I cannot recommend the physical facilities, personal training protocol or the management refund policies.

This gym offers a welcoming, local atmosphere with its own unique personality. It's perfect for those who value a sense of community and a distinctive workout environment, making it stand out from larger, chain gyms. read more

Carmel Total Fitness is an awesome gym! You will see people of all fitness levels just trying to become the best version of themselves, with no one passing any judgement on you. As a matter of fact, I have only seen people encouraging each other. And if you are looking for a knowledgeable and encouraging personal trainer, I highly recommend Rick Decker. I have been working with Rick for two years and have seen excellent progress. He is the best! read more

CTF is an 'old school' gem in all the best possible ways; still privately, locally owned, yet still manages to have all the best equipment in the city that always seems to be empty just when I need it, a friendly community of committed 'real' weight lifters none of whom have big egos, and a ton of the best trainers. Though they all seem very competent, I've especially enjoyed weight training under the guidance of Rick Decker, who is at least as experienced in keeping people safe and getting them strong as any physical therapist or coach I've been treated or trained by, plus he's energetic, dedicated, easy to access for scheduling, and has kept me injury free and getting stronger every day, for over two years. Oh, they have a pool now too. Do yourself a favor, look past the flashy 'globo gyms' and check out CTF. read more

Everything that you'd want a gym to have they have it. The owner is involved with his gym and takes pride in it. I feel very comfortable working out there and enjoy the atmosphere! read more

Great gym for lifting and getting in some cardio. If you're looking for a quiet place without waiting on equipment, then this place is the best in the area. Only busy times will be weekdays after 5pm, but honestly every gym is busy around that time. It's nice to have a place close to home where people know you by your first name. The trainers all seem to be genuinely concerned and motivated to help every member build their fitness knowledge, which can be a rarity these days in the gym world. Keep up the gre read more

I was a member of this gym for a few months in 2020 until I moved and joined a specialty gym (the style of lifting I participate in just doesn't work in this gym and that is absolutely fine and doesn't have any bearing on this review). CTF got my business after I got tired of my big box gym. I can't speak to locker rooms, showers, and classes as I just came in to use the strength equipment, but although I felt that some of the equipment was older, the gym has everything you could possibly need if bodybuilding and/or general fitness is your goal. The staff was very kind. I was always greeted and felt very welcome. From reading other reviews it seems as if people apparently have had a hard time cancelling their contracts. This was not my experience at all. Everything was very clearly laid out for me and I understood my membership. When I needed to cancel the process was very easy. Zero complaints in that department. As somebody who favors the barbell over most other equipment, when I was there I just wished there was an extra squat rack or two and maybe an extra bench. I completely understand that space is a factor and this is a nitpicky thing based on my own exercise preferences, but this is my primary criticism after working out there for the time I did. CTF is a great locally owned option if you're wanting to escape your big chain gym. As someone who participates in Olympic style lifting it didn't end up being the gym for me, but I'm glad that I gave it a shot and it is a gym that I'd recommend to anyone who wants to go get a great work out and support local. read more

Very fun gym and full service as well, the staff is very attentive and keep the grounds clean and orderly. Love it!!

Did the 3 day trial here, and immediately signed up after. Clean, staff is nice, and I feel comfortable just lifting here. Glad to be starting my fitness schedule here. read more

My favorite gym ever! Been going here for 4 years now and don't plan on leaving anytime soon - so much equipment, wonderful staff, and a fun gym environment. read more

CTF is the best place for no-nonsense fitness. If you're looking for a clean, maintained gym with a focus on working hard rather than being seen, this is the gym for you! There is a very strong focus on personal training, and there are always multiple trainers hanging out. They are without exception warm, friendly, helpful, and engaging without being pushy. It is obvious that everyone at CTF truly cares about fitness. The gym culture is amazing! read more

This gym is great. I love that it's locally owned and they have super friendly staff. It's not overcrowded like bigger chain gyms get at times. I used to live 2 minutes away from CTF and moved 15 minutes away, but still make the drive (despite there being 4 other major gyms between my house and CTF) because it's that good. read more

