If you are interested in joining a gym, I would strongly recommend making use of some free gym trials and free gym visits if you can get them.

I found it was a great eye opener to get an idea of what the different gyms near me are like, what the gyms offered, what I enjoyed, what I really wanted (eg I decided I wanted certain classes, cardio equipment, weights and didn’t need a pool, spa or sauna), and whether I could get into the classes or onto the equipment (some gyms at some times can have too many people arriving all at once eg straight after work).

Longer trials tend to be better for people. 7 days is good. Some gyms even offer 30 days.

I would recommend against any gym that requires your credit card or bank account details for any reason, before you join. There are too many stories on the Internet where people ended up being billed despite verbal assurances otherwise.

If you aren’t sure at the end of the trial, then maybe you need to either walk away for a bit to think about things, try other gyms or just try something else.

There are other ways to get fit (if that’s what you want to do) apart from a gym, such as dancing, sports etc.

Anyways, that’s the end of that ramble.

Aquarena in Doncaster, VIC

Free pass over the Internet was nice. Getting 2 more free passes when I did a tour was also nice.

I only tried a few group fitness classes so I can’t comment on too much there, but my impressions were that it was a nice place, with helpful friendly staff. Plenty of equipment. Includes pool, spa, sauna, creche and group fitness classes.

Different memberships are actually advertised online, some here, which is a big plus over other gyms. A relatively good monthly membership plan (compared to other monthly plans in the area).

I did not end up joining them because they don’t have Body Combat or a similar type of class; another gym I tried did.

Genesis Fitness in Doncaster

SUMMARY

In short, if you have a Genesis Fitness gym near you, try the 30 day trial and see if you like it.

Oh, if you do like it, and are going to join, I think you can list someone as your referrer … hint hint :)

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FREE TRIALS

They have several different free trials, of differing lengths:
- the one on their home page is only 14 days; you don’t want that
- I think I tried this 30 day free trial

I had to go in for a tour of the facilities to get the 30 day pass. The consultant offered me “no admin & no joining fees” if I skipped the trial and signed up for a 10 or 12 month package, but I declined.

I signed some paperwork after checking the terms and conditions and they did not ask for or take any of my account details.

During the trial I could go to all the classes I want and use their equipment. I probably could have used the lockers and showers too.

(To Genesis Fitness: A personal assessment would make the trials better and would make it more fun for people on the trial, thus increasing potential sales conversion)

At the end of the trial, they asked me again if I’d like to join. I thought for a week and told them I wanted to check some more gyms before making up my mind. I agreed to a call back a number of weeks later.

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MY EXPERIENCE

I ended up liking the staff, the classes, found the equipment pretty good, could get there and park without much problem, no hard sell … I joined up.

Everything I want is included at no extra charge: classes, personal assessments (these are not personal training sessions), weights, lockers, showers, towel loans and drinking water.

The monthly payments have provided reassuring flexibility and have been an okay price for the area. Plus as I’m going 4 or more times a week, it works out at less than $5 a visit.

5 months later, I’m still there :) enjoying it all, they’ve just given me a free personal training session for my birthday and they’ve called me to discuss dropping my weekly payments by just over 50% (More on that next week as I find out more).

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PLANS

I am on a monthly plan, paid weekly at around $20.00 a week. I could have gone on a 10 or 12 month plan, but needed the flexability in case of travel requirements, earlier on.

My plan includes, at no extra charge:
- personal assessments with weights program reviews and rewrites
- all classes
- use of all equipment
- use of lockers, showers etc
- towel loans
- (drinking fountains are also available)

It looks like starting this week onwards, it will also include a free breakfast club … if I can get to the gym in the morning :)

There are also monthly (paid monthly), 10 monthly and 12 monthly plans. The 10 monthly and 12 monthly plans are offered at significant discounts across the year.

Student discounts and I think other discounts available. There may be offpeak plans too but I’m not sure.

There are joining and admin fees standard. These are waived or reduced during some promotions.

Medibank Private members also have a special offer for joining up with Genesis Fitness. Something like 1 month free, no joining and admin fees.

NB:

They use an intermediary collection agency for some or all of the plans. There may be an additional set up fee and you will probably want to check with them before making a decision. I had a $30 set up fee.

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EQUIPMENT

I’ve used cardio equipment (treadmills, tread climbers, spinnaker(?) and some other gear), pin weights and some free weights. I have not yet tried gear in the “only free weights” room or the cycle room.

Generally equipment is in good working condition, if not all looking the newest.

A few cardio machines did break down, but there were other cardio machines to use, and machines tended to be fixed in 3 - 10 days.

Most or all rooms have a water fountain too.

There is air conditioning in the rooms I’ve used, and the group fitness room also has fans.

There are a number of tvs playing with audio available through radio broadcast. Regular tv channels are played, as well as one Fox cable channel. I haven’t listened to the tv broadcasts though.

