Park Slope gyms

lillyfish · October 2007

I just moved here and I'm trying to decide which gym I want to join. I live in North Slope so I was considering Crunch or The Slope... anyone have good/bad experiences with either? What about membership prices? (they never want to tell you over the phone, it's so annoying!). Any other gyms nearby that you'd recommend over those two?

Thanks!

brooklynjack · October 2007

We belong to the Y on 9th St. family membership is like $68 month ( we get a 20% discoiunt but there is a long list of organizations/employers that get it)

It is clean, has lots of machines and is comfortable pretty much a bunch of regular people go there. No experience with anywhere else

germfree! · October 2007

Crunch is $84 for just the Park Slope site and $94 for access to all of them. They charge like an expensive gym but have none of the amenities and maintenance of equipment and locker rooms is horrible. Add to that the worst ad campaign ever.

Am I a member? Yes, in every sense of the word.

pyros44 · October 2007

If you're in north Slope, I think you're not far from a nicely recently renovated YMCA. That particular location has a stiff joiners' one time fee, but other than that I think they offer good deals. Look into the closest YMCA location, it's probably the one I'm thinking about.

sjknoll · October 2007

I'm in North Slope but belong to the 9th street Y. It is a good gym, love all the individual tv's and the price is good. Especially if you have a roommate or live with a significant other, the price for 2 is the cost of 1 at most gym chains.

lanciano · October 2007

germfree! wrote: Crunch is $84 for just the Park Slope site and $94 for access to all of them.

Really? Those CRUNCH prices are much lower than we were quoted for our corporate discount.

Even with the discount we have, the annual cost would come to just over $1200 (too rich for my blood) and that is supposedly a "40% off" of their regular price.

(I go to NYSC but have heard some good things about the 9th Street Y from friends.)

pyros44 · October 2007

The 9th St Y isn't bad by any means, but I needed a little more than they offered in the weight room as far as machines goes. I've got a bad back, so there are some exercises I can't just use free weights for, which is a royal pain, since that's what I'd prefer.

I currently walk the extra half block and pay a bit more for NYSC, though I use a few different locations. Also, if you're just looking for a pool, I recommend the Berkley Carroll.

slopehead · October 2007

If you're not looking for a scene - check out the Body Reserve on 5th Ave & Union. It's a great, low-key gym with all the essentials and none of the pretensions. Probably the best deal in the Slope too. You get a 15% discount if you belong to the PSFC also.

kosherdave · October 2007

Anybody else annoyed by people who are "trainers" at gyms and are SERIOUSLY out of shape? Maybe it's just the NYSC where I go, but honestly, I would never spend money to be trained by a person in way worse shape than me! I suspect it it due to some hiring stipulation.

opossumqueen · October 2007

kosherdave wrote: Anybody else annoyed by people who are "trainers" at gyms and are SERIOUSLY out of shape? Maybe it's just the NYSC where I go, but honestly, I would never spend money to be trained by a person in way worse shape than me! I suspect it it due to some hiring stipulation.

Yes! What about when you do a class and the less-than fit (I don't even mean a healthy weight but instructors who seem like walking up the stairs might wear them out) instructors don't do the exercises with you??! First of all, it seems like it's easier for most people to follow the routine if they can see the person doing, esp. when there's really loud music. Second, I find these instructors tend to have less balanced routines--e.g. 10x as many lunges, curls, etc. on one side or for one muscle group than it's mate.

Personally, I prefer classes with instructors who seem like they could kick my ass at the activity and that spend more time doing the exercises than talking about it.

Crunch member here. It has the most of what I want and is close to home which means I actually go often enough to feel okay about paying too much for a gym (something like $80 for me).

jamzer · October 2007

Anybody have any experiences with Body Reserve on Union and 5th? What does it cost a month? Thanks for the info.

frank lloyd wrong · October 2007

My girlfriend and I just joined Body Reserve on 5th and Union for a full year. You pay most of the year up front, but it comes out to $600 for the year, which is 50 bucks a month. There are plenty of machines, it's very clean, and the small staff that runs the place is incredibly nice. There aren't many TV's around while you're on a machine, and there aren't any staff trainers, but both of those things are small prices to pay for a good, affordable no-frills workout. Plenty of classes also, but that's my GF's arena. I strongly advise you check it out.

ljnd · October 2007

Another vote for the Park Slope Y. The trainers are in great shape, as are the instructors. The staff are friendly, and I love bumping into neighbors there - I had no idea until I joined how many of my friends and acquaintances go there. I never feel out of place or like I'm not buff enough or young enough or gorgeous enough to be there - it's a welcoming atmosphere. Which encourages me to do more and longer workouts.

linusvanpelt · October 2007

pyros44 wrote: The 9th St Y isn't bad by any means, but I needed a little more than they offered in the weight room as far as machines goes. I've got a bad back, so there are some exercises I can't just use free weights for, which is a royal pain, since that's what I'd prefer.

I don't know what specific machines you want but there's an entire room of weight machines at the 9th Street Y that are not free weights. (Upstairs, across from the room with all the treadmill/aerobic workout machines.) Has been for years. The free-weight room is downstairs.

raw · October 2007

kosherdave wrote: Anybody else annoyed by people who are "trainers" at gyms and are SERIOUSLY out of shape? Maybe it's just the NYSC where I go, but honestly, I would never spend money to be trained by a person in way worse shape than me! I suspect it it due to some hiring stipulation.

