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The Sports Club LA
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Union Square, SOMA
747 Market St
(between 3rd St & Grant Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 633-3900
747 Market St
(between 3rd St & Grant Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 633-3900
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- No
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Club One Fitness
- 32 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Financial District
"I just got my gym membership here this morning and worked out after work today. I got a corporate discount because I work in an office…" read more »
219 reviews for The Sports Club LA
Update : They recently replaced all locker room and workout towels.
Next thing on their list should be to get better jump ropes in the boxing room. C'mon, no one over 5' 6" can use the ones they have.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/13/2009
If the location is convenient for you and you're someone who actually takes advantage of having a… Read more »
So.. first the basics..
- Sports Club LA is a very good gym, the level of equipment, facilities, staff etc cannot be faulted.. its top notch.
- Its expensive.. well it is compared to most other gyms.. I was paying $158 a month until i decided to cancel my membership as i wasn;t using it enough.
- If you work nearby, like to workout alot its a great option....
- The pool is nice, but with 1 person only lanes there is often a long line of people waiting to swim at busy times.
So despite all the positives Sports Club LA has one big problem in that it and most of its clientele take themselves way too seriously.. there are far too many very intense looking 40 something blokes who look like they work out there every day, flex and frown in the mirror while working out and then spend half hour in front of the mirror in the changing rooms perfectly adjusting their bad 1980's hairstyles.. weird..
I like to work out.. I take sport seriously.. but guys.. get over it, you don't need to frown and pose quite that much..
I can't believe I haven't already reviewed this place. It's my home away from home. I can spend hours here daily -- and not even workout! That's the best kind of gym if you ask me.
Locker room concierge, sauna, steam room, tons of cardio equip, executive membership has laundry service, $4 parking, wifi in common areas, meditation and tea area downstairs, never busy, smells good, very clean, professional, lots of classes, private yoga areas, swimming pool, classy and not a meat market (this is good and bad I guess).
Seriously, this place has three floors of everything you want and didn't know you needed from a gym. From reading these reviews, it seems like the fees are variable, but I pay about what I pay for cable, home phone and internet. Ask about discounted memberships because apparently there are many corporate discounts you may not even know about including government employees (I paid next to nothing to sign on).
Sure it's pricey, but it's worth it.
I have been a sports clubla member in NYC, Washington DC and now SF for 5 years. The place has gone way downhill, which became even more apparent as I used the DC and NY gyms last week which have kept high standards. While SF has substantially raised the rates over the past 2 years, the maintenance has gone downhill.
There are pieces of equipment that have been broken and not fixed for months at a time. Some of the equipment is old and has rust. The deli is full of products made with bad carbs and mayonnaise - a bit crazy considering it is a gym! They just don't have their act together as it should be for a gym advertising as top notch, and charging as such... probably since being purchased by private equity squeezing their bottom line.
The best gym I have ever been to. The only downfall is that it is so big that I get lost.
I love the locker room. The showers has all the amenities. No need to lug a lot of stuff to the gym. Only need to bring clothes.
The gym is really clean and nice. There is a lot of open spaces though. They can probably utilize it.
My boss and I deceided to take the jump to The Sports Club LA from 24 hour fitness and I will never go back. Ever! This Club is amazing. The customer service is great. The locker rooms are soooo clean. There is always an attendant in the locker room making sure that all the towels are picked up. I really appreciate how this place takes the time and resources to make their members are taken care of. It does not go unnoticed. The gym is huge. There are two gym floors and never a wait for a machine. I loved coming here at rush hour (6:00) and seeing more than half of the treadmills open. I also loved how they keep the music in the gym down. I hate working out to crappy gym music. They have over a 100 classes weekly. It costs a little more for the extra amentities but it is 100% worth it.
I am solely giving a 5 star review based on the The Spa @ The Sports Club/LA and not the gym itself since I did not work out here or use any of the other facilities. I do however have to say I like the complimentary head phones and water located next to the elevator. :o)
The Spa itself was wonderful!!! So serene, as it should be, and the staff was extremely and not pretentiously fake friendly. From the moment we walked in we were greeted with nothing but welcoming smiles and friendliness.
