Far better alternative than the University of Ottawa fitness centre or any Good Life in the Ottawa…read moreregion. Beautiful Olympic size pools, newer complex with several recent additions. Staff are usually serviceable but sometimes just students getting through a shift so take time to familiarize yourself with the facility and all it has to offer. Gotta say I don't love their summer hours- especially for the lanes since the school lends its pool to third parties, but I will see how this summer schedule goes and report back. Can't comment on membership rates as I am a student, but the actual centre has a lot to offer so if it is not out of the way and you are shopping for a gym, you may want to weigh this option.

I think the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and are willing to help you out. This is a big…read moredifference over some gyms in Ottawa, especially Goodlife Fitness (they may help you if you drop a weight on your head, but it's likely for liability reasons). The Carleton Athletics staff does make the gym stand out! The gym has a great assortment of cardio machines, lots of natural light, and tvs for those who are so inclined. I wish that they had more free weights, especially in the 15-30 lbs range as sometimes it can be a wait to get your hands on a set. Also, the line ups for heavy lifting can be long, especially at peak times. This can be a little frustrating.

On a recent business trip to Ottawa I had the pleasure to visit this Goodlife Location. My hotel…read morehad a hotel gym, but I have a goodlife membership, and my hotel was just down the road, so why slum it when you can go to a full fledged gym. The check-in experience was ok. The front desk people were in a hurry to usher me in so they could get back to their chit chat. I had to ask for a towel, and the lady promptly turned away, I had to then ask to be pointed towards the mens change room. The change room was about on par with my home club - the lockers were a little nicer, and the showers were a little less numerous, and not as nice as Mississauga - Meadowvale. The club itself had one of the larger selections of cardio equipment that I've seen under one roof. Compared to my home club the clientele was a lot different. There seemed to be a lot more couples working out together - yet another reason for my wife to want to move back to Ottawa; but there were a lot of "Yo Bro" workout types which are a rare occurance in Mississauga. Still me and my water bottle found my usual assortment of equipment that I use, and got into my routine. I did my 1-hr workout in peace, got in some bonus time on the cardio equipment then made my way back to the hotel. One ergonomics consideration - the bin that I have to throw my used towel in, is out of my way to exit the gym, and tucked behind the "Yo Bro" trainer who was flirting with the front desk girls. In Meadowvale and even Calgary Eau Claire the bins are on your way. This could have been a four-star review had Goodlife hired helpful people to work the front desk.

Stuffy space no windows. Often have to wait for weights and racks in the evenings. There is a small…read morepool, classes and virtual fitness. Cleanliness average.

I went here with a big group and it was truly fun. Staff was helpful. Beer was cheap but cash only…read more There was snacks. The equipment was in good condition and the Ice was well maintained. One thing was that it was hard to find shoe covers of the same size but I guess I lot of people likely bring their own shoes

I've been to this ymca a couple times, though it's not the main one I go to. It is located in the…read morebasement of Carlingwood Mall and I didn't know this existed for the longest time. They have a pool which is great. The change rooms are clean and the lockers seem new which is good. They offer a variety of classes like the other ymca, I just wish the classes went a bit later. The gym itself has a variety of equipment and the equipment works well and is fairly up to date. They also have a room with free weights, mats and medicine balls where you can stretch and workout (if there's no class happening). I really like this ymca because the few times I've gone it hasn't been too too busy which means I got to work out on the machines that I wanted without waiting around-huge plus. Tip: if you go later it will be even less busy!

My toddler does somersaults off the couch, so I thought it might be time to introduce her to…read moregymnastics. I wanted to see if she enjoyed it first, so I came to one of the drop-ins (times are on their website) It's 10 bucks to get in for an hour of scheduled/supervised play. 5 bucks for their baby time drop in (1 year or younger) Bring exact change if you plan on paying wish cash. Staff are super friendly and welcoming. Room is fully padded with tons of trampolines, ladders, ropes to swing on and balance bars. They also offer programs/camps. Great place to bring your kid if they love jumping around with other kids, sans the rough play. Parking out front. Not bus accessible. I wish there were more locations city wide.