Yes, fat, out-of-shape trainers piss me off. I saw enough out-of-shape gym teachers in elementary school. Now that I'm an adult, if I'm paying someone to train me, they better damn well be Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was in Pumping Iron.

I never knew how much lazy trainers annoyed me until I was busted my butt at the gym, gasping for air with muscles burning, and I look up and see a happy trainer standing in front of me, chewing on a donut. There's something wrong with that picture.

Another thing I can't stand are chatterbox trainers who loudly yap to other trainers and their clients throughout your entire workout at a volume that cuts through your headphones.

kosherdave · October 2007

raw wrote:
I never knew how much lazy trainers annoyed me until I was busted my butt at the gym, gasping for air with muscles burning, and I look up and see a happy trainer standing in front of me, chewing on a donut. There's something wrong with that picture.

Ohhhh that is bad, man, that would piss me off too.

raw wrote: Another thing I can't stand are chatterbox trainers who loudly yap to other trainers and their clients throughout your entire workout at a volume that cuts through your headphones.

Yeah, or the ones who try to mack it with the ladies (especially with the ladies who clearly don't wanna be macked ---is that a word?).

Or the ladies who show up with lots of makeup on and no intention to work out. The gym is a place to sweat and get nasty, not a club.

Now, I certainly don't mind really in shape hardbodies in skimpy clothes, as long as they are there to work out too. Seeing people in better shape than me who look fine and are busting their asses is just extra motivation.
Seeing people in better shape who are just standing around is just plain annoying.

cizinka · October 2007

Subject: nysc on 9th, park slope - do NOT join it

this nysc is the worst gym i have ever belonged to, hands down. the machines are always broken - i swear out of 40 machines - at least 15 have something wrong with them. it's also ambiguously dirty and staffed by teenagers who really don't care, not trained professionals. it's just such a lousy excuse for a gym.

so i thought maybe the other nyscs are better and the park slope branch is an anomaly. so i went on the upper west side and in chealsea and came to this conclusion:

in fact the whol nysc chain is horrible. it's dirty and cheap looking - though it's expensive (not the MOST expensive, but MORE expensive than other places) ....

i was at the one in chelsea and was DEPRESSED by it. there was this very sleazy "personal trainer" who approached me and started trying to get me to hire him - he didn't look athletic - and the way he approached me was gross. i forgot to bring flip flops for the shower and i spread tons of towels around the floor. there were long black hairs on the complimentary gels in the shower.

and the trainers at the 9th st, park slope facility are either monstrously out of shape - i could train them - or teenagers who could care less.

WHY do people put up with this &*%#?

i cancelled my membership yesterday.

i'm joining the Y on 9th street. i feel really good about that. i always felt guilty walking past it.

ljnd · October 2007

You won't regret it. I'm sorry for your NYSC experience. The Y will be like another planet for you!

duffyssis · November 2007

Subject: Another NYSC Problem

Ugh, I hate this gym. Just this past weekend, I witnessed this poor woman be verbally attacked and threatened by another gym member and the staff did NOTHING about it.

brooklynjack · November 2007

Subject: Re: Another NYSC Problem

Duffy'sSis wrote: Ugh, I hate this gym. Just this past weekend, I witnessed this poor woman be verbally attacked and threatened by another gym member and the staff did NOTHING about it.

Which gym do you hate? NYSC or the Y?

duffyssis · November 2007

Subject: NYSC

Sorry, it was the NYSC on 9th Street. And one of those fat trainers just stoood there and did nothing.

The whole club is run by people who could not care less about fitness or the well-being of the members.

steve · November 2007

Well, I'm real grateful to Kosher D for sounding of about the out of shape trainers, I've always wanted to do that. I feel bad that I feel exactly the same way, but I think its an example of PC gone to far, and sends the message that people who are grossly overweight are somehow fit too.

As for NYSC, my only complaint has ever been with their trainers who are largely the bottom of the barrel and not available for quick questions for the most part. The Y always had someone who could show you this or that, and Harbor Fitness was crawling with trainers.

Of the three, Harbor Fitness is probably the best, particularly if you go during busy hours, when the Y can be very crowded. The reason I left Harbor though was because I am pretty mobile and being able to workout or change for a run anywhere in the city is a huge plus for me.

littlegal · November 2007

I highly recommend Body Reserve on 5th and union. The atmosphere is so laid-back and comfortable. The people there are truly there just to work-out. I have never been to another gym where I felt so at ease. Also, it is small, but I have never once had to wait for a machine.

pyros44 · November 2007

Yeah.. I don't pay much attention to the trainers, myself, because a lot of times they are as mentioned above: horribly out of shape, horribly ignorant, or horribly rude. But I've seen that at just about every gym I've ever been to.

Someone mentioned above a whole separate room at the 9th St. Y with machines? I was never shown it, and I did a bit of wandering and hadn't happened across it. I'm happy with my NYSC membership as I use a few locations and not just in NY but in their other cities as well, but maybe I should go give the Y another look... I really did enjoy my membership there.

Park Slope gyms

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