Raymond was my massage therapist, and he was awesome! He asked all the right questions making sure I was getting the massage I wanted, but at the same time he didn't talk too much which when you're trying to relax can be a tad bit annoying which I have experienced in the past at other places.
The music: perfect, the room: clean and relaxing, my therapist: knew exactly what he was doing.
All in all i'm not sure about the prices, but the experience was much needed, appreciated, and definitely did the trick.
As far as the facilities and the friendly staff go, I could have given The Sports Club LA 5 stars. It is a beautiful gym, and the yoga area is serene as a chic yoga studio. I also LOVE the fact that they clean their pool with a high concentration of salt water instead of the usual harsh chlorine only. I love the towel service (though for the price of the membership, you would think they could afford FULL size towels instead of teeny towels only an Olsen could wrap around her body). It's also very clean and well-located.
But in all, I could only give 3 stars and I cancelled my membership. Here's why:
Classes: while there are great classes, this is more like a gym for the already-fit. The classes are not great for beginners. Also, for the price, I would have liked to see more dance fitness classes. If you like to use machines, they have the same floor machines as most gyms, but there is usually not much of a wait.
Personal Trainer: I got three personal training sessions with my membership. The trainer didn't teach me anything and while I was hoping for a routine that I could later do on my own, I just felt like I was wasting time with someone who liked to talk a lot and say very little.
Price: I was paying $155 per month and suddenly my membership increased by $5. This is not a big deal, but I have belonged to gyms in the past and have never had my monthly rate increase. Here the economy was slowing down and The Sports Club LA decided to raise the monthly fees from their members? I was told my original fees would be the fees I would always pay. While the increase was not huge, I thought it was a bad faith move on the gym's part.
Guest Passes: It is really expensive to bring in a friend to work out or swim together for a few hours. The gym passes out guest passes every so often, but I felt really bad after my friend used the one I gave her. She came in and was subjected to a sales pitch before she could work out! Now, may gyms have gimmicks to get people in the door and make them listen to their sales pitches. But this is a *high end* sports club, and nowhere on the "guest pass" does it say anything about needing to listen to a sales pitch. It was promoted as a "guest pass" so that members could exercise with a friend. This was promoted as a benefit to me, as a member!
Snobbiness: When I was signing up as a member, I asked about signing up my boyfriend as well. The problem was that we couldn't spend over $300 a month on a gym membership. I asked nicely and politely if there was any way we could sign up together on a family rate. The response was that The Sports Club LA only wants "certain types" of people to join, and can be very picky because it is an elite club, and therefore does not have to give discounts or do any of the other things other facilities do to bring in members.
Yeah, but they still force "guests" to sit through their sales pitch. At least when the other gyms do it, it's transparent and you know what you are in for. They don't dress it up in the guise of a benefit to their members!
In conclusion, if you have extra money to spend and like a very clean environment, I think you would be happy here. If you are trying to be a little more careful about how you spend your money, I think there are many places you can exercise for much less. The Sports Club LA promotes itself as a luxury gym, and it certainly is, but in my opinion when you pay that much money, you should be able to invite a friend to work out with you once in a while, there should be more interesting and innovative classes, and they should be above tacky tactics.
This is the most wonderful gym ever. Ever. I would feel better and healthier just by walking through the door. I was a member for five years and only quit because I moved across town last October and knew that the distance would keep me from going.
When I joined the Sports Club in the Fall of 2003, I recall remarking in surprise that there was a bar attached to the gym. The then-Membership Director said to me, "That's because this isn't a gym; it's a lifestyle experience." That was about the funniest (even if unintentionally) thing I'd ever heard, and I was sold. I went 3-6 days a week for the first two and a half years of my membership... until my work schedule became a little less forgiving.
