped with cleaner and paper towels

Fitness equipment stored neatly off the main floor space

Not only is the gym responsible for the cleanliness of the facilities, but also the members. How is that you say?? Simple. Treat your gym like your home. Respect others who use the facility by putting away the equipment when you are finished using it. I don't know how many countless times I have been in my gym, in the womens studio area and found myself picking up equipment that I didn't use, simply because it was scattered everywhere and in the way. Its really not difficult to replace the mats and free weights back where they belong. This helps the next person find the equipment easily, and keeps the gym safe and clutter free. Which all in turn elevates the appearance of the gym to visitors and promotes a growth in membership. 

So next time you visit the gym, remember to put away your "toys".  You will appreciate others doing the same for you.

Until next time......don't sweat the small stuff!

Phoenix Fitness - Hamilton

Hamiltonians sure are lucky. We have alot of choice when it comes to choosing a gym membership. Today I was fortunate to visit two locations of Phoenix Fitness One is in Ancaster and the other is in Stoney Creek.

According to my research Phoenix Fitness was established in 1984. This is the only gym I have visited in two years that was completely up front about their fees right from the start. They're even posted on their web site! I found a couple web sites for Phoenix Fitness, both seem to have the same information.

The facility in Ancaster is quite small, however; the gym was bright and airy. The equipment was well maintained and the gym and changeroom areas were very clean.

The facility in Stoney Creek was about 4 times larger, was also bright and airy and very clean and well maintained.

Customer Service

I received excellent and friendly service at both locations. The staff at the front desk were both very knowledgeable about they gym, the various services and explained briefly the fee schedule.

Staff

At the Ancaster location I saw only one staff member at 7:30am this morning. He was incredibly friendly and helpful and was very enthusiastic about Phoenix Fitness. In Stoney Creek there was one woman at the front desk who was also very enthusiastic and helpful.

Changerooms

The changerooms are very basic. Members are provided with showers and lockers. Again I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the changeroom. 

Classes

I was given a class schedule at both locations. They were easily available right at the front desk and also are online. The variety of classes is pretty impressive. For me, its like looking at a buffet table; I will probably have to sample a bit of each one before I can decide which one(s) I like best.  

Personal Trainers

I did not see any PT's however I was at these locations pretty darn early. I did ask about personal trainers and was told that there were several available. You could book single sessions or purchase packages of 12 or more sessions. 

Hours & Parking

The Ancaster location is open:

Mon - Thurs Fri Sat Sun

5:30am - 10pm 5am - 9pm 7am - 6pm 7am - 5pm

Parking is shared at this location Staples and a few other stores in the plaza.

The Stoney Creek location is open: 

Mon - Thurs Fri Sat Sun

5:30am - 9:30pm 5:30am - 9pm 7am - 6pm 7am - 5pm

Parking here is also shared with other stores in the plaza. The only suggestion I have for this location is to get a more prominent sign that can be seen on Hwy 20. The building is actually behind several taller establishments and cannot been seen very well from the road.

 

Special Features

Phoenix Fitness does not have any "fancy" features like saunas and lap pools or running tracks. However, my first impression of this club is that they're emphasis is on making sure the members are happy with the gym and happy with their workouts. That, I would say, is a special feature. They also have a boxing area, which is very cool.

In addition, child care is included in the cost of membership, members have access to all three locations (Dundas, Ancaster and Stoney Creek). Memberships are pay-as-you-go, which means no contracts. Another cool thing they offer, is they will pause your membership if you are out of town or unable to use the gym for whatever reason. During the "pause" you are not charged fees. Very nice!

Overall

Overall, my first impression of both locations is favourable. I was unable to actually workout today, but I plan to go in on the weekend and try out the equipment. I suppose some people prefer a larger gym establishment just like they might prefer a "big box" store. While others prefer a smaller gym, a local establishment. These people often prefer to support local companies and small businesses. There are pro's and con's to both. So you would have to try it out to see whether you like it or not. It costs nothing to "try it on".  

As always, I welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas

don't sweat the small stuff

Membership: Rights and Responsibilities

As a fitness club member, or a member of any organization for that matter, you have rights and you have responsibilities. Its our nature to focus on our rights and to protest when we feel our rights are being ignored or trampled. And, its also our nature to forget, by-pass, avoid or downright ignore our responsibilities.

As a member, its our responsibility to report problems, errors, and needs to management so that these items can be address and fixed. Makes sense?  But do we do it? Probably not very well. And I am guilty of that also. When I see missing weight pegs, or magnets; broken treadmills or empty towel rolls, I probably should mention it on my way out, at the very least. Why whats the point??

Well, as a member we have the power to improve our club by reporting things that we see need attention.

Furthermore; as a member in a health and fitness facility we should be responsible for our own messes. Dispose of your garbage and wipe down the equipment when you're done.