My wife and I moved to Carmel recently, so we started to look at some gyms in the area. We considered the Monon Center(affordable, lots of stuff, but the weight room was underwhelming), Lifetime Fitness(nice but a little pricier), LA Fitness(had a bad experience with LA Fitness in the past so, no), about a million Crossfit gyms in this town(no thanks), and Planet Fitness(hahaha) but we finally settled on Carmel Total Fitness. In the short time we've been members, we are very happy with this facility. From what I understand, the building used to be the gym for employees of Conseco but has since become an independent gym. The facility is a decent size, complete with a basketball court, aerobics room, spin class room and a racquetball court as well as full locker rooms. The building and equipment definitely are a bit older, but they seem better maintained than a lot of newer gyms. Most of these things don't matter to me however(though they are nice to have). I spend 99% of my gym time in the weight room and I'm very happy with it. For starters, they have a real life platform for deadlifts. This, along with the three available squat racks make me VERY happy. The equipment itself is kinda piecemeal, it's obvious they got it from many different sources. Not that it matters though, as they have plenty of equipment(both free weights and machines) and it all works. They also have tons of cardio equipment. The staff is great. Though they seem to have minimal staffing most of the time, they stay busy. When it's slow, I have seen the staff walking around the weight room, reracking loose weights and cleaning equipment. This is awesome, and a far cry from my old gym. I can't speak for the group instructors as I've never attended the classes. They also have a directory of personal trainers. Very friendly and considerate employees overall. The clientele is actually pretty great too. They do a great job of keeping the gym clean and weights racked as well. Once again, this is a far cry from my old gym where people would load 1000 pounds on the squat rack and just walk away. It's never been too crowded when I've been there, though I mostly go in the evenings. I think they do most of their business in the daytime. Let's just say I've never had to wait for a bench press. Prices are reasonable, and you'll get a better deal if you get a family membership. They actually had a Groupon going when I joined, so I used that and it ended up being a fantastic deal, so you might want to consider that when you join. In case you can't tell, I like this place a lot. If you're looking for a new gym, give CTF a shot!. read more

A great place to work out! The equipment and facility are top notch with knowledgable and helpful staff. A big plus is that the fitness classes are included with membership, and they are fantastic. Great classes with excellent instructors. The personal trainers are very impressive and motivated to help their clients. Definitely recommend joining CTF! read more

I love my gym, I really do. My husband and I have been members since last summer after switching from LA Fitness. While LA does have more to offer, I never felt comfortable working out there. So many lunk heads and judgey stares. From the minute I walked in, I knew it would be a completely different experience. Sean, the assistant manager, knows my name and always smiles and says hello. This goes a long way in my book. At the big box gyms, you're just a face in a million. I always come on my lunch hour to lift and never have issues getting to any piece of equipment. The have a great weight room with a large selection of machines and free weights. The equipment is older and not shiny and new, but it's all functional and safe, so who cares? The cardio selection is decent, lots of treadmills, several ellipticals, lots of bikes and a few stair masters. I can't speak to their classes, I've never taken any. The sauna is nice and hot as hell. Locker rooms are older, but again, functional. All around, this is a highly recommended facility. Speaking as a woman that frequently works out alone, I very much enjoy my time at CTF and look forward to working out now more than ever. read more

I previously responded to a question asked by a member if the CTF reopening was safe. As the member's question and my comments have disappeared, I am reposting. The signs have been removed on treadmills , and no longer socially distanced. My belief is that employees have a very casual response to Covid pandemic. Although they may be within their rights, I stand firm on my opinion that older people like myself who may be at high risk should stay away from this gym. read more

AS others have written, this is a friendly gym with good equipment, but only as long as you are a member. My membership was up end of November and last December at the beginning of my new year's renewal... I received news of surgery required that was going to take time to recoup, so I asked to be released and they refused. I paid all of 2017, but could not use the facility. Therefore, I followed the rules and cancelled with more than 30 days notice and turned in my tag in November. They still charged my bank in December and can't seem to answer as to why I made 13 payments in a calender year of membership. IF you might move or have a health issue their cancellations policies are horrid and they intentionally take extra money from you. I just looked at their other reviews with the exact same problem of being overcharged. read more