The space is huge and well-stocked, so even at peak hours, you'll never wait too long for equipment. They give you three complimentary sessions with a trainer when you join, as opposed to only one, and the trainer I had did NOT hard sell me to buy more sessions. The locker rooms are nicely maintained and immaculately clean (well, at least the women's locker room is), and the sauna and steam room are luscious. I'm not much of a swimmer, but I even used the pool from time to time.
If a gym makes you want to go and exercise, then something is very right with the world.
All of that said, no place is perfect, and the Sports Club does have a couple of drawbacks. For one thing, it is rather expensive, and your dues will go up every year. To me, it was worth every penny, but that's just me. They also used to be very generous with free guest passes but not so much anymore.
About a year or two ago, they changed their towel service and now only offer very small, poor quality work out towels (although members are welcome to bring larger towels from the locker room onto the fitness floor). As a longtime member, I inquired about the towel change and was given an insufficient answer by a very condescending manager. That wasn't at all necessary, but it was a manager I'd never seen before, so whatever. Also, they seem to take pride in catering to an exclusive clientele, and around the time I joined they used the fact that most of their members lived in Pacific Heights as a selling point. I was not impressed by that and honestly thought it showed a slight lack of class.
However, the positives far outweighed the negatives for me, and I loved every minute I spent at the Sports Club. Since moving, I've joined a gym that literally is two blocks from my front door. It's a really nice and relatively fancy gym, too, and its convenient proximity makes it very easy for me to work out a lot. But I miss the Sports Club, and my new gym just doesn't compare.
Since writing my last article.. i am down 16lbs... I love you sports club LA. Truly a life changer... only 20 more to go before i can be super studdddd again.. Ria's spin class is the ish! I like to call her spin class a "rave" on a bicycle, cause is hard hitting beats and a decent amount of trance haha, and you sweat like a mofo! I don't care how much it costs as long as I keep wantin to go back! My advice to you is try out the gym, take the classess, and see if you like those. You can lift weights anywhere, but i htink the group classes is what really sets this place apart. Also, wednesday night hip hop class with the asian doode is awesome!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/27/2009
Okay.. yes i am a fat ass... about 7 years ago, i had abs of steel complete with 6 pack, fast… Read more »
I was paying $162/month for this lovely space. A member for almost a year but didn't use it enough to justify the dues!
Loves:
- cardio kickbox
- hip hop class
- eucalyptus steam room
- towels galore
- clean treadmills
- no "24 hour fitness smell"
Minus one star simply for giving me dues that are apparently higher than some other folks on here! No fair!
What a rip-off. $35 fee for a one-time swim if you're under 16. Overpriced everything. Very small lanes in the pool, don't count on being able to do butterfly and you might hit other people in adjacent lanes when doing breastroke. I'm not impressed.
BUT we angrily complained on one of thsoe "suggestions?" papers and they gave me one more free swim.
Yes, it is a wee bit pricey but my work subsidizes the cost.... and we're just blocks away. So, I wind up coming here a lot & getting my money's worth.
Bottom line: great classes, some amazing trainers, very clean facilities, plenty of workout equipment and easy to get to location if you work downtown. Close to public transit as well.
I'm not a huge fan of their pool but hey do have one. Otherwise a great club for everything else.
Yep, I did it, four stars for Sports Club LA. What I love it about are the people who work there. The locker attendants are lovely. (Shout out to Ghee and Ming!) The front desk manager is laid back and friendly. The office staff is just plain old down to earth.
I must admit I also like it for the people watching. When you ride up the elevator you will see the best dressed San Franciscans... One lady will have this season's Louis Vuitton Epi Bag, and another the coveted Miu Miu satchel. I've also three times spotted Dave Chappell. (He likes to use the weights across from my favorite elliptical machine.)
I understand that you can't trust a reviewer if all they do is praise. So, I'm going to say, that despite all the good review -Euni is NOT a great indoor cycle (REV) instructor. Her music is too loud (even when I turn off my hearing aids) and she preaches a quick, sprinting RPM...I've never seen her maintain the speed for more than several minutes... and she's expecting us to do it for the whole class. Huh? I am ver fit; I've taken these cycling classes for 10 years and I can't keep up. That's what I call frustrating and annoying. (Try Sherman or Cecily for teachers that can do what they preach).