Speakers play music with occasional messages suggesting (more) people try classes for fun and asking people to remember to wipe down equipment after use.

I’m pretty happy with what is there, machine availability and how quickly things are fixed should things break down.

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STAFF

I’ve found the staff to be happy, friendly and helpful. When I’ve had questions for them, they were happy to help out how they could.

I’ve spoken with receptionists, sales consultants, personal trainers and group fitness instructors.

During busy periods I have often seen at least one personal trainer circulating, chatting with people and available for any questions.

Personal assessments have been helpful with the weights programs that I’ve been given.

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CLASSES

I enjoy the classes that they offer and their class time table suits me well, with evening and weekend classes. There are also day time classes I can avail of when I get occasional days or hours off from work.

The instructors have been friendly and very helpful too.

Generally I have had no problem getting into classes.

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SELLING

I’ve heard some gyms keep trying to sell you stuff after you join. I haven’t had any of that.

I know I could pay for personal training if I needed some more motivation or to be pushed harder, but no one’s tried selling it to me.

Occasionally they run promotions where they say, put in a friend’s name and number and enter the competition to win an iPod or something, but that seems to be about it.

Oh, there’s now a single mannequin in the foyer, with a sign next to it advertising some clothing website. There’s also a snack machine, but then, they have drinking fountains in the different rooms. So, no pushing for people to buy anything more. :)

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DEMOGRAPHICS

The age, gender, fitness spreads tend to vary from time to time. But there are men and women, ages ranging from teens to 70s (typically 20s to 50s), from those who want to be fit, to those keeping fit, to those who are working on astounding strength.

So, it could be suited towards just about everyone.

Probably anyone in range of a Genesis Fitness gym, might like to try their 30 day trial. (if you have medical issues consult your doctor first)

CONTINUING CONTRACT

They just offered me a continuing contract. It is a 15 month prepaid contract, at $645.00 or so. Which works out as about $9.92 a week.

Included in the package is the same as before, which I’ve found to be:
- classes
- equipment use
- locker use (but you have to carry a $2 coin around as your own personal “key”)
- shower use
- towel loans
- personal assessments
- weight training programs planned for me
- drinking water (I mention that because some other gyms are weird about providing drinking water)
- they are also trying out member breakfasts now too

Also, I get free suspensions! As many as I like (I think minimum 1 week at a time, but it could allow for shorter suspensions) with only 7 days notice, totalling up to 3 months of suspended time, if I need it. A number of clubs charge reduced fees during a suspension, and require 30 days notice (especially if they use another company to handle billing). So that’s good that this new contract includes free suspensions. :)

I decided to take it as: - I am making use of the gym regularly - can see myself using the gym throughout the year - see this is a better deal - can afford the lump sum at the moment

So, I am very happy with the deal :)

Note: It does not include Personal Training sessions. Personally I don’t need those at this stage, and if I do later, I can pay for them with the savings from switching plans :)

Treadmill vs Park
- good or bad weather, can use treadmill
- less muggers stopping people on a treadmill
- can use treadmill late at night with a greater feeling of safety - less people, bicycle, animals, animal presents, etc to dodge on a treadmill
- easier to push yourself by setting a steady speed on a treadmill

• fresher air in park
• cheaper in park
• different people in park

Some reasons for both :)

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Also with YMCAs, or some YMCAs, I heard the group fitness instructors are treated really well there, so if you like your instructor, they are less like likely to be moving any time soon.

Hi Neil :)

Is the Genesis continuing contract cheaper than YMCA?

It is a 15 month contract with prepay, but the weekly rate drops to $9.92.

I can only speak for my local YMCA.

I pay $35.20 a month, ($28 if you want off peak) (billed every 2 weeks onto credit card). Includes

-Outdoor Pool (use of other gyms pools in winter)

-Lockers

-Gym

-Fitness Classes

-Personal training/fitness assessment, once every 2 months or so

-Water

-Use of Gymnasium

-8 weeks free suspension per year

-no contracts or minimum terms

-use the gym whenever you want

-Sauna, Steamroom

Can’t think of anything else…

Been going there a while. Can’t complain really although as its a Y its oriented to helping the community rather then making money. So there will often be people from commission flats there, they get discounted membership. No towels, TVs and not as many machines as you see in the bigger gyms. Mainly freeweights.

Sorry..looked it up…

All memberships have a joining fee to $58.00

I had a $30 fee originally, to set up with the billing company. I’m still happy. My Y is more expensive, though they do have an indoor pool. I was originally looking at doing one class a week (about $10 - $12) so this is beter than that and almost as good as your Y :) Plus I suspect, much closer to me than your Y :)

Yeah, that’s a good deal. Id probably pay the difference just to have towels and TVs.

Doh! :P

Hmm … how to come back with that one …

Getting mugged tends to be more expensive than doing a personal training session … ;)