OH GOD MY LEGS. Kaya…read morehas been kicking my ass for the past month and this is the only sentence I can utter after one of their killer pilates reformer classes. Kaya is part of that new breed of gym where you really feel like you should be dressed up when you go in - it's just that beautiful. Hardwood floors, geometric architecture, you could confuse this gym with a trendy new Northside cafe. I am addicted to their pilates reformer classes. They are touch but achievable and you honestly feel stronger the next day. They also host Barre classes, boxing classes and a variety of different yoga classes in temperature controlled rooms. One of the coolest things about Kaya (at least in my eyes) is the electronic lockers. At my last gym, I was given a beaten-up key to a grotty locker, but here the lockers are ready for you to input your very own 4-number code. Easy. Simple. Secure. If you work/live in the city and are looking for a decent gym, look no further.

Looking for a space to get your health kick on? Look no further then Kaya. With their range of…read moreclasses, people pop in and out straight from work and the daily grind, and into workout clothes for a session to get themselves back in order. Its a health club. You wouldn't come here for the gym, even though they have what you need here. But the classes? Oh yes. You may look into some of the rooms and think to yourself, what the heck are these machines? Why that is Reformer Pilates. Get on one and find out for yourself, cause it'll be your new friend. This session made me remember that I had a core. Who knew? And after those 45 minutes of intense not expecting to get sweaty -but I did, I was most definitely sore the next day. And I loved that. Yoga has always been my go-to. Nidra yoga with Ashleigh here is something everyone should do to get in touch with your inner peace. Its so soothing, almost like a grown up nap time. But it's so so much better than that, like mind out of body stuff. Plus, it's much more rewarding. Yin and meditation was with Derek; yin yoga really focuses on getting to know one pose and learning what is comfortable for you. Being someone who normally does vinyasa, yin is calming, and it's good to stretch yourself in one pose. I walked out feeling like a pigeon pose champ. The barre class. Holy cow, for anyone looking for that dancer-type body, this one's for you. I had zero idea of what I signed up for, except for Google pictures and making up some concept in my mind. The Monday night session with Kirby kicked my butt, well my legs actually. It was so different from what I imagined it'd be like, and a lot more strenuous. I was that person taking little intermittent breaks just to compose myself. Yep, not ashamed, I just was not used to that intensity in a workout. For days following this, my legs felt like straight up jello. Kirby was great, she was extremely motivating and fun, and mixes it up. Matt, the Membership Advisor, is a sweetheart and the perfect go-to person for enquiries and help. I mean, everyone is nice and friendly at Kaya, but Matt was welcoming as well. The location is ideal, convenient for any city folk as it's the top of the emporium and it feels like a sanctuary sitting up there. What better way to sweat yourself back into shape then on top of a mall?

Oh Westfield... you do get around.. the world, that is!…read more Super deceivingly large mall.... it's not upper crust mall findings, but I did find a stellar cafe! And, being a tourist, it's nice to walk the whole length (and many levels), as a purveyor of culture =) The cinema here would be a lot of fun to patronize... I enjoyed seeing the food offerings outside of the court.. Man alive...food ain't cheap in this country! shocking, although i've been warned many times. The clothing boutiques were pricey, and the styles were not commensurate to their tags. My nephew gloats over the EB Games store for his many systems of squandered, wasted hours of life with eyeballs glued to a telly. I fancied a nice cafe for a large strong, flat white after the miles of walking. Too, the meat pies at some of the more gourmet end shoppes (the ones near the butcher shoppe and the Italian gourmet store!!) caused me to salivate. Think this place spans a block...easily. Simple and straightforward.. think somewhere in nondescript middle of Kmart-land and Nordies/Sak's world.

I used to love Southland when I was younger (18) but when I was in Melbourne recently and went…read moreback, I can barely remember what the appeal was. It is a massive shopping centre, spanning two sections on either side of the road and a walkway over the highway. The walkway and section on the west section of the road was added about 15 years ago so that part is a bit nicer than the "old" section. Wiki tells me there's over 400 shops in Southland and it has a pretty good range for whatever you're looking for. But I would recommend knowing why you're going there because there's nothing worse than realising you need to go to David Jones when you're on the Kmart side. Probably the best section is the walkway as that's where there's the more upmarket clothing brands like Country Road, Witchery etc as well as Mimco and Kikki K. I'm not really a fan of the eating options at Southland - there's a food court and more restaurant-type options near the cinema. There's lots of parking for a shopping centre this size and you probably won't have too much problem getting a spot - undercover parking is the most sought-after in the summer. And it's free parking, so that's good. All up, Southland is ok - definitely wasn't the highlight of my holiday, more of a needs-must place to visit but for the selection of shops, I can't really complain. Note: we had trouble finding a centre directory and had to ask at the assistance counters. I think they have a few touch screens around the place with maps on them.

This is a MASSIVE gym, 4 warehouses all joined up full of sweaty goodness…read more I first came to Derrimut to visit Dr Mario the amazing Chiropractor on a friends recommendation and after heading here regularly for just that I finally joined up so I could use all the facilities. The membership is amazingly affordable and gives you access to all the Derrimut Gyms as well as access 24 / 7 to a staffed gym. The staff are friendly and helpful. There is a cafe where you can catch up before or after a session and grab a drink or bite to eat of the healthy and tasty menu, a huge supplement store on site so all your pre and post workout needs are covered. The equipment range is huge and well maintained, as well as a variety of group exercise classes running early and late including Marital arts, Les Mills, Spin etc.