Alright to sum it up- Love the people! (Leave the Euni)
Continues to go downhill...
They are cutting back on maintenance everywhere: equipment, locker rooms, pool... it all shows. When equipment is being repaired or cleaned it is now done during the day, inconveniencing members, when it used to be done after-hours. One of the reasons to join this club is so you don't have hordes of people working out in close quarters like at other gyms; but now at the Sports Club, with their membership dropping, you may not be crowded out by other members but you are now competing with the CLEANING CREW for the machines!
They are also cutting back on fitness classes. The excuse is that there aren't always enough members in a class to justify holding it. But again, the reason we pay the high fees here is so that we can take classes with only 5-10 people in them instead of 55. I've tried to speak with a fitness manager about this, but they've had a dizzying turnaround in managers lately so there is no continuity and no accountability.
They also have a ridiculous policy about the Pilates and gyrotonic equipment, which they have in abundance and which is rarely used. You have to pay $95 for a trainer to take you through a workout on the equipment, regardless of your level of proficiency on the machines. When I explained that I was a certified Pilates trainer and practitioner myself and asked to be able to use the equipment just like I would use the rest of the gym equipment, they wouldn't consider it. They gave me some mumbo-jumbo about how they couldn't risk my injuring myself if I went solo... well, I wonder why the same doesn't apply to the rest of their fancy gym equipment? I could just as easily drop a weight on my toe while wrestling with their weight machines... and there aren't even any weights on Pilates machinery. They could easily provide 1-2 hours of basic training on Pilates reformers to novices and then allow them to use the equipment unsupervised, perhaps using a sign-up sheet to regulate scheduling; users might not get the most out of the apparatus without a trainer watching your form, but the same can be said for the rest of the Lifecyle and other equipment.
Which brings us to the TRAINERS, and what a mixed bag they are. I've worked with a few who really know what they are doing, and others who toss around medical and physiological terminology without a clue. But what is comical about the whole business is their approach: they have to create these complicated, tortuous exercises "customized" to the individual client so that the poor sucker thinks there is no way in Hell he or she could execute this without the trainer. Which keeps clients dependent on them. It is hard not to laugh when you see a middle-aged man trying to rise up and down on an inflated ball while contorted into some strange position, with a Theraband looped around one shoulder, balancing a hand weight on one thigh.... Devising these kinds of "training regimes" is what keeps Personal Trainers up at night.
The other silly invention is the patented exercise class: like ZUMBA! What will they think of next? Ever since Jane Fonda made a fortune with her aerobic routine, fitness marketers have been trying to come up with the next greatest thing... which unfortunately entails explaining why the previous greatest thing wasn't so great after all...
Remember when STEPPING was heralded as the great new workout? Well, that turned out to be a little too hard on the knees... so trainers talked that down, and talked up SPINNING instead... until spinners started complaining about their backs freezing up and their psoases spazzing out... and so on, until here we are with ZUMBA! (I think it is always spelled with an exclamation point too!)
The boring truth is that, unless you are training for something very specific - like a biathlon, or playing Roger Federer next week - all you really need to stay in shape is some basic cardio activity 3-5 times a week, some weight lifting or other anaerobic activity 2-3 times a week, and some daily stretches. If you have a medical condition, then a Trainer is NOT the person to consult about an appropriate exercise routine, unless he or she happens to be a doctor or a licensed physical therapist.
Needless to say, unless membership fees drop to reflect the current environment and in recognition of the lowered standards of the club, I will be canceling my membership shortly.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/30/2009
Pros:
- Calm, soothing environment; lots of space
- Lots of equipment; you rarely have to wait to use… Read more »
Sean Hall is a great trainer. Go see him if you want to box it out in the ring. Excellent boxing coach. You won't feel intimidated and in the end you will feel good and strong. A great way to mix up your workouts!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/28/2009
This updated review is based on the service I had at the spa. I had a facial with Nancy! She is… Read more »
Im on a quest to get back in shape so my friend brought me in as a guest. I was impressed with the facility. I spent 10 excruciating minutes on the treadmill but the results were worth it. This is conveniently located close to my workplace so I could definitely go stop in before my mid-afternoon, pre-dinner snack.
