Wellington gym recommendations?

[californian_kiwi]

Hi,

I've just signed up to the Precision Nutrition Lean Eating Coaching programme (http://www.precisionnutrition.com) and am looking to find a gym to join. I work in the Wellington CBD and live out in Paparangi. My husband and I want to find a gym that'll work for both of us. I'm not looking for fancy bells and whistles, just something clean and with knowledgeable staff.

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

M

[drizzt]

Hi there

I live in the same sort of area (Johnsonville) as well as also working in the CBD, and I go to Cityfitness Thorndon (formerly known as Bodyworks Thorndon). This is on Thorndon Quay not far from the Railway Station. The gym is great, staff are friendly and the gym goers are on the whole a very nice bunch of people

For your situation I think you'd find it handy if you signed up for their "passport" membership, as that means you'd also have the option of the Johnsonville gym (and any other Cityfitness gym nationwide) which is very near to Paparangi. So you get a gym near work, and one near home - it's how I've got it, and I find it really handy :nod:

Other than that though, I suggest dropping into some gyms and having them take you around for a look. As mentioned there is Cityfitness (Jville, Thorndon, Porirua), Les Mills (on The Terrace and near the Vertical Bungy on Taranaki Street), Powerhouse Gym (also on Taranaki Street)... and I can't think of any others off the top of my head

Good luck with the search

[Chillicat]

Another vote for Cityfitness from me. I live in Churton Park and also work in town and use both Thorndon and J'ville gyms. Up til December when Bodyworks Thorndon was taken over by Cityfitness I was just a Bodyworks member, but found J'ville Cityfitness useful for the occasional weekend visit when I wanted to work out but didn't want to traipse all the way into town (not a driver, so a half hour commute is a pain on a non-work day!) - I used to buy an occasional 10 trip ticket to Cityfitness.

Now that Cityfitness owns both gyms and I've got a passport membership, I've got both branches at my doorstep - one at my work doorstep (ok, 10 mins walk) and another 20 mins walk from home.

J'ville gym is pretty basic, Thorndon is much much better, but as drizzt says, with a passport membership you can use both, so it's not really a big deal that one is a bit on the basic side.

[californian_kiwi]

Thanks so much for both your feedback.

Funnily enough my husband and I went to CityFitness after work today to have a look. I used to belong to CityFitness before an injury took me out of any exercise for about two years. Now I'm recovered enough to start again (slowly).

Since you're both members, do you have any recommendations for personal trainers? Either gym is fine, as they are both easy for us to get to. I can't afford a PT regularly but I want to use one to get started on my programme... my husband as well.

Thanks again, I'm so glad I found this site. I'm looking forward to getting fit again and finding those muscles that have lain dormant for too long!

Melissa :grin:

[Chillicat]

I haven't used PT, so unfortunately I'm not much help in that area - sorry. But they all have info in the gym about their specialities. Online there is some information about the J'ville trainers, but sadly they haven't got it together to put the Thorndon trainer profiles online yet - so you'd need to go into the gym to look into it (unless someone has a recommendation).

[tonyb]

Hi there

I live in the same sort of area (Johnsonville) as well as also working in the CBD, and I go to Cityfitness Thorndon (formerly known as Bodyworks Thorndon). This is on Thorndon Quay not far from the Railway Station. The gym is great, staff are friendly and the gym goers are on the whole a very nice bunch of people

Is that the two storey place with a cafe downstairs? I use to go there years ago, worked over in the port and ran across the concrete railway thingy to get there.

[drizzt]

Is that the two storey place with a cafe downstairs? I use to go there years ago, worked over in the port and ran across the concrete railway thingy to get there.

It is a 2 storey place, but no cafe... may have been one there in the past though (I joined up a year ago now).

Since you're both members, do you have any recommendations for personal trainers? Either gym is fine, as they are both easy for us to get to. I can't afford a PT regularly but I want to use one to get started on my programme... my husband as well.