Love this place. After gyms closed due to Covid, my old gym didn't not open when allowed. I joined here and signed for a full year after one week! read more

Sean was very kind and respectful on the phone. I cannot speak to the atmosphere of the gym b/c I have worked out there only a handful of times in my year and 1 month membership. This may be a wonderful gym; I know they pride themselves on their long time in business and happy customers. This pride is both evident in their responses to reviews, and Sean's temperament on the phone. The reason behind my review is their cancellation policy. I take full responsibility for signing a contract that has a yearly auto renewal with no wiggle room - unless you are moving 25 miles away. However, I would just like to caution others prior to signing their contracts. We will now be paying for another 12 months of a membership we do not use. This is user error, but I felt it was my due diligence to write this review so others are hyper aware of this particular cancellation policy. There is a 30 day window for cancellation prior to the yearly renewal date. Unlike other subscriptions there is no reminder/alert that this is going to occur, so make sure to take it upon yourself to not be forgetful or lazy when it comes to your subscription. I wish you the best with your business. Plz note: In response to the owner, thank you for catching my error. I will edit my review to the correct months. My contract renewed per your policy on March 6th 2019. It will end March 6th, 2020. As today is April 8th, I should have said 11 months. I am glad that everyone likes you. I was hoping to leave a respectful review of my honest opinion so as to prevent any unforeseen financial stress for your future members. I appreciate your openness to constructive criticism. read more

CTF has been my gym for the last 10 years. What I loved was that it was no nonsense, no frills, no meet-market atmosphere. The secret weapon of this place are the trainers. Zach Pello has been my trainer the last decade and has taken great care to craft my workouts according to my goals, as well as taking into account whatever my limitations might be (back pain, etc.) His approach is holistic with focus on core strength, breathing, and diet. The fact that CTF has retained this caliber of trainer, and many others, speaks to the healthy atmosphere they've created for their staff and their patrons. read more

When my wife and I joined, we were excited to join an independent club. We like to patronize local, small businesses when we can. We hung in while we could. The fact of the matter is that the place is just dirty and run down. Showers are slick with god-only-knows-what, lockers are rusting and bottom lockers often contain the floor and hardware of the locker above. On one occasion, I showed up during lunch and the lights were flickering like we were re-making a b-grade horror. Kept expecting to see Freddy in the mirror when they came back on. Everything about the place suggested that the owner was holding on by his teeth. So we felt bad about quitting. We really did. Until (you guessed it) we got screwed on the cancellation. Now, I'll confess that I knew there was a thirty day cancellation notice required. Not surprised. But I wasn't exactly sure when we joined. So when I went in at the beginning of December and asked to cancel, I was prepared for the worst. I was told that our last day would be 1/2 and that I needed to turn in the access cards at that time. Not bad. But I got charged for another month on 12/31. Why? Because I needed to cancel by 11/28 in order to have my last month be December. Why was I not told that at the front desk when I cancelled? Why was I told that I needed to turn in my cards at the beginning of January if I was being charged through the end? The owner didn't have an answer for those questions, but boy was he pissed to be asked! He went from zero to raging so fast you know he's had this discussion before. So he's got us for another month. And I can hear the pressure of being a small business man in his voice, just like I could see it in his facility. I get it. But you don't beat the big boys with a worse product, the same rigid legalistic crap, and worse customer service to boot. Small businesses win when they build a relationship. When I can over-look the broken machines because I know the owner, trust him, and know he's trying. You won't get that here...keep looking, my friend. read more

No-nonsense, well-maintained, and great equipment. Was looking for a day pass for a couple days while visiting family in Indy and out of the 7-8 gyms I called this one had the cheapest rate by far. Really helpful staff - gym on the smaller side but it has everything one could need in terms of machines/equipment/weights. read more