I love it here! I used to be a member at 24 Hour Fitness and Club One and The Sports Club LA is by far the best. Though it is pricey you definitely get what you pay for. It's super clean and spacious! And you won't ever have to fight with other members over machines. They have everything you need in the locker rooms as well: steamer for your work clothes (in case you didn't have time to iron at home), shavers, mouth wash, lotion, cotton swabs, deodorant! They also have a sauna and steam room plus showers and offer all the towels you'll need!
I love starting my mornings with a workout at the Sports Club! If you're OK with spending a little more money for a gym membership, definitely try this place out!
Other than their membership fees, which just sky rocketed to $140/month, I love this place.
It's really clean and well spread out with a plethora of machines so you NEVER have to wait for anything. There are individual TV's on every treadmill and elliptical machine which makes running 3 miles go by in a flash.
The staff alone deserves 5 stars. They're friendly and accommodating of your every need. When you walk in to the locker room you're greeted by a little old lady handing you a towel and asking whether you want an upper or a lower locker (I appreciated not having to remember my own lock every time).
The steam room is just heavenly. I often came to the gym just to sit there for half an hour and soak up the eucalyptus they infuse in to the steam...it cured my hangover every time!
They really roll out the red carpet for you once you walk in the door (and they better for the price you pay!). The bar/restaurant is great with it's views of Market St. and Union Sq. and healthy yet tasty food options.
SCLA offers a wide variety of classes (everything from ballet to pilates and everything in between) and the instructors are really knowledgeable about their specific practice.
I seriously looked forward to going to the gym when I belonged. But at the end of the day it's still not worth the monthly fees (for me) just to feel like a celebrity when you're working out.
I've been a member since 2005, so I have spent a fair amount of moolah on membership here...sigh...lol...:-(
Recently, I had some reductions at work, hence not making as much as when the company was doing strongly.
So, I digress...I contacted the person in charge of memberships (Tonie Warner), who oddly enough resides in NYC, not SF. Anyway-all she could offer me was a $5/month reduction in my dues from the current $162. I was like-you're kidding me right? Not willing to work with a long time client and zero customer service skills, I was shocked at how someone gets such a lofty position with a large organization; and keeps her job to boot?! Confusing indeed.
After much deliberation, I decide to divorce myself from this country club that is basically all smoke and mirrors. I will miss the GREAT people at the reception and the salt water pool. Other than that, I am proactively moving forward. :-)
On a positive note; I have this super affordable 24hr membership to any location for $19/month....AND, I am now going to take advantage of my FREE Koret Gym/Pool privileges since I am a USF student.
In the long run, I believe that between 24hr & USF's Koret, I will be just fine. :-)
SCLA had 5 stars when I 1st joined, now it's just 2 because there are better prospects outside of the SCLA walls.
One more addition: what is with all the self-important attitudes of most of the members there anyway? Self importance is so 1980s! lol.
:)
My wife and I have been going to this gym for 2 years, and could afford to continue to go, but have decided to switch to Club One.
At first, it was very much what we wanted in a gym: clean, pleasant, conveniently located, with plenty of new, high-quality machines. Not perfect, because the machines we wanted were sometimes all taken (around 6pm), and, while spiffy and clean, were not engineered for maximum results (the machines at the YMCA, while older, had better range of motion and were more comfortable to use). Still, we had just spent a year at the Crunch, and found this place to be much more our speed; more "spa-like", rather than "gym-like".