Its such a small thing, but can make a world of difference in your club.

Again, I am not perfect and do forget to wipe down equipment; but 99% of the time, I do wipe down.

and that, would be the one and only rant I will post on this blog.................

until next time; don't sweat the small stuff

    

My Wishlist for Fitness Clubs

So my last post reviewed some items that are required and recommended for fitness clubs in Canada. Now I'd like to tell you about my wish list for fitness facilities. My "dream" fitness club, if you will.

First lets discuss briefly some aesthetics. Nice bright natural light coming from large windows and skylight(s). Large, open, airy main gym area. Brightly lit boxing studio with several different sized bags, including a speed bag. A quiet area with a padded floor for cool-down stretching. Equipment that is fully functional, clean and well maintained (so that you don't have to stop your workout partway thru because the treadmill you chose sounds like a walrus in labour!!)

Everything, all the floors, equipment, changerooms, washrooms, showers, everything everywhere is clean, clean, clean!!!! (there is a full time staff member(s) ensuring this is taken care of)    

This picture is actually a scene from a gym at a resort in Portofino. Not likely it is used very often. Probably not too many people will workout while on vacation. However, I would be one of the few. I did get to the gym while on vacation last year, three times during the week I was away.

What I like best about this picture is the bright atmosphere and the great view from the treadmills. How awesome is that?? I'm also a sucker for the woodwork, it gives the interior a warm and inviting appeal. But, it is also costly and not a top priority on my wish list.

Another awesome feature I'd love to see at my gym is one or two staff members who "float" the gym. Their job is to assist members when necessary. (if a member seems to be puzzled about how to use some equipment, or maybe they are using something incorrectly) They would also be able to see when an area needs to be cleaned, towels need to be replaced, cleaning fluid topped up. In addition to all that, they could also recommend personal training sessions to members throughout the day. Yes, why not offer services to existing members??? 

So many companies, not just fitness companies, offer "introductory" services and features to draw in new customers/members. Then, once a customer/member is signed up, the sales dept moves on to the next new customer/member. Hmmmmmm..........hey, what about customer retention?? Why not try to keep your current members happy by continuing to offer them services that will enhance their experience at the gym???

Happy members = more happy members

Remember???

Anyway, that's just my opinion...............

Here is my wish list, in list-able format:

My Dream Fitness Club is:

1) CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN facilities

2) Fully operational equipment and changeroom facilities  

3) Open early or 24 hours

4) Nice, clean, quiet boxing studio

5) Quiet area with padded floor for cool-down stretching

6) Staff available in the main gym to assist with questions about equipment, exercises etc

7) Comfortable facility temperature and ventilation system

Canadian Fitness Standards and your Gym

Is your gym clean??

Seems like a no-brainer, really.

Is the equipment in good working order??

These two statements are pretty basic and its likely most of us expect the answer to be yes, when it comes to the gym that we pay a monthly membership fee.

But sadly, its not always the case.

These days, especially in Ontario, the fitness gym industry is highly competitive and vieing for our hard earned $$.

Wonderful fixtures and mood lighting, fancy private showers and upscale interior and exterior design are all very nice; but they are meaningless if the facility is dirty and unkempt.

Read here for a listing of the Canadian Fitness Standards

For the purposes of this post, I will focus on standard #1 and #4 listed under "Fitness Environment".

Fitness Environment

Standard #1

All fitness related environments and equipment shall be clean, well maintained, and free from hazards. (S)

Standard #4All fitness testing equipment shall be checked, cleaned and calibrated as required. (S)

My last few visits at a gym facility have shown me some pretty sorry circumstances. Lack of paper towels and clean fluid, several machines with "out of order" posted on them, dirty and dusty floors and changeroom areas, these are just a few of the things I have experienced recently.

Quite frankly, its disappointing. I fully enjoy and look forward to my visits at my gym. But when I arrive and try to find a treadmill that works, ending up with one where the handles are sticky and gross. Then I try to find cleaner and paper towels to wipe down the handles and there's no cleaner!! I ended up using some water from my water bottle. Yuk!!

Maintaining a clean, well-stocked environment with reliable and well-serviced equipment does require time and effort, which in turn cost $$. But, truly this is an important investment to make because it ensures that your members are happy and happy members means happy chatter about their gym experience to their friends, co-workers, hairdresser, mechanic and anyone else who wants to listen.

And, as we all know; word-of-mouth is THE best advertising, EVER!!

At the same time, it can work against you.

I am not pointing a finger at any particular gym location or name; because I have witnessed unclean and unkempt conditions in every gym I have been too. Which means that the industry as a whole really needs to step up and raise the bar in this area.

Happy members = more happy members!!

Downloadable Checklist for choosing a gym

until next time; don't sweat the small stuff