No problems Melissa In both gyms they have trainer profiles on the walls, so you can see what a lot of them specialize or have experience in. Like Chilicat though, I've not actually used any of them so I'm not a huge help.

If I was to recommend a couple to talk to, try asking for Hayley and Philly at Thorndon Cityfitness. They're the only two I've met, they're really nice people, and most importantly they know their stuff (they've approached me and offered little bits of advice with my training a few times which has been a huge help).

[teamfatboy]

At CityFitness Thorndon there used to be a cafe, but it got ripped out a few years ago, now there's just a coin-operated coffee machine.

Philly Nuku's been there forever (well, at least five years), Hayley's just started as a PT but has been working there for a couple of years - she is a class-winning bodybuilder herself - and Philly has won bodybuilding comps too.

A lot would depend on what you need the PT to do - if your aims are more athletic then others like Carl Hammington and Darrell Peake might be good choices.

[drizzt]

At CityFitness Thorndon there used to be a cafe, but it got ripped out a few years ago, now there's just a coin-operated coffee machine.

Philly Nuku's been there forever (well, at least five years), Hayley's just started as a PT but has been working there for a couple of years - she is a class-winning bodybuilder herself - and Philly has won bodybuilding comps too.

A lot would depend on what you need the PT to do - if your aims are more athletic then others like Carl Hammington and Darrell Peake might be good choices.

Aahh, "Philly", nice. I have a mate called Fili so thought it may have been the same (haven't seen it written down before), that clears it up for me

But yep, they certainly know their stuff weights-wise. I was going to add that it depends on what your goals are, but then, I haven't chatted to Philly or Hayley enough to know exactly what they are able to help with, so thought it'd be best to say to have a chat and find out if they'd suit what you're after

I'm looking at grabbing Philly for a few sessions sometime in the near future hopefully :nod:

[BrotherRobb]

If you work in the CBD, lambton quay, custom house quay area, then Spectrum Health and fitness is on corner of johnston and custom house quay. Always good for getting the most out of your lunch break.

And its pretty cheap and better access hours. About $17 a week

[californian_kiwi]

Thanks for all the recommendations.

I'm very unfit at present and the heaviest I've ever been after many years of being afraid to exercise due to slipped discs in neck and back. Blech - and exercise often makes it worse. I know, not supposed to be the case, but there you have it.

I am looking to strengthen my core, lose fat and and gain lean muscle. Lots of fat to lose. I need a PT who has experience with injuries... I know my body well now and it's going to take some time before I can get to the point I want to get to. I need someone who is patient and trusts me when I say I've done enough. My problem most of the time is that I push myself too far, so I will also need a PT who will hold the reins in when I try to push beyond what I can do without injury.

I'm just seeing the backside of two months absolute hell with my neck and I never want to go back there again! One day of doing too much will have me doped up and unable to move for a few days and recuperating for months. Literally. Pathetic really and I don't want to go there again. Hence the strong desire to get my fitness up to scratch.

Anyway, thanks again. I will look up the PTs mentioned and also have a look around the gym floor at the ones out there working :-)

Cheers!

[VampireChick]

If you work in the CBD, lambton quay, custom house quay area, then Spectrum Health and fitness is on corner of johnston and custom house quay. Always good for getting the most out of your lunch break.

And its pretty cheap and better access hours. About $17 a week

Yeah that one is in my building...have been thinking about joining for convenience.

[Chillicat]

Anyway, thanks again. I will look up the PTs mentioned and also have a look around the gym floor at the ones out there working :-)

So did you join City Fitness in the end? If so, I'd be curious to know who you choose as your PT. I'd find it difficult to choose one if I was looking, but I'm curious about who you choose and why you choose them.