Then, last January, our dues were jacked up by 10%, and we noticed that the place seemed busier than usual. Still, my wife loved the exercise classes and the TVs on the eliptical machines, so we figured it was worth staying. This year we noticed that the cleanliness had suffered, and that the machines weren't being fixed for months after they broke down. Finally, they jacked up our dues by another 10% this January, and raised the parking fee to $5 from $4. We figured that, while we can afford to stay, we weren't getting value for our money any longer, and were annoyed to be paying much more for less.
I can understand that it's a business decision on the part of the Club to maximize their investment, and their costs may very well have gone up by as much as they have increased our dues, but part of running a business is keeping your customers happy, and they just don't seem to care about keeping us. We don't want to be somewhere we're not wanted, so now there'll be more room for the remaining members to enjoy.
For being there when I needed to sweat out the effects of serious over-indulgence at happy hour. +1 star
For the creepy, mustachioed guy who I catch staring at me all the time. Dude, I'm not interested. Also, didn't your momma teach you it's not polite to stare? -1 star
For the locker room attendants (special props to Rojelio and Roger) who remember my favorite locker. No verbal communication necessary. +1 star
For giving me a peek at how the other half lives behind the frosted glass door and making me realize my lot in life. -1 star
NET: 4 stars
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/1/2008
It's that time of the year again when those letters go out to members. What will the increase in… Read more »
I've been a member for nearly a year now - and here's my experience...
The fees keep going up and service keeps going down. The steam room in the mens locker room, the pool, and the elevators to the garage were broken for weeks at a time. Yet somehow we've had to endure a 25% increase in parking fees and a 10% increase in monthly service cost.
I've been working out here for a little over a year now and its definitely one of the best gyms I've been a member of [insert Groucho Marx quote here]
First and foremost, the best thing about this place is that it never gets crowded... you pretty much never have to wait for any machine....which
is probably because they charge an arm and a leg... sure, paying $5 a month at 24hour fitness seems like a bargain... but when you have to wait 15 minutes to use a bench press that's covered in the previous person's crotch sweat... I bet you'll be singing a different tune too
Also, the staff are very friendly... and some are perhaps too friendly ;-)
(let the word free, as in free massage, be a warning sign of this)
The executive locker room is virtually immaculate, with the standard assortment of toiletries and terry clothe towels
Additionally... the trainers who work here know their stuff... and the health bar has some tastey, albeit costly, treats
However, some of the people who work out here have a staring problem (you know you are!) and I'd wish they'd either say hello or just stop being so creepy... but I guess you get that everywhere
All in all, a great place to sweat the small stuff if you got the bling to bring it
Unfortunately it's a bit too expensive for me right now but this gym is incredible! I did a free week trial that luckily turned into a two week trial. It maybe could have turned into a three week trial but I realized that it was too pricey and didn't want to "lead them on."
Even during the busiest time, after work, this gym is almost empty. You can use just about any kind of machine you ever want without a wait. The space is huge and they have everything! The women's locker rooms (yes, there are two of them!) are sparkling clean and the service is impeccable.
The food at the cafe is delicious. I did not try the cocktails but am very impressed with the idea of a bar at the gym. You could easily spend an entire day in this gym/spa/restaurant paradise!
They also have parking deals, childcare, tons of classes, and much, much more!
Without a doubt the premier club in the City. The Bay Club is good, but it doesn't compare...
Nothing in Honolulu comes close- I was a member of the Honolulu Club. Although, I do miss the outdoor pool @ the Honolulu Club...
I love the fact they have a basketball court! And when certain NBA teams are in town, they practice on the court... They close off the area, but if you're swimming in the pool, you can catch a glimpse...
There is actually three locker rooms. Two on the fourth floor(executive and regular) and another one on the second floor, which is too small and far too many trainers and employees use...
My favorite trainer @ SCLA/SF is Ron Callo. He's also the strength trainer for Olympic Gold Medal winning boxer Andre Ward.
I like to box and there is a very nice boxing room on the second level with speed bags and heavy bags.
There are plenty of free weights, weight machines, and cardio machines to go around on both the second and third floor. It does get busy on weekdays from about 6pm-8pm...
I'm not into it, but there are many free classes. Demetrios Demetriade's ab class on Monday is great, but too difficult for an old fart like me...