Okay this is not an intimate affair! The place is absolutely huge. It is like 3 aircraft hangers…read moreconverted into a gym. There is a cafe, clothes shop, supplements shop as well as the gym. I give it four stars for their wonderful group fitness timetable where more than one class runs at a time and the instructors are very funky. $5 casual visits and staffed 24/7 makes it a safe alternative to my usual gym for something different.

Can't sleep? Why not go to the gym to work up that desire for a nap!…read more Found opposite Barkly Square - known for its concentration of deep fried foodery places - Doherty's Gym can often be found with a muscle-bound hulk-esque person moving through the doors. Because of this it took me quite a while to actually go in. a few laps past the windows to look in to see the equipment they have available and the membership prices. One night I couldn't sleep - one of the hot sticky nights that sleep just doesn't want to come - so I thought to myself that now is the best possible time to go and try it out. The gym layout is styled on those west coast US gyms you see in the movies. With more equipment than you can imagine - weight training, cardio fitness, boxing and more - I just wanted to run on the treadmill for a few hours. Afterwards the fully stocked Pro Shop for all your training supplement requirements,and what's better is the coffee shop found even closer than you'd expect. Now I guess I'll never sleep. The membership is not the cheapest if you're a "every now and then" kinda gym user but if it's a 4-6 day a week thing this is definitely for you.

Amazing gym. -it has all the equipment you need…read more -amazing staff and services. - it has a community/ family vibe to it. - direct debit is only $15 a week. -open 24 hours a day....every day. -has a room dedicated to boxing. Need more? Go in, check it out and say hello.

Bayfit Leisure is a gym complete with two large swimming pools. It has been renovated / remodelled…read morein the past couple of years, so has a nice, modern interior. The main gym room is large, with heaps of cardio equipment (I'd guess about 20 treadmills, a similar number of bikes / cross-trainers), stacks of pin-loaded equipment and a smaller free-weights area. It has a smallish stretching room adjoining the main gym, modern locker / change rooms with showers. Gym instructors are friendly and helpful. The pools are impressive, all indoor but with a lot of glass on either end of the building to provide plenty of natural light. The main pool is a 50m lap pool, the other is shallower and more suited to kids. There is a small steam room and spa / hot tub for gym users. The gym also includes a large aerobic room that hosts many spin and Les Mill's classes throughout the week. Cost-wise, you're looking at about $900 per year without special offers / discounts, which come along every so often. Overall I have been very impressed by this gym, one of the best in the area IMHO.

A couple of years back, Lawn Bowls became the new 'chic' thing to do. Hordes of 'whippersnappers'…read morebegan flocking to greens all over Melbourne for an arvo bowl and a pot, and at the rate that greens a re still being booked out, it's not a passing trend. Ringwood Bowls Club has 3 greens, 2 turf and 1 synthetic, meaning bowls is on 12 months of the year. The staff are fantastic and welcoming, and are always keen to offer advice to newies who are trying the game out for the first time. We'd head down on a Wednesday night, which was run as a "newcomers" night. We spend a couple of hours bowling and taking advantage of the very cheap beer at the bar ($2 a pot!), and really enjoyed it each week. In fact, we went so often that it became an in-house joke that when we'd arrive, they'd rush over to open the bar. Unlike inner city bowls clubs, this is run by the traditional owners, who haven't jacked up the beer prices for the new market. These guys just love to bowl, and love it when you get involved. Bowls is the perfect sunny afternoon sport. You kick your shoes off, you can drink, and you don't have to run. Perfect!

Simply the best gym I've been too. 3 levels, pool, spa,…read moresauna, massages, yoga, pilates, TV screens in the cardio machines. You couldn't ask for more. The only bad thing I would say is that their promotions are scams. I got a text offering membership for $15.50 a week. When I went in it was $22 a week. Oh and no windows in the building means it's pretty stinky. They need some Glade Sensations or something. But nonetheless, you can always jump on a machine as there are heaps. There are also no burly muscle guys being weirdos in the corner which is great as that is what usually deters me from joining a unisex gym. Opening hours are also good - until 10pm! Means I can finish work late and still make it.

A HUGE gym! My…read morefavourite part is the 6:15am hot yoga sessions and, more specifically, the yogi who runs them. The class is different each time (definitely not Bikram!), and both the sanskrit and common names for poses are used. The instructor moves between students and helps with poses, uses fun - though low-energy - tunes, and offers multiple options for different skill levels (as an arm-balance newbie, I really appreciate an atmosphere that encourages development while doesn't judge newer or less-strong students). Honestly, one of the best yoga classes I've ever been to!

What a great gym. Although it is not as big as fitness first, this gym is WAY better than fitness…read morefirst. The weights are always put away, everything is in order and in great condition. The music isn't blasting around the clock and with music videos all over the walls. Nah, you're here to work out in a good, clean, peaceful environment. No attitude from the patrons or staff. The members help keep this gym stay clean by putting stuff away and being courteous. The staff aren't running up and down, stopping you in between workouts to sell you "________." They are there when you need them, they make sure the place is running smoothly, make recommendations when asked. This is a very good gym.

I'm a relatively recent member of Anytime Fitness & whilst the equipment at the Moonee Ponds gym…read moremight not be the newest/flashiest it all works & there is enough to satisfy both your cardio and/or weights enthusiasts. Even during peak times the gym does not seem to be over subscribed with ample space for all users & no waiting for equipment. Always a nice & clean workout environment & thankfully no PTs walking around trying to pressure you into buying sessions with them. The other beauty is that it really is anytime access, there are safety alarm pendants if you feel vulnerable working out on your own during the unstaffed hours. So far I'm very happy with this place & now with over a months membership to my name I'm able to use other branches of Anytime Fitness if I find myself needing to workout in another suburb!!!