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Dolphin Fitness Clubs
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: East Village
94 E 4th St Frnt
New York, NY 10003
(212) 387-9500
94 E 4th St Frnt
New York, NY 10003
(212) 387-9500
- Nearest Transit:
-
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Uptown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6)
Downtown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6, B, D, F, V)
- Good for Kids:
- No
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16 reviews for Dolphin Fitness Clubs
Oh, my body. My very sore, not-able-to-sit-up-without-cringing body absolutely hates me. My legs refuse to move on command and I can't turn my neck either way without moving my entire body.. very Zoolander-esque. In all honesty, I don't work out. I don't have a gym membership nor do I find pleasure in doing squats until my legs are jello; however, I was lured by Mel with the promise of cupcakes from Pinisi. Not going to lie.
In any case, I have to hand it to Ms. Kayko. After her one-hour Total Body Strength workout on a Saturday morning, I was exhausted but overall good and most importantly, very proud that I was able to keep up. From the cardio to the weights, she definitely worked my entire body through and through until I could no longer breathe properly. And to top it all off, I couldn't be angry at her for seriously giving me a full-body ache-attack because she was super nice, encouraging, and thanked me for coming to her class. How sweet!
So since I was given a free one-week gym pass on Melody's account, we decided to stay on for yoga with Shally immediately after our Total Body Strength class. Now this is my element... not only was yoga intense, but it was relaxing. By the end of our one-hour session, I was renewed, rejuvenated, and refreshed! Melody and I were secretly hoping that the yoga would off-set the soreness of our previous workout, but after waking up this morning with the inability to move, we were out of luck. Sadly, all we could do was text message each other while lying in bed letting the other know a). how sore we both were and b). that we were in no state to make Sunday's Total Body class with Virgil from 6:30 to 7:30p.
As much as I enjoyed the classes, I can only give Dolphin Fitness 3 stars. Not having ever been a member of a gym, I don't know what to expect in terms of the facilities and services but the space in general was small.. almost cramped. Men and women alike were jogging, cycling, sweating very close to one another and for me.. I need breathing space. Secondly, the facilities, however tight, could have been cleaner. I didn't take my chances with the public bathrooms or the showers and thought it best that I balance myself on one of the stools while changing. Yes.. my hand and eye coordination is less than impressive but I can balance on one foot no problem.
The best thing I can say about Dolphin is that I no longer am a member. There are a few locations in the East Village, and both remind me of what prison gyms look like on TV.
The next best thing I can say is that the location on East 4th Street has one deal in the window that rotates between the same three offers on a regular basis, but you can get a better deal if you offer the guy in the front cash and don't ask for a receipt.
I was intrigued when I first entered Dolphin. It smelled like sweat and broken dreams. The smell of my boyhood. So I was excited to begin my workout. That excitement faded by the time I finally got on the treadmill 20 minutes later. If you plan to go anytime before or after work, expect a wait.
The classes are good but inconsistent. There's a lot of rotation among the staff so the classes are hard to evaluate.
Basically, you're better off buying a good pair of running shoes and doing pullups on fire escapes than you are getting a membership to this joint.
BTW - Am I the only one that thinks I could beat up a dolphin? Poor choice of names.
Dolphin is not fancy. At all. Don't expect an attendant to hand you a fluffy, white towel when you walk out of the changing room. There is no masseuse or juice bar. At least one of the treadmills is out of service at any given time. If you know these things will bug the crap out of you, don't even bother checking this place out.
If you don't care and just need a basic, inexpensive gym to work out, Dolphin is your place. They've got all the necessary machines and free weights, plus a pretty decent selection of classes for such a no-frills joint.
As every reviewer before me has mentioned, the membership fee cannot be beat. Depending on the type/length of membership you choose (they have different specials going on all the time, and the longer your membership, the cheaper it is in the longrun), your monthly membership cost could be under $25. Unbelievable!
I used to belong to a fancier gym that cost nearly 4 times as much, and, honestly, outside of the fluffy towels and juice bar, there really is not much difference between the two.
Now that I've moved, I'm reading reviews of local places and thought I should leave one for my old gym.
It's not a fancy place at all, but for the price, I think it's a great deal. Also, when I used to go, I took a great yoga class at the 4th street location. It was top-quality instruction and it would have been worth the membership fee for just that class.
Back when I used to be an underwear model I would go here to work on my obliques. The price is ridiculous (at one point I paid $149 for 6 months) and as long as you go at the right times you'll always get a machine.
