Equinox, as a brand, is an outstanding health and fitness club; however, the Southport club is unique in many ways. The Southport club is a brand new 2018 facility with state-of-the-art equipment, a gift shop, juice bar, and a full service locker room. Unfortunately as a new club,the Southport location has difficulty with climate control of the yoga studio, becoming too hot or too cold, and the instructor cannot adjust the thermostat. The issue has been repeatedly reported to the club manager, but it has not been fixed. The issue was addressed with Jed Prisby who is the regional manager for Equinox Connecticut and Westchester regions. Jed discussed the HVAC by phone, and a new HVAC company will address in the future. Jed indicated that the club has repeatedly attempted a remedy for the HVAC, and it requires an additional investment and is in progress. They were seeking a remedy.
The Equinox Southport club has inadequate classes for barre, Pilates and yoga on the weekends resulting in overcrowding. On a positive note, the club weekend classes are popular. The club needs to add barre and power/vinyasa yoga on the weekends. The existing classes are scheduled so closely in time that members are rushed out with very little social opportunity. Other Equinox clubs have better facilities for social interaction. In fact I made friends with a bodybuilder from Greenwich Connecticut at a Miami Equinox. It is ironic that we both reside in Connecticut but meet on the pool roof deck at Equinox Brickell Heights. Equinox Southport doesn't have the social connection of some other clubs. I have only met members socially at Equinox Southport when we are working out beside each other on equipment.
The barre, yoga, Pilates instructors lack the skill and talent in their specialty compared to other clubs for advanced instruction; however, their clientele seems to prefer it this way because it doesn't change. As an example some yoga classes do not teach inversions, and the pace of the flow is slow even in a vinyasa yoga class. The barre classes use arm weights, light leg exercises and a few abdominal crunches, and most classes never use 3, 4 or 5 position. Some Southport barre instructors prefer using a plastic band without barre technique. Other NYC and Florida Equinox barre classes teach more classic ballet like turnout, plié, passe, releve and lunges that strengthen and define the muscles like a ballet dancer. Some instructors take their class seriously and harassed another woman and me for leaving class early.
The Equinox Southport club has a good weight lifting program with brand new equipment and friendly personal trainers. A trainer named Michael is exceptionally friendly and popular with club members if you are interested in body building.
The club has limited parking and an undesirable location. Members often must park across the street or on the frontage road to I 95. The club is located with direct visibility of I 95 near a rundown GUNS store. Typically Equinox clubs are within an upscale shopping mall, an elite residential building or other prime real estate. The Southport Equinox location is along the fringes of Southport town center.
The Southport Equinox club is uniquely different. Members can visit and determine whether it is a match for their fitness goals. read more
