The gym is relatively open concept, with a good amount of space to change and wait for your class…read moreto start. Do note that there are no lockers, just open shelves for clothing/bag storage which is less secure. The gym is on the 3rd floor and the entrance can be easy to miss from street level. Did the Arms, Abs, and Ass class with Mahdi and I quite enjoyed it. The class starts with some interesting callisthenics/animal flow-type exercises before getting into the weighted portion. You pick your own weights to determine your difficulty. The class size was pretty small so that gave the trainer plenty of time to go around and give form corrections, which was really appreciated. The exercises were a moderate level of difficulty, and this class was definitely strength-focused (no cardio). Mahdi was very positive and encouraged people without making them feel pressured to overextend. Overall I enjoyed the class and would be happy to come back to try out some other ones at JUNGLE:TO.

Blast offers classes, private training, and open gym facilities for its members. I mainly did the…read moreclasses and open gym, although I lucked out when I first showed up by being the only person to attend a free barbell training clinic Marv (the owner) was running. I learned a lot in the session and signed up that night. If you want to get strong, this is the place for you. Ditto if you want to get in shape, and if you want classes that are both challenging, interesting, and varied. On the other hand, if you care more about the amenities in your gym's change room than the equipment in the workout area, you are better off going somewhere else. Likewise, if you all you want to do is use cardio machines, I would encourage you to try one of Blast's classes with an open mind, and failing that, go somewhere else. One example of what I like about Blast is how it is perfectly acceptable at Blast to drop your barbell if you are doing deadlifts or olympic lifts. They have bumper plates (i.e. plastic coated weighted plates) and understand that when you lift heavy it's not reasonable (or even safe) to gently put the barbell down. Sadly many other gyms forbid dropping weights. Another great thing about this place is the sense of community fostered amongst the members, and how people are happy to spot you on the bench press, let you work in a set on the squat rack or lifting platform, etc. In terms of the equipment my favourite thing is the strongman type stuff they have. Specifically the giant tires you can flip, and the prowler/weight sleds you can pull with a rope and then push back to the start. There are also Kettlebells all the way up to 70 lbs, which is a heavier weight than most gyms carry. Lastly, the trainers are a great group of people. The owner and head coach Marv practices what he preaches, and he has a dynamic mix of trainers, some that work for Blast and others that rent out space for their own classes. They all work together and cooperate though. I'm leaving the country for work soon, and other than my siblings Blast is what I'll miss most about Toronto!

Really good place to get a intense workout, and I agree with everything Rachel said. The only…read morething I'd add is while the atmosphere is definitely friendly, I'd suggest that having some type of experience in these classes is helpful before getting to Marv.

I joined this gym franchise about a month ago and have been going to this studio specifically the…read moremost. Overall it's a great concept. There are different routines each time you go with a different theme such as strength or endurance. You spend a certain amount of time on the rower, treadmill and doing floor exercises. So there's a great variety and all the coaches are really experienced (they're almost too by the script sometimes). The music is always high energy and the Orangetheory screen which shows your heart rate/calories burnt/splat points is really handy to keep you motivated (provided you have one of their heart rate monitors). This particular studio does get a bit crammed when the class is more than half full (12+ people, which is often) as there isn't a lot of room in the waiting area. But it's not an issue when you're working out. It does get fairly busy as there's only one studio in the city. So you should book your spot in advance through their app at least a day earlier. Parking is generally easy to find although workday evenings you might have to park a bit further away. Everyone is friendly and the exercises are easy to tailor to your abilities. I'd recommend this gym and location.

What a great work-out with Danny! This is intense! But the great thing is, they have different…read morelevels made for what you can handle. I consider myself to be quite active, and participated in the more intermediate level... It was hard work! But with a great instructor, and great motivation, this can be a great option for that 1-hour activity.

Great boutique circuit-training/ strength-training gym. The work outs are pretty challenging, even…read morefor someone experienced. The coaches are very motivating. The work outs are about 30 minutes so it's easy to go everyday if you aren't sore. I find the FIT room very reasonably priced for how knowledgable and hard the workouts are. Highly recommend just trying it for a week! (they have a special offer)

There's not a better crossfit in Toronto. Huge space, amazing coaches, incredible atmosphere,…read morefantastic community--this is the place to be. Don't settle for anything else.

Dropped in from Boston and was not disappointed. Coaching staff was awesome, facility is amazing…read moreand massive. They have everything! Had a blast, will definitely be back.

I signed up for one month of Bang's hybrid training program. Overall, a highly recommended…read moreexperience! The context: I was super active in my 20's - crossfit, MMA gyms, and at-home training. I've since become quite a couch potato in recent years, and wanted to get back into training in a safe and sustainable way. I've had too many false starts where I would hop back into a strenuous regime and skip gym days because of extreme soreness or disappointment. The owner, Geoff, convinced me this was the right place. The good: A training paradise. Tons of the best gear, including hard-to-find things like battle ropes and a sled. Never having to fight for space to train. Super knowledgable staff that are just fun to be around. Fun and varied routines that got me back on track and feeling confident by the end of the month. Everything is clean, tidy, odour free. The bad: I can see cost being an issue for some people. I'd suggest talking to the staff to see what works best for your fitness goals.

