I've been coming to the yoga classes here for over 10 years. There used to be Thursday and Tuesday…read morenight sessions but now there's a class on Monday morning at 10.45 and Tuesday evening at 7.35. Both are taught by Diana Radcliffe and have been for as long as I can remember. The style of yoga is simple Hatha yoga in the Satyananda style and what this means to you is that it's suitable for all levels. Diana provides alternatives for beginners and takes an individual approach when needed, keeping an eye on the newbies. Each class starts with a gentle warm-up followed by floor postures before moving into standing poses, usually incorporating a series of movements into a flow. There are variations each week so you don't get bored and every session finishes with 10 minutes of breathing and relaxation. Yoga doesn't have to be a weird thing you have to go to a hippy place to do; it's for everyone and I would highly recommend starting here with Diana.

I went to the gym at the YMCA in Mt Albert while I was in high-school and it was perfect. As a…read morestudent at Mt Albert Grammar the YMCA actually offered me a discount, so not only did I have access to all the equipment and classes, but at a cheap price! It is things like this - providing local students with cheaper rates - that always impresses me about the YMCA. It is a business that really looks after locals - it's very community oriented. An example of this community spirit is the YMCA used to rent out one of their rooms to my dance school at a cheap rate so we had enough room to have proper rehearsals and practices. Without their help we would have been at a loss! Offering great school holiday programmes, hosting kids birthday parties, before and after school care, special youth programmes that promote leadership and creativity - the Mt Albert YMCA is fantastic.

When I was growing up - this was the place to be in the summer! The outside pools rocked with the…read moreslides and deep diving pool. Now I'm a bit older ... I have to admit I've dropped into the free Aquacise classes and laughed my head off with the local mamas. I haven't tried the gym but it looks good and I like the strap line they use "no egos just real people"

If you're a student at Auckland Uni and you enjoy hitting the gym, then I would recommend checking…read moreout and signing up to the Auckland Uni gym! It's cheap as chips! Only $295 for a 12 month membership (upfront payment for enrolled UoA students), that works out to be roughly $5.70 a week!! Bargain! This gym is fully equipped with machines and free weights, a climbing wall, cardio machines, a stretching room, classes and a female only section. Just recently they have also renovated the bathrooms and showers, so youre able to get fresh and clean before hitting class. They have great locker facilities, however make sure you bring your own lock. However the downside is, after leg day you have four flights of stairs to walk up to get out of the building...... Feel the BURN!! If you're a Uni student wanting to go casually it costs $15. If you're a non-Uni student it costs $20 to go casually. Being a Uni student who likes to stay fit this is a great investment. Although forking out $295 is a lot of money for most Uni students, it will be a cheap investment long term.

The gym which is responsible for the Greek God like body you see before you, well I guess I have…read morekind of let myself go, but let me tell you, back in the day I was looking ripped. Also the cheapest gym around, ends up costing you about $60 per month, and half that if you are a student. Patrons range from casual gym goers to super serious gym buffs, and they have an impressive range of machinery and free weights to comfortably cater to the diverse crowd. It can be a little crowded at times, especially the month leading up to summer, everyone trying to drop those winter pounds. It is a student gym, no plush extras like a sauna, but for $60 a month it's a great deal.

Some Monday's I need to take the children that I nanny to their tennis lesson which is held at…read moreRemuera Rackets. It's in a good central location which is both near their home and their school so it is super handy. They have a large carpark but it is almost always full and they have crammed quite a lot of parks into the area so they are quite tight, I have always managed to get a park however. The place is massive, it has a shop that sells tennis clothing and equipment, huge outdoor courts as well as small indoor ones that people were using to practice by themselves and a small gym where they give training. The kids lesson is 1 hr 30 mins long so I have quite a long time to wait but even though they are different ages their lesson is at the same time which is really convenient. Sometimes I wait and watch them as there is outdoor seating provided but if it is a bit cold I drive down to Newmarket which is less that 5 mins away and I can shop for and hour...perfect!

Having grown up in central Auckland, I never spent much time out West so didn't have the privilege…read moreof being able to swim and play with friends at West Wave. Housing both lap pools available for training and lessons and a great wave pool perfect for entertaining your kids for hours, West Wave have their bases well covered. Not only does the complex offer good clean pools, but a brilliant gym is also part of West Wave. Many of my friends who live out West belong to the West Wave gym, and I've heard many times how great their classes are. The Body Balance class sounds particularly good to me - it's a class that mixes Yoga and Pilates to focus on breathing, core strength and de-stressing - it makes me think about changing gyms! Classes like pump, cycling, combat and aqua aerobics are also offered daily. Over my high school years one of my closest friends was a competitive swimmer, and many of her meets were held at West Wave. Some of the country's finest and fastest swimmers met there. Needless to say us girls used to get a kick out of watching the boys race! Bonus: As well as offering swim lessons, a wave pool and a good cheap gym, West Wave also have a dive pool. If you're an aspiring diver, this could be where you learn!

West Wave is the perfect gym for those who just want to get fit and stay in shape. It's not the…read moremost hard out gym and I'm sure crazy fitness experts wouldn't rate the gym or staff that highly, but for me it's a nice, friendly gym that has heaps of equipment, it's affordable and and local. Your membership gets you access to personal trainers, the fitness centre, a whole bunch of Les Mills classes as well as the pools, which is great. I love Body Combat and Body Pump, and they have heaps of other classes like RPM and Yoga. They have aqua classes too that my mum goes to, and they have a spa, sauna and steam room.

When I was looking at tennis clubs near Mt Eden this was one of the most affordable that I found…read more They have five astro-court tennis courts, with lights which are in good condition. I did go along to the social tennis on Tuesday night and found it fun. I enjoyed the doubles tennis and everyone was friendly. I lucked out because it was the first Tuesday of the month it was a barbecue night after the tennis - even desserts had been brought along to share! From what I could gather it was a very social tennis club with various events on throughout the year besides playing tennis, such as hosting a quiz night etc. For one reason or another I have not actually become a member. But Winstone Park Tennis will more than likely be the one, if and when I do decide to join a tennis club.

Coming from the perspective of an avid climber, it's rare and great to find gyms like this one…read more There was a great variety of bouldering problems and rope climbs and an extensive kids area. I am deducting a star though for a definite lack of upkeep. Lots of places were losing paint etc. More importantly, I had to hire (rent) some shoes being on a vacation and we had to check 4 pairs before I found some that didn't have holes clean through and mine were pretty torn up. I've spent time at a number of gyms and you can tell which ones let things drop and which don't and signs of things being run down make it harder to trust the safety equipment you rely on. If this place took more pride in upkeep, it would be a gem.

What an awesome indoor climbing gym! Ample parking and suitable for all ages. There was an…read moreabundance of kids earlier in the evening with special courses and rooms dedicated solely to the little ones and even some of New Zealand's top climbers were spotted training here last night. There is also quite an array of routes with multiple routes per level and belay instructions are included for first-timers at no additional charge. There is no pretentiousness here. I am a complete novice and was climbing at their busiest time flanked on both sides by very experienced climbers. Everyone is really encouraging and content to wait their turn, even if it does take you a little longer than average to reach the top. For entrance and shoe and harness rental, the combo price for adults is $27.50. Entrance alone is $17.50 if you already have your own equipment. Package deals and monthly rates are also available. Best to go in even numbers as all routes require a belayer.