I guess I'm asking because I've been at Bodyworks (CF Thorndon) for 3.5 years now, but only one PT has ever given me the time of day (the extremely lovely AJ). None of the others even acknowledge me and just look right through me as though I'm some new person they've never seen before. I have to be fair and say that a lot of people mistake shyness (me) for snobbishness, so they might be viewing me as standoffish or snobbish or whatever. I'm not the kind of person who will just go up to a PT and start chatting, for example.

On the other hand, I've been going to CF J'ville off and on for almost a year now, and found the PTs there to be extremely friendly - they do acknowledge me, and in several cases come up and say hi and ask me about my goals. I know they are scouting for business - but that's what I'd expect from a PT.

Solely based on that alone and not anything else (such as the stated expertise of the PTs on their profile sheets), I'd probably choose either Shaun at J'ville because of his friendliness, or Aimee or Apple (also at J'ville) - although I haven't really spoken to them, they are both female, fit, and they look as though they are giving their clients their full attention when they train them, not texting on their phones like I saw a PT at LM the other day.

[Gym rat]

There is Les Mills extreame on the corner of Taranaki St and Dixion in the Hope Gibbison building and I train there a fair bit when I come to Wellington it is a good train to train at with four floors of weights

[Beef]

There is Les Mills extreame on the corner of Taranaki St and Dixion in the Hope Gibbison building and I train there a fair bit when I come to Wellington it is a good train to train at with four floors of weights

can you train at any Les Mills gym in the country if you're a member?

[drizzt]

Depends on the type (read: cost) of membership you buy I believe

[mung]

^ I was aware that, so long as your a member of Les mills you can go to any gym in the country...

[Beef]

^ I was aware that, so long as your a member of Les mills you can go to any gym in the country...

yeah i'm at ymca and the same thing applies- you can go to any ymca in the country \:D/

[drizzt]

Can I use different Les Mills gyms around the country?

Of course. If you’re travelling out of town all you need to do is present your Les Mills membership card to Reception of the club you’re visiting and they’ll welcome you in. If you have an Auckland single club membership you can upgrade to an Auckland multi-club membership to get the visit privileges.

So looks like you can unless you have the Auckland single club membership (which is what I was thinking of - my Mrs had the choice of the two when we lived up there).

[Beef]

Can I use different Les Mills gyms around the country?

Of course. If you’re travelling out of town all you need to do is present your Les Mills membership card to Reception of the club you’re visiting and they’ll welcome you in. If you have an Auckland single club membership you can upgrade to an Auckland multi-club membership to get the visit privileges.

So looks like you can unless you have the Auckland single club membership (which is what I was thinking of - my Mrs had the choice of the two when we lived up there).

haha sucks to be an aucklander! :pfft:

[runveerun]

I think you can still visit other clubs in the country though, I think that rule was just to keep people using their main Auckland gym only. I have had no problem visiting other LMs in the country on my Aucks membership.

[Gym rat]

Same I have no problemas when visiting any other LM gym when I travel I just walk right to the front desk and tell them that how long I am going to be in town for.

[californian_kiwi]

Hi Chillicat,

I did join City Fitness but haven't looked for a PT yet as I've not yet been to the Thorndon Quay gym and want to spent a little time at both before I settle on a PT.

I'm looking to lose the weight I gained being sedentary for about 4 years. I've finally got the chronic pain under control but still can't lift anything heavy. Makes me mad at the gym because my arms are much stronger than my neck. Grr. But I will get there, slowly, and one day at a time. I'd also like to build muscle and strengthen and tone all around. You know, I want to look great, like everybody else ;-)

[drizzt]

Good to hear you've joined cityfitness I reckon you'll like the Thorndon gym better (no bias, just sayin' :pfft:)

Good luck!

[Chillicat]

Yep, Thorndon is much better - just so lovely and spacious and you don't have to go up and down stairs all the time to use the bits you want to use like at J'ville. Having just done a free month's trial at Les Mills on the Terrace, I appreciate the wonderfulness of Thorndon even more now!