(Part of this review is truthful. You decide)
- 12 months for $200
- 24 hours on everyday except Sunday
- basic budget gym, weights, free classes, machines
Do not trust these people. They falsified my contract. Unbelievable.
I joined Dolphin Gym looking for a bargain basement alternative to the super-expensive gyms in the village. I wasn't looking for anything fancy. As part of my sign-up, I got a free training session. At the end of the session, they offered me a package of 6 training sessions over a month. Again, I liked the cheap price so I signed up -- big, big mistake.
I found out later they filled out the blank portions of the contract later so it wasn't 6 sessions but 36 sessions. I couldn't believe it. They said they were going to charge me like $1800! They said they would cancel it -- but only if I paid them a $250 fee.
What a scam! Do not trust them with your credit card information under any circumstances.
I wouldn't pay $10 to use this gym!
It is a very small room on street level. The machines are so old and dirty, that while on the treadmill it kept changing speeds almost throwing me off.
No towels and the locker room is just a small 8x8 area with no benches and some lockers.
I didn't dare to use the toilet or showers.
I have been to some no frills gyms and this is beyond no frills. its downright dirty and discusting.
For the price, you really can't expect much better. I've taken the pilates and yoga classes and they aren't too crowded and the instructors are super helpful. Have to wait for cardio machines in the evenings, but it's never too long. Bring your own lock for the locker, and if you forget your shower shoes, just wait till you get home bc I wouldn't recommend going barefoot here.
6 month membership for $149.00!!! No joke, this is for real. I feel like I should scream this deal out from a mountain top. Includes free classes from yoga to pilates to body sculpture. Weights, machines, and treadmills to run on while watching Jeopardy. What else could you ask for?
Dolphin is a great budget gym: they have most of the stuff you'd want machine- and free weights-wise (although sometimes lines accumulate), and there are a decent number of treadmills, bikes, eliptical machines, etc, and the place is cheap. I got a year for $250, which is amazing. I know that there are also yoga classes, since they always seem to be going on when I want to go into the room they use.
I just joined this gym for $150 + 20 processing for 6 months. It's the bare minimum in terms of equipment and amenities but what do you expect for the price.
I've been to many gyms in my lifetime, and this is the most ghetto, dirty, smelly, low-budget facility I have ever visited. You couldn't pay me to come back here. The staff have seriously bad attitude, and go out of their way to make you feel unwelcome. The equipment is all very old and in poor shape, the downstairs weight room stinks and is a basement, and the bathrooms are filthy. There is water all over the counters and floors, and no towels/paper towels - I would never shower there. Many of the lockers are broken and the ones in there look like they were salvaged from an elementary school. They couldn't even splurge on a bench to set your things down on in the locker room, everyone is forced to fight for one of the few stools. Disgusting, awful, NOT recommended!
Me Y. speaks the truth on this one. There's a reason it's so cheap: because they offer absolutely nothing in return. The place is filthy, the equipment is old and broken, and the management seems to be completely ok with big, hairy, sweat-covered guys working out without shirts on. I'm surprised I didn't get a staph infection from the bench press.
More to the point, I only joined this gym because I knew I would be moving out of town and Dolphin promised they would refund the difference on my membership fees. Guess what? They never did - despite the fact that I've called them dozens of times, despite the fact it's gauranteed by my contract. By the way, this "let's be sure to screw our customers policy" comes straight from the top. I've even dealt with corporate at this point, and they're way worse than the meat-head jerks who work in the actual gyms.
Do yourself a favor - stay away from any and all Dolphin Fitness clubs.
Yes, Dolphin is dirty and the machines are old, but it is so cheap, and so convenient, that it's almost stupid not to join. I go maybe twice a week and use the weight machines, treadmills and ellipticals, and it's perfect - the ideal gym for a New Yorker on a budget.
yes, it's very cheap so if all u're looking for are basic cardio and weight machines then sure, go for it. it's a great deal (rate on window is 12 months for 199) and open 24 hours i believe. but the place kinda smells with sweat and the downstairs exercise room clearly isn't cleaned regularly (by the unswept floors that look the same day after day) and the yoga mats are falling apart (yoga people bring their own mats) so keep that mind. there are some classes which is cool, and remember that it's very cheap, but if u want a gym that's motivating with atmosphere this place isn't it. if u just want to go and do your thing, then this place works. i opted to pay more for cleaner and prettier.
