I visited Mad Dance House and took a few classes in yet another aborted attempt at embracing…read moreexercise around half-way through 2011. An old friend and I somehow came to the conclusion it would be good for us. It was, but we didn't count on our lack of resolution. The classes we went to were called "Girly Street Jazz", and typing that makes me feel like a girlier girl than an American cheerleader and I want to wince, but they were good classes. Set up in a building near The Victory Hotel and Queensland Writer's Centre at the time, I believe classes have now moved to a new location on Elizabeth street, near Govinda's Vegetarian Restaurant (excellent and a Brisbane local favourite). Apparently the new premises have air conditioning unlike the old place, because even on a winter night it got extremely hot in this tall brick building. (Then again, Brisbane's Julys are barely winter.) And you will work up a sweat and feel insanely hot in any case, because you're somewhat deftly thrown into the deep end from your first class. (You realize you're undergoing a baptism of fire but also appreciate it's for your own good.) Definitely bring a LARGE bottle of water with you. The classes are obviously highly cardio, but even then it's surprising at how hard you are pushed. It didn't meet boot camp level, but it came near. Also, the second half of the lesson comprised the learning of a fairly complicated dance routine, so you had to really engage your memory as well as keep your body moving. The scheduled 45 minute lesson went for an hour and felt like it went for three hours, but it was exhilarating. And, it was good for me. Thinking about how I no longer go here makes me feel justly chided. For $14 a lesson, these classes were well worth it. There was also a strange sense of bonding between you and the class members by the end of a lesson, like strangers in an emergency (oh no - the elevator doors won't open) or people climbing a mountain together. It feels a bit like both, with everyone looking scattered and afraid at the start and shy of making eye contact, then clapping each other on the arm at the end of the session.

I used to swing by Mad Dance House for beginner hip hop lessons with friends on Tuesday nights…read more (5:45pm) with Tammi T. Tammi's insanely talented and always knows how to break the ice with first timers who are reticent about dancing in front of others. But it's a group process, with each class beginning and ending with a warm up and warm down. There are huge windows for ventilation and two large fans that whirl madly throughout the classes, but this won't stop you from sweating like a beast. Make sure you bring a big water bottle, otherwise bottles can be purchased from the front counter. There are also change rooms and toilets for those coming straight from work. My friends and I were real beginners. The routines were tricky but relatively easy to pick up. Also the crowd was very supportive and friendly, and always focused on having a good time and nailing the moves and helping others achieve the same. One of my friends has since performed in one of Mad Dance House's hip hop shows and she's almost dancing like a pro. The only problem, which shouldn't really be a problem (!), is how popular these classes are. Spaces fill up quickly, so it's important to arrive early to get a good position in front of the mirrors. That said, Tammi's always considerate and rotates the front and back rows. That said, bring a friend along and you'll both get in for cheaper.

"Wake up in the morning feeling like Tense-Diddy..."…read more If you've ever woken up stiff as a board, do any regular cardio exercises, or spend your days chained to the cubicle farm's best friend the computer, then Stretch Yoga could be your get out of jail free card from the aches and pains your muscles give you. I've been going to their Deep Stretch lunch-time classes which at 45mins long are just enough time to untwist all those muscles of mine that are wound tight from an array of stress, attachment issues with my macbook and high intensity spin classes. The deep stretch class isn't your standard yoga class. It's more focused on holding positions longer to release the muscles and as such there's not as many poses per class. The relaxation and centering feeling from yoga remains. PJ, the owner, has taken pride in ensuring there are a variety of classes (including traditional yoga) suitable for the CBD office workers that make up the majority of their client base. The choice makes grabbing a class at multiple times across the week a breeze. And just don't go undoing all your hard work with a stop at the kebab shop underneath Stretch on your way out...