Very friendly and caring staff! I'm not new to gyms, in fact I have probably had a membership to all of the major "brands" over the years. Carmel Total Fitness comes in first with equipment and a community feel. I need a place to go to unwind and even if I'm not in the mood to workout, as soon as I come in the door I change my attitude. From the staff at the front desk, to the trainers, to the owners who you are actually able to talk to in person if you have any issues, they all are very friendly, approachable, and helpful. I will be a life long member. Thanks guys! read more

Been a member for years. Nice equipment. Large facility. Free weights and treadmills. Privately owned - not a chain. Reasonable rates and prices. Friendly. Great workout alternative to the chains around the area. Recommended for all ages. read more

I've been coming to CTF for a year and have had nothing but a great experience. Everyone is incredibly friendly from the staff to the other members. It is a very good mix of old and young, experienced and beginners. Doesn't have the saccharine feeling of a LA Fitness but I think that's a good thing and everything you could want is available. I'm very happy that we found this gym. read more

This is an awesome gym with knowledgeable instructors, lots of equipment, and free classes (other gyms charge extra for these). The training sessions which are with the trainers are reasonably priced. There are even Cross Fit classes with Zach Pello (you do have to pay a nominal fee for these ($10 for the half hour very small group....almost like a personal training session) and $5 for an hour long friday crossfit larger class which kicks butt. read more

I like that this place is locally owned and not a chain. Their staff is very friendly and always greet you and say good bye when you leave. I do wish, however, that the lockers were a little bit wider because my gym bag barely fits and it's not a big bag. It's nice tha the equipment has individual TVs for the cardio machines, but honestly most of the equipment looks like it was purchased used from other gyms, not a big deal though and that won't discourage me from working out here. They have a basketball court, raquet ball, and large group fitness area. I do like the fact that there is a ton of equipment to use in the group fitness area and it's accessible any time of the day. That's really nice because other gyms like LA fitness lock up all that stuff. They have a sauna, but unfortunately it's co-ed and located in a hallway instead of the locker room so you do have to sweat in your clothes. They do not have a pool. Group classes are included in the membership and as a Blue Access member, which means my health insurance pays for this membership, I'm not excluded from the group fitness classes. In my research, I've found that lots of other gyms restrict these types of members. They do have towel service which is really for cleaning off the equipment but I use them to whipe the sweat off my face because I'm always forgetting my gym towel. Most importantly, all the women who work out here follow the dress code. I've been to other gyms that let women prance around half naked. If I had a choice of working out here or LA fitness if I lived in Carmel, I would pick this place hands down. I work out here because it's near my work. There's always plenty of parking and it's miles away from any fast food restaurants! No temptation here! read more

I have been a member of a few different gyms over the years. I would say the plus of this gym is that it is a smaller, private gym. My issue with this gym was with the contract. Make sure you know what you are signing and get a copy. They did not offer me a copy of my contract and in retrospect, I should have asked. The fees to cancel a membership are more than I have experienced at other gyms. I will not be joining this gym again if I live in the area. read more

This locally owned (owner is actually on site every day) and operated gym is one of the best out there. The place is kept extremely clean and all the equipment is in excellent working condition. The folks are friendly and supportive whatever your fitness goals from cardio to power lifting. Strongly recommend this gym plus support local! read more

I had been a member of Carmel Total Fitness, which was literally around the corner from my office, since 2007 until the credit card I was using for the auto draft had been compromised and subsequently cancelled. I got a voice mail from the owner Scott wanting a new card number. I didn't get back immediately thinking I'd be in the gym soon and would just handled it then. The next thing I know I'm getting calls from a collection agency! I couldn't believe this guy chose to handle the situation in this manner! So, after all of those years I immediately cancelled and of course was treated to the same 30 day requirement previously mentioned, adding insult to injury. Stellar customer retention plan I must say. I would also agree with the 1/4/2013 reviewer regarding the overall condition of the facility which had gotten pretty lousy, especially in the area of cleanliness. read more