In a downtown Toronto gym long, long, long ago...(a year and a half to be exact)…read more A not so young gym jedi (me), fought to free her republic from the criminal gang known as FAC. (Fats, Alcohol and Carbohydrates) Pursued across the GTA restaurant scene by the Imperial forces, she fought valiantly to resist the dark side (inactivity). Using the teachings (workouts) of her Jedi master; Obi Wan 'G' (Geoff) Kenobi, she was able to build strength and improve her mobility. Together with her devoted and wise side master Kazim and her foam roller, she battled and battled....Then finally decided she needed a change of scenery and moved to another galaxy. May the force (i.e. Protein) be with you.... Whether you're a budding star athlete or a joe schmoe looking to improve your body composition, Bang Fitness can help you with physical development needs. I've had the privilege of training with Geoff and his great staff at Bang during my time in Toronto and I've definitely noticed some changes in my physical form, energy and mentality. While it wasn't all roses all of the way, they made some great strides over the past year in their staff, facilities and programming. Seriously these guys are ready to rock. I'm happy with the changes I've seen in myself and I'm keen to continue my progress even though sadly I'll be leaving these good people behind. Whereas before I used to bellyache about lifting heavy weights or pushing massive objects I now find myself relishing round after round of sweaty punishment! What makes Bang awesome: 1. People come here to work. There's two main options for gym-goers here: semi-private training under the guidance of several coaches or regularly scheduled classes such as kettle bells or metabolic circuits. Each visit, I see gym goers of all ages strutting their stuff and pushing their limits. Vanity gym bunnies: check your egos at the door. 2. Old school programming. Prowlers, bumper plates, kettlebells...all the good stuff is here. You worried about form? They'll show you the basics and graduate you on to harder exercises along your journey. Long term success is not compromised for short term results. 3. Passionate and down to earth staff. They'll let you know if you can perform that set with a heavier weight. They're concerned about your movement but they also want to see you working to your fullest potential as well. Caveats? There are a couple. The shower and change rooms are small and merely ordinary. In fact, the whole space will come as a let down to anyone used to training in a boutique gym environment. Substance and functionality before style. And yes, it's expensive. Bang is by no means cheap but the prices are reasonable for what you get in return. You could bang it out (no pun intended) on the machines at your local Goodlife but you would not get nearly the amount of personalized attention and advice at this independent outfit. If you're serious about making some gains in your physical fitness, check these guys out!

This gym has some good, some bad. I've been here twice. It…read moreis big, there's more equipment than the one at the bcc, parking hasn't been an issue yet, there is hot yoga and towel service at this location, the lockers are larger, the women's side is huge and has way more equipment than the one at the bcc, the people are more intense here (that could be good or bad), the gentleman at the front desk was helpful, the lady made me feel stupid for not knowing where anything was even though I told her I'd never been there before. Hot yoga is free for members on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. You need to get a stamp to enter the class so get there a bit early. It wasn't the best hot yoga I've been to. The room is small and the floors are made of mats instead of hardwood. It wasn't as hot as other studios but I was still sweating buckets. I didn't find the teacher was spectacular either, but you get what you pay for. I liked how they had more machines, I didn't find myself waiting for anything. I haven't used the free weights yet, so I'm not sure about that aspect. The mats at the back of the room STINK. Eww wth I have never smelled mats like that before. There is a room on one side for work out classes and another room for spin classes. The showers aren't as new as the one at the Bramalea City Centre and the sauna is older but everything works fine. There are blow driers, cream, shampoo, conditioner, and an ironing board which is standard for any Goodlife. The locker room is very spacious. I only saw two massage chairs here and my boyfriend says they aren't very good. There are so many temptations around here... candies at Giant tiger, Pizza at Dominos, Mcdonalds, the beer store. It's hard to resist. 24 hrs Monday to Thursday. Only open till 6 on Saturday! Booooo.

I can't believe this Goodlife is without a Yelp review! Well here it goes…read more.. This location used to be a bar/nightclub called Raxx and that was around six years ago and once that ended the Goodlife gym popped up. I have been going to this gym since May and I really like the place! There is a women's only section with women's only classes and that is where I can be found. I have tried numerous classes including: Newbody (a light intro class that uses light weights to work the entire body) Zumba (Latin inspired dance and fitness) Body Flow (Yoga, Pilates, meditation and my personal fav.) Body Attack (Cardio class) Cardio Blast (Bootcamp style Cardio class..hence the name) Firm Parts (centers around the use of free weights for an entire body workout) Awesome Abs (Short ab workout class) I am still exploring the club and classes, I am very satisfied with the staff and instructors. They are attentive, funny and give everyone the workout that they need. This is a nice gym but ladies can be pigs and sometimes the ladies washrooms are gross... C'mon ladies, clean up after yourselves.

I love Validus Fitness! I've been a member for about eight years. When I started going, it was…read morecalled CrossFit Ark, and although it's still a CrossFit gym, it is so much more than that. Unlike many CrossFit gyms, Validus doesn't have that competitive vibe. It's welcoming for people at any fitness level, with members of all ages and abilities. It's a very supportive atmosphere and really feels like a big family. One great thing about CrossFit workouts is that they can be scaled to the level of the individual. Even though I've been going for years, there are still movements I can't do. But that doesn't matter because I can just substitute whatever the weight or movement might be for something I can manage. Another thing I love about CrossFit is that you're always doing something different, so you don't have to worry about getting bored with the workouts. Lastly, but certainly not least, I really appreciate the social element of going to the gym. I work from home, so I don't have a lot of social interaction throughout the day. Going to Validus gives me a regular social outlet where I can laugh and have fun with like-minded, good people. If you're looking for a fun way to get in shape or if you're curious about what CrossFit is all about, I highly recommend you stop by Validus and see what you think. I'm pretty sure they offer free introductory classes to try it out. Ask for Andrew--he's the owner and a super cool guy. P.S. I realize this might sound like I'm the owner or somehow benefiting from promoting Validus, but the truth is that I'm just a longtime member who loves his gym.