There's also a special pilates room and in that section they have yoga classes and other shit that I don't even know the name of... Mona Salinas is the trainer you want to see in that area...
The cafe and bar area are a nice place to hang out... And, it's open to the public. No 4% surcharge to eat here...
There is also a hair styling salon and a spa in the club which are definitely open to the public...
I could go on and on... I will later on...
Simply, a great club. I know it's pricey, but well worth it, because @ my age- health is the most important aspect of life...
And as per a certain yelp employee who wrote a review on SCLA/SF, for the life of me, I haven't been able to find the squash courts. Are they hidden somewhere for only the privileged few? Also, the reason they banned cellphones in the locker rooms is that certain individuals were taking nude pictures of fellow members and putting them on the internet. Plus, isn't it annoying when you're trying to work out and some idiot is blabbering on his or her cellphone about nothing and blasting your iPod doesn't help...
As I watched big corporations crumble and the stock prices decline at an exponential rate on TV, I promised myself that Sports Club LA is one thing that I will NOT give up in my attempt to be more economical. Good bye sneakers from Pierre Hardy and Lanvin, and farewell Aqua and Michael Mina, but to hell with saying good bye to Sports Club LA; to quote Elle Woods from Legally Blonde: "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." (and yes, I did just go to http://imdb.com to look up that quote; I have no shame.)
The gym itself is really nice. I don't think I've EVER had to wait for a machine whether it be the treadmill, elliptical, stairmaster, or some kind of new contraption that is the combination of all of the above, for more than 10~ 15 minutes. The janitors regularly walk around the three-story gym and wipe the machines down so that it's all clean and nifty for the next person to use. And the managerial team is very good at fixing the broken machines right away (usually in about 2~ 3 days), although some of the machines make clunky noises, and I'm not sure if that is due to the machines being fixed so many times.
I've been a member for about 7 months, and I definitely see rooms for improvement at the gym, and I know people call it the "premier" gym in San Francisco, but rows after rows of well-cleaned machines, does not a premier gym make. Some of the treadmills should definitely be replaced, and all the TVs should be fixed so that they are all functional and don't make static noises when I connect my headset to the jack. And as I've highlighted before, some of the ellipticals make clunky noises thus making working out with the machine impossible unless you want to damage the hearing of the people around you.
But overall, I would give this place four stars, because the people at the front desk and in the locker rooms are so friendly and always eager to help. I know the gym is expensive, but I do think it's ok to splurge on certain things, if it affects your overall mood in a positive way.
BTW, I haven't gotten around to using the swimming pool, but um.. the door leading to the swimming pool must be a portal to St. Barts or some other European destination a la the closet in "the Chronicles of Narnia," because there are way too many guys in the locker room walking around in speedos.
This place totally has the best indoor swimming pool in San Francisco and it's right by my work. All the girls that work there are smokin' hot and the locker rooms don't smell like Club One.
If you're looking for a Gym membership be sure to ask for Nikki. She'll make your day.
I finally made it to Sports Club LA last Saturday. One of our boxing classmates (circa early 2000s) turned boxing instructor, John Cu, has moved up into the gym ladder from Granelli's Boxing gym in the Mission, 3rd Street Gym, Crunch and today he teaches Saturday morning boxing at Sports Club LA. He has constantly urged us to try the gym out, after so many months, I finally did.
SCLA is the ultimate in pampering with a more than five star luxury atmosphere. It is adjacent to the Four Seasons Hotel on Market Street and offers about four floors of spacious workout alternatives. Treadmill and elliptical are aligned along the windows so you can work out a cardio sweat while gazing at a 180 degrees view of Market Street. The hardwood floors, massive space, panoramic views and bustling energy motivated our sleepy asses to workout!
Pre-boxing I opted for an obligatory mile or two treadmill run on a corner equipment overlooking the rustic view at the very heart of downtown San Francisco. The vibe reminded me of the uber luxurious Shangri-LA Hotel in Makati (Philippines) where the treadmill views present the four corners of Makati and Ayala Avenue while juxtaposed the waterfalls of the Manila Peninsula.