Don't worry - you might need to walk behind the kebab place, up the stairs, past the hairdresser…read moreand down the corridor but you will find the place and you won't be killed while doing so! Location aside (Centrally located in Brisbane CBD but hard to find if you don't know its there, despite the sign out the front), this place is great. I signed up for a beginners course on a Monday night and its been perfect. Our teacher is really great about talking us through the beginners steps and how we can adapt the standard poses to make it easier for us. I highly recommend the beginners course for anyone looking to start and since the teachers are so lovely, I think I would also recommend it for any other classes, too! It is also actually really lovely when you get inside the classroom as well, despite the misgivings I originally had with the kebab shop. Cheers,

People here are very accommodating and the place not to big but really peaceful to get a work out…read more Will be visiting again next month.

This is a no frills 24/7 gym in the Brisbane CBD. Honestly you can't ask for much more for…read more$12/week. The location is pretty conveniently placed on Adelaide Street just north of Central Station. Inside there is your standard fare of training equipment (treadmills, free weights, yoga mats, etc.) as well as 4 individual "pods" where you can take showers and change. Everything is well maintained and the staff is very helpful and courteous. To my knowledge, there's no other gym that is open 24 hours so this is definitely a godsend for when I'm working late at night. So in summary: good gym, good people, and low price equals a satisfied customer.

It's been a few years since I've been to a gym. After two major, permanent injuries that have taken…read moresome time to adjust to, I finally felt ready. What I want from a gym is a great range of classes, friendly staff and the option to visit gyms in other locations. Fitness First is delivering all of these, as a national and international chain. The Elizabeth St Platinum gym is my 'home gym', and let me tell you it is something special. Spread over four floors this new mecca of health and fitness has everything any gym junkie could want - a large range of free standing and machine weights, cardio equipment, sauna and steam room and of course studios for classes. My first class was sh'bam - it's kind of like Zumba, but much more gentle and fun. The instructor was pretty cool and we had fun. There's even a disco ball in the studio! Being a premium gym I expected it to be full of scary glamazons but it wasn't. Loads of people of all shapes and sizes were there making me feel like just one of the crowd rather than a fail whale. I have a good feeling that my membership won't be going to waste.

For a gym that charges $28 a week the facilities that Fitness First on Elizabeth street provide is…read morehorrendous to say the least. Can't even complete a workout due to long waiting times and weights being left around. Change rooms are constantly left a mess and not one bit of privacy. Will not be returning. Very, very disappointed.

The PURE Health Clubs located right in the heart of Brisbane's CBD is unlike most gyms I've…read moreattended - in fact, the PURE Health Club is decidedly different from most gyms. Upon entering the Pure Health Club you may notice a large manifesto posted on the wall stipulating that this "health club" (not gym) endeavors to make your work-out is a positive, fun, experience and insists that members leave their ego, vanity, pretentiousness and general gym-like attitudes at the door. The gym itself isn't like those chic, stainless steel 'exercise domes' so many of us have become accustomed to. Rather, the walls are bare, there are virtually no mirrors and there is a distinct absence of bulky machines that no one understands or uses. Instead the gym is filled with reasonably attractive everyday people with smiles on their faces, working-off that cheeseburger which they don't really feel that guilty about eating. Upon my sisters advice I attended the "Bounce" class. "Bounce" is a cardio class in which all members are asked to perform a series of aerobic like moves atop of miniature trampolines. Twenty minutes into the class I was puffing, drenched in sweat and cautious about not falling off my trampoline for the third time - but unlike most exercise classes I've been to, I was enjoying myself! At times I found myself making eye contact with other strangers in the class, sharing a look that clearly said, 'don't we look stupid', before mutually jumping harder once the track changed to the 'Venga Boys'. The PURE Health Club is definitely unlike other gyms. Even as a visitor to the club I was under not pressure to join or sign on to some discretely expensive trial program. I simply came in, tried it out and left without a fuss. Will I join the club anytime soon? Not sure. Do I want to return to the PURE Health Club? Without a doubt. IMPORTANT! Unfortunately they're closed on weekends - but how many "Health Clubs" have trampolines? Seriously.