My wife and I are always on the watch for entertaining activities for our stir-crazy kids,…read moreespecially during the cold winter months. Our family loves Starr Gymnastics - a fabulous indoor recreation spot. This is a great local business, with multiple locations in the Capital City. We have found the industrial park location to be an efficient and well run operation. Their staff are very good, and offer great client service. The staff seem to be genuinely excited about their work and fully engaged with the kids. Both of our boys, as well as our Fancy Nancy daughter have thoroughly enjoyed weekend morning gymnastics instructional programs. They loved their instructors! The instructors present well organized programs, with a strong physical education curriculum. They have all of the gymnastic apparatus' you would expect and the equipment is safe and recent. The staff do a great job of integrating exercise and learning in a fun environment. The facility is very clean and the attitude of the staff reflect professionalism. They are a great option for snow & PD days, as they offer drop-in playtimes. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Starr Gymnastics. They have a lot of services to offer including: - instruction classes for all ages, including aspiring adult gymnasts - birthday parties - seasonal camps 17/30 - Yelp Ottawa's 30 Day!!

Honestly love this place and they do their best to keep up with the high demand and overload of…read morepeople. Whoever says anything negative about this location is wrong. The staff are so friendly and kind, as well. Hands down my favourite place to be every day.

Movati's management is only interested in your money ; they have no consideration if you're sick,…read morethey don't even freeze your membership when you have a broken leg or arm, they don't care at all when you're unwell. Their goal is money, money and more money. There are no reasonable accommodations in certain circumstances as stipulated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the staff is unprofessional, and the list goes on. For those who give 5 stars and criticize the lower ratings, please understand that everyone has had their own experience with Movati and is giving their opinion. Therefore, you don't need to comment on that opinion.

Lion's Park is a small community park. There's a wading pool, a play structure with swings and…read moreslides, some benches and picnic tables (some of which are even under a canopy) and some open green space. The park is in front of the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre. There's a free parking lot in front of the park, but I think it belongs to the gymnastics club. The park is fairly small and not usually that busy. Great for those who live in the area. Strangely, there is no signage with the name of the park on-site, which is odd for city parks.

a NO for me. It was…read morevery confusing for me to find their entrance. The doors are located right next to the garbage bins, so the smell will be "pleasant". The receptionist was really nice to me. Their freaking toilets are dirty, nasty and smelly. The equipment is very old and there is only one cable machine which sucks. The smell inside the gym itself is really bad, so I suggest they would turn on the fans. Overall, I was disappointed because their reviews were mostly 5 star. Maybe they were just friends with the owner, Idk. P.S. The prices are great though $49 for students and $59 for regulars, but they do not even have a normal water fountain for reusable bottles.

The gym is a new thing for me and I'm not one for treadmills. That said, I've been working from…read morehome a lot recently and felt I needed something to help me get moving even when the weather is yucky outside. Elgin Fitness was a great choice for me because I don't feel any pressure from staff or members and there isn't a big financial strain. I was given a day pass to try out the gym before committing to a membership. There were no sign up fees and there isn't a contract (if you sign up for automatic payments, they want you to stay around for at least 5 months though) and no penalty for cancelling (just a 30 day notice). The rates are really reasonable--we got a couple's plan for $80 and you can't really beat that anywhere else. I really like that the membership includes access to yoga classes. I went to one today, my first ever, and found it to be a relaxing and invigorating experience. The instructor wasn't overly serious and she was open and made the environment feel safe. When I couldn't hold a pose for as long, or had to modify a pose, there was no judgement and I felt positive about my body. The change rooms have been clean and well kept every time I've gone. They even have hair dryers! There are showers, bathrooms, lockers, and a space for beautifying oneself. The change rooms have never been crowded and I've never had a problem getting a locker (free, just bring your own lock). The gym itself is everything that I need and nothing more. There are a variety of cardio machines--treadmills, stair climbers, ellipticals, upright bikes, recumbent bikes. I've never had to wait for a machine and everyone I've seen use them remembers to wipe them down after use. There is also a good assortment of weight training equipment and a stretching room. The stretching room has swiss balls and mats and the yoga classes are held here--which means the room isn't open to everyone when a class is in session. So if you're within walking distance of this gym, I would recommend trying it out.