Please be advised that this review is for those who are into exercising at gym/fitness centre and not for potential gymers who have ambitious muscle building or weightloss goals and thus are looking for a good deal.
I have been working out at the YMCA Fitness Centre (CP, Delhi) for the last 4 years and have experienced more than satisfactory results against my fitness goal i.e. maintenance. Hence, I have finally decided to recommend the fitness centre to all men and women of my kind, whose purpose is maintaining fitness level at easily affordable monthly expenses. I intend to keep the review to the point, covering all major aspects requiring consideration, thus would like to adopt bullet point style of writing.
My story - until the age of 21, I was case of childhood obesity transformed into adulthood disaster.
By the time I was about to enter my 22nd year, I decided to change my life for once and all by losing a whooping 30 kgs and within a year and I did what people call ’miracle’. With little research, my way to a slim body was through brisk walk (twice a day) and diet control (not dieting). To confess, though I never reached my dream weight, I looked slim but drained out and weak (!)
Then was the time to discover reality of Newton’s third law.....the aftermaths of extensive and quick weigthloss. My immune system got a big time blow and for a year I was down with Typhoid (twice) and Jaundice. After eight months of recovery, I finally joined YMCA fitness centre to begin a new phase of my ’work out style’ combining cardio and weight training. I wasn’t hasty for results but regular. To showcase my progress the best example to sight is.... ’a girl who could barely brisk walk 3 kms at the age of 22 is now a three times half marathon runner at the age of 27years’. Obviously, most of the credit goes to my pathway, however the fitness centre did play a relevant role. Coming back to the fitness centre.....I have segregated evaluated the service in following points:
Cardio (the asset) - YMCA has six electronic treadmills, 3 electronic ellipticals and 2 stationary bicycles. Not the best treadmills from market, but pretty good for amateur runners, the treadmills are the asset of the gym (apart from its location).
Multigym, benches, weights - YMCA has two sets of multigym and a less than sufficient number of benches, rods and weights. The condition of these is pretty sorry. There is practically no choice for girls who are into light weight training.
Other equipments - the fitness centre has two light weight rods for sides workout, two work out balls (different sizes) and two sets of weight-pads for reg-raises. Other than these, there are a few worn out belts for support while lifting.
Trainer - there is a male trainer present all the time and ready to guide on diet and exercise plan. But do not expect one-to-one attention, there can be maximum of 35 gymers working out at the same time.
Ambience - though the fitness centre is well mirrored, it is not comfortably spacious and is quiet plain in absence of décor. Other than a few old posters and two ancient looking wall clocks, there’s nothing to be excited about. If someone is domineering and quick at spreading one’s presence felt, they can play personal music collection in the gym area by connecting to the two speakers, otherwise, either be prepared to listen to someone else’s collection or suicidal satellite FM radio.
Facilities - there’s a tall iron rack in the gym area to keep bags and bottles but one has to be watchful of their belongings. Gymers are also advised to carry their own first aid kits as the centre doesn’t have any. There’s one water filter which seems to work well but arrange your own glass or be ready to get infected with commonly used, never washed, community water glass. The locker and changing rooms are common between gymers and swimmers, hence forget about changing or bathing in swimming season. On the contrary one should be prepared to fall on slippery floor and get a broken leg or arm. If you are disappointed reading the above, I have something to boast about! Free parking!!!!
Timings - YMCA is open to gymers (men and women together) in four batches - 0630 - 0830 am, 0830-1030 am, 0330 - 0530 pm and 0530-0730 pm round the year.
Fees - now this will reason out the above explained flaws/lacks. Monthly fees is only 1100 INR. There is a discount package (negligible!) for quarterly and yearly payment. And there a 100 Rs registration fee (one time only).
To conclude - YMCA fitness centre is easily recommendable gym in central Delhi and is quiet liked in the middle and upper middle class circle. Its location and fees are the biggest advantages and it could be ’the best’ for fitness maintainers. However, it is surely a big flop for high society sophisticated players, ambitious or amateur body-builders and freaky wanna be weight loss machines.