I've been a member of Pure for almost 2 years now so they must be doing something right to have…read morekept me for so long. There is a good variety of classes, and some classes you won't find at other gyms, however the city gym is a little tired and rundown and could use refreshing. The Coorparoo and Newstead studios are essentially brand spanking new, which may make the city seem a little shabby in comparison. I suggest popping in and picking up a free class pass, or one of the 5 days for $5 passes when they have that promotion running to see if the gym is the right fit for you because I don't think it's for everyone. There isn't a huge variety or amount of equipment (6 treadmills, 3 of which I wouldn't run on because the mats slip, only a handful of bikes, and not much in the way of weights) so it's probably not going to suit macho weight lifting men or cardio addicts who don't like classes and can only attend in peak periods. If you like variety of classes especially pilates (both mat-work and reformer) and trying new things like bounce class (jumping on mini trampolines, harder than it sounds) or hiphop, or a new class that's coming soon that involves hula-hooping, then Pure may just be the right fit. They also offer Pilates training accreditation, regularly run 10 week challenges, have some great personal trainers, and run a clean eating program, which seems to be popular.

Small compact gym on the lower ground floor at 15 Adelaide St - quite dark and low lighting. Beware…read morethe fact that you will have limited or no mobile reception due to the underground location - does improve the closer you are to the entrance. Everything you need here with a range of cardio machines in one section, with free weights and weights machines in a separate area. There is a small training room for group fitness classes, and a small stretching area. Convenient location in the CBD - 1 street away from the Queen St Mall, quick walk to public transport (Queen St busway, Kind George Square busway, Roma St station and Central station).

I have been going to Good Life in the Wintergarden for about seven or eight years and to Good Life…read moreEdward Street for the seven years before that. Wintergarden used to be the premium, premier Good Life health club. But Oh my, how things have slipped. I train there somewhere between two and four times a week, always first thing in the morning. So, when I go there, I am usually the first one into the men's change rooms. And so it is always a surprise to find that a large number of the lockers are already locked, even though there is nobody in the gym. All it means is that gym management is too lazy to unlock them before opening. OK, second issue: There are free weights strewn all over the gym. Which means management is too lazy to tidy up the place at the end of the day. Third issue: Change room equipment is faulty and doesn't work. Which means that management is too lazy to get it repaired. Fourth issue: Training equipment can stand labeled "I am being repaired" for days and weeks at a time. Which means that management is too lazy to get things repaired. Fifth issue: Fans in the training area are broken or un-serviceable. Asking the receptionist to turn them on get the following response "This one is broken and I can't reach that one". Which means that management is too lazy to get things repaired and not competent enough to make sure that some one is able to turn the fans on. Sixth issue: Mens change room frequently has pools of water lying around. And I mean when i arrive, even before a single person has had a shower. You cant change into training gear or out of training gear and into work gear in pools of water. How do they expect you to put on shoes an socks FFS? And best of all - each of theses issues has been reported to the receptionist, and the response is a shrug of the shoulders and a comment that "yes, well the technician should be here today to repair the equipment". Which means that management is happy to leave the explaining to some receptionist, who has no influence at all on what goes on. The whole place has a run down feeling, but obviously Good Life is ok with all of this as long as people keep on paying to train there.

BEST GYM! Has everything you need classes, spin, yoga, pilates, heated indoor pool, steam room,…read morechild minding, huge weights room and the cardio room is separate to the weights which I love! Highly recommend...staff are really friendly and welcoming as well!!

From the owner: Active Life Fitness is a privately owned 24/7 full service gym that is over 2000sqm…read more At Active Life Fitness we understand flexibility in life is paramount and therefore we have consciously ensured that this is reflected in both our membership options and diverse range of facilities, including: - 24/7 Access - 470sqm Weights Room - Separate Cardio Room - Squash Courts - 16.6m, Indoor 4 Lane Swimming Pool - Group Fitness Classes - Cycle Studio - Pilates & Yoga Studio - Steam Room - Personal Trainers - Child Minding Facilities - Physiotherapist - Free Wi-Fi As you can see our full service gymnasium goes beyond the traditional weights and cardio experience of typical gyms. Being a family owned business, you can be assured of friendly service within a relaxed and pressure free environment. Our weights room includes doubles of some of our most popular pieces of equipment so that you never have to wait for your machine as well as over 35 cardio machines in the cardio room. Every membership includes an initial consultation to help you get started. Trained fitness staff are also on hand at within staffed hours to provide advice on exercises and equipment.