I'm biased as I do train there but cannot rave enough about our MMA gym. I've been there for two…read moreyears and absolutely love it. Yes MMA is popular and there are many gyms taking advantage of that, but not here. We are one big family, socialise often and always help each other to reach whatever goals we have. That maybe to actually compete, self defence, weight loss, fitness or a combination of each. If you are on the Northside and are wanting to try one of our many training sessions, just pop in for a freebie (any session) and see what you think!

Sometimes life throws you lemons and you make the best lemonade in the land.. This happened to me…read more I became extremely ill whilst attending Snap fitness in 2013 and was forced to quit- this meant giving up a lot of time spent at my favourite gym. Just yesterday I called the manager asking if I could become a member once again. I expected to repay all membership fees/ Card holding fees and pay upfront a little extra $$. Not one cent was charged. I had become a member years ago and once your a member you're always a member! I still had my card so they simply reactivated! I also snapped up a promotion so I get a month for free... Not bad at alllllll. As for the gym, it's small but it's open 24 hours. There are comps/ group sessions/ pt sessions/ boxing/ skipping equipment/ every kind of gym junkie equipment you'll need. Oh and stacks of weights if you want to 'get big'. I'll be going back again tomorrow. Let's get fit Brisbaneites.

With the weather the way it is right now, Albany Creek Leisure Centre is a godsend! They have all…read morefacilities and services from gym, kickboxing, Zumba, and yoga to swimming lessons and slides. Even if you're not a member you can stroll on in and have a leisurely dip or a more vigorous swim. Admission is only like $4, and you have access to all the aquatic fun from lane swimming for fitness to the whirlpool and slide in summer. There is also a café there to quench your thirst and line your stomach after your swim or workout. They offer squad training and swimming lessons here but if you just want to go at your own pace, there are lanes open to the public ranging from slow to fast pace. There's also group fitness such as seniors water aerobics, radical fitness programs, or deepwater running classes. You can even hone your swimming technique in a swimfit class. There is a service or a program here to cater for everyone, but I just like to swim at my own pace for some exercise and to cool down. Albany Creek Leisure Centre is perfect for that and you can join up and save money or, if you're an infrequent visitor like me, just pop on by and pay the small admission fee to use the pool. Their website even has weather updates so you can plan your swim or workout by the day.

Albany Creek Leisure Centre is great for families on a budget. On hot hot days you can laze about…read morein bubble spa while the kids have fun running under mushroom fountains or swimming in the rapid river! For an extra $4 (on top of your entry fee) you get unlimited slide access - the slide is wicked... You pick out a mat, climb the stairs then shoot off down the tunnel of fun! My kids love it and you can usually hear their hysteric laughter they whole way down! They also have picnic tables and plenty of grass if you want to take along a picnic lunch. In Summer this place is a hive of activity. The centre also runs learn to swim classes which are really reasonable and run in line with the school terms.

Hmm... Fitness. Bending. Core. Touching my toes. All things that I'm not overly in tune with/good…read moreat. But I am trying, I'm trying hard to make fitness a thing that is an active (get it) part of my life, rather than something I scoff and try to avoid. I went to Barre Body with a colleague of mine when they were in town. She's pretty into her fitness and I agreed to go with her. Colleague solidarity and all.... OK, so I sound super pessimistic, when in fact, it was great. I really enjoyed it. It's a beautiful, calm space. We were two of four taking part in the class so I didn't feel silly for totally not being able to do certain things. The class was hard and involved a variety of resistance, stretching and strength based movements. There were also heaps of options for you to up it or pull it down dependant on your ability, which I think for this kind of fitness. From simple stretches to balancing, to weights to pull ups from the floor (haha - no), I loved the mix of the ballet/pilates/yoga style movements. There were points where I was laughing, mainly because I don't have the ability to do something yet, but I didn't feel like I was putting people off, I felt really supported, especially by the instructor. I will be trying it again (shock horror, I know) and hopefully, I will be in less pain for less time here therein. Seeing I felt damn good afterwards and that out wayed the muscle pain I felt over the following days, I feel I owe it to myself (and the studio) to give it another go.

Barre Body is a welcome addition to Brisbane, bringing their fun and dynamic classes to the…read moresunshine state. I've been to dozens of their classes in Melbourne and a few in Sydney so it was great to see them also offering classes in Brisbane during a recent work trip. As is the case in all of their other studios, the design is lovely with lots of light and nice touches like freshly brewed tea and scented candles. The teachers are friendly and make newbies feel welcome while also challenging those who come regularly. Book classes on line and on their app - it's super easy.

Awesome gym with amazing up to date facilities…read more They have a range of helpful personal trainers with a standout being Mark Westley. I have been PT'ed by Mark for the last five years and I have grown in confidence as I meet ongoing goals with his guidance The owner is regularly onsite and and is vibrant,bubbly and shows a passion toward her industry Awesome gym and recommended to all!

I find it quite amazing how quiet this pool is considering its location smack bang in the middle of…read moresuch a populated area and so close to a freeway exit, but that's one of my favourite things about it. Of course the quiet factor depends on the time of day - I haven't managed to perfect my knowledge of exactly when lap pools are at their busiest, but I've never had to share a lane with more than one person here. There's not much in the way of kid's entertainment except for a small paddle pool, but if you're kid free and enjoy a comparably peaceful lap swim this is a great place to go.

Wynnum Bowls Club still has $10 meals on Friday nights, it's nestled into the quietest corner of…read morethe foreshore in Wynnum, right on the water, and has no passing traffic at all to disturb the serenity of a relaxing afternoon of bowling with soft manicured grass between your toes. Sound good? It sure is. Of course the club also runs regular fixtures and special events, including bingo. No crass commercialism here, just good old fashioned fun by the bay.

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.