This review will be broken down into many categories: Cost, Peak hours, cleanliness/condition of…read moreequipment, amenities, locker room/shower area, quality of trainers, cancelling membership, and final thoughts (Jerry Springer style!).
After being a member for a few years, cancelling my membership and moving out of state, I've finally decided to review this club and my entire experience with it.
Cost: This gym is definitely one of, if not the most expensive gym/club in the city. It was a bit over $100/month for me and my girl. Expensive, but looking back, I believe it was worth it. Why? Continue reading.
Peak hours: Coming to the gym after work, weekdays between 5-7pm was manageable. I would usually be able to get what I wanted, when I wanted it. If something was being used, I would do something else, and a few minutes later, come back and it would be available. Defined Fitness was a nightmare. Yeah, Defined cost less, but during peak hours, the lines were 3 deep, and it got to the point that I cancelled my membership (probably in 2013-2014).
Cleanliness: I've NEVER seen this gym dirty. A cleaning crew is always cleaning the gym. Any time there's ever been an issue with a machine due to normal wear and tear, it's fixed. I believe the company cares about the quality of the product they sell because of the way they keep the place clean. They've had issues with air conditioning, but that was resolved. I've seen cardio equipment break down, and within a few days it's fixed or replaced. A few years back, they also resurfaced/rematted the gym floor.
Locker room/shower area: One thing I liked about the lockers, they have attached keys. Towards the end of my membership, they would actually assign a locker to you, and give you a key in exchange for your id, when you swiped in at the front. This was due to their old system in which people would take advantage of, by keeping the key to a locker, basically claiming that locker as their own. Lol. Perhaps this has changed?????
Quality of trainers: Here is where they get a gold star. I've used their personal trainers, trainers that have degrees in kinesiology and sports medicine, and have certifications through the top certification companies. The trainers here know what they're doing. They even work with college students that are pursuing similar degrees, much like doctors working with interns. I thought that was great. When I was with Defined, I looked into the personal trainers at Defined, and some of the trainers at Defined have certifications that cost $200 and the test can be taken as many times as you want until you pass...what a joke!!
Amenities: Their pools, one in and one outdoor are awesome. They have a two full sized indoor basketball courts, a hot tub, and sauna. One thing I really like about the club, which actually why I like calling it a club instead of just a gym, is that they have pool movie nights. They'll play a movie on an outdoor screen and you can chill on a float in the pool. They'll have bbq's and other events, and it makes the place more of a community.
Cancelling my membership: Right before I moved from ABQ, if I remember correctly, I got the manager's email address, sent her an email saying that I'm cancelling my membership, and I think they took one more month of dues out. That was b.s., which is one reason I took off a star. Other than that, it was an easy cancel.
Room for improvement: I think it would be great if they did what other gyms are starting to do, and do some HIIT classes, kind of like Orange Theory. Maybe they do, it's been a couple years since I've been there. Also, one time I took my girl's daughter to the pool, and we got charged $10, that was also a bunch of b.s. Considering how much you pay, if you pay for 2, you should be able to bring a minor to the pool without having to be charged extra. This is another reason why this is 4 of 5 stars. Perhaps the rules have changed. They should also be quicker to act on member suggestions, especially when a lot of members brought up a similar issue. I remember a few years back, they had some really crappy body wash in the shower. I know a lot of people complained, and complained for a long time. They eventually changed it, but it shouldn't have taken so long.
Final thoughts: The membership cost changes the club clientele from that of a discount gym. The people that work there have always been wonderful, and have been a pleasure to engage. As I mentioned, I think there are some small things they can do to improve the overall experience. You definitely get what you pay for with this gym/club, and with that being said, the value is there.