Our boxing class was held in the Group Exercise room which reminded me of a mid-sized function room with a large podium where state of the art sound system was in place. John Cu's Saturday morning boxing class is a full hour of intense boxer's training that included full-speed partner combination training that in increasing intensity. The class culminated with a full 15 minutes of abs workout. In a lower floor, a separate Boxing Room is situated at the corner for personal training. The room was impeccable where you will find clean boxing bags neatly aligned in a row. We were in boxing heaven! Although the crowd is not your usual serious fighters you'd find in a true and dirty boxing gym, this gym caters to those who can afford and whose workout objective simply is to look good. But that's ok too, after all this is a luxury gym.
If you want to workout a cardio sweat, relax in a steam room and sauna, bathe in a huge shower stall with amenities, access a five star salon, a hip restaurant, and simply get pampered in a First World Country, while paying First World prices, this is the place to be.
Although First Class service offered in Third World countries is the ultimate in luxury, in the Third World, I am royalty, in this five star city and gym, I'm only privileged.
Hi, I'm Monica and I'm a gym rat. I workout at least 5 times a week, okay 6 but my shrink and I are working to cut it down. ;)
I am a "charter" member of scla. I admit that it takes something posh involved to get me motivated. And motivation is what I needed 7 years ago. I was overweight and depressed from a one-two combination punch of job loss and break up.
With help from the fine and fa-hiine trainers at scla, I lost 80 pounds. Yes, I said 80. Did I stutter?
Keys to my weight loss were: consistent participation in boxing, spinning, abs classes, basically working out until I passed out and then worked out some more.
Demetrios's Abs class is legendary; his torso is out of 300. His warm up is 100 crunches - after the first hundred you wonder why you are doing this to yourself. Oh, also it may be harder b/c he loses track and has to recount everything.
Sean's ab's class is also killer. He is a boxer so he knows how important solid abs are when you get punched in the gut. He usually plays pretty good hip hop except for the few times he's had to "borrow" music from other instructors and played a medley of teenybopper girly-power tunes. Oooh that class was torturous, but not how it traditionally is.
Albert's boxing class is the bomb. He used to be a fighter and teaches you to box not just pretend like some sissy. He's great at catching the details and improved my defense 100%-I don't drop my hands when I throw a punch anymore. He also teaches a mean core strengthening class.
Sherman's spin class is not for the faint of heart or those who lack rhythm (yes, I mean you). Spin classes are all about personality. If it is bad, I feel like I've been taken prisoner and tortured like a hamster in a wheel. Spinning with da Sherminator twice a week allows me to eat things I like. It also doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes.
Michelle's Yoga classes are AMAZING. First, of all she has that ridiculous yoga body that I would die for (girl crush potential? hell, yeah). Second, she's spiritual without being hippie dippy. Her style of yoga is the perfect balance of Iyengar and Ashtanga. If you don't know what the last two terms are, basically you won't be bored stiff by holding a position for hours and you won't feel like a loser cause you can keep up with the routine.
Sherman's Ashtanga class is intense, just like his spin class. Frankly, I didn't try taking Ashtanga until I had taken a solid year of yoga and even then, I was totally confused, exhausted, sore for the first month. Did I mention that he's pretty hot?
Annika's kickboxing class is phenomenal. This is the kind with the bags not the hokey air punching dance crap. She teaches you to do these amazing jump kicks that make you feel like you were in the Matrix.
I've had issues with the fees and prices of things but when it comes down to it, scla is clean and half a block away.
Pricey but worth it...
Clean, spacious, and relatively new equipment ("2nd floor").
Really like the boxing studio, SPIN classes, and TUE night volleyball.
Each member here pays at least $140 dollars a month, but most of the bikes for spin class and the boxing equipment are broken. A couple of people have hurt themselves recently because the clips were lose and their shoes popped off the bike. The wireless microphone in the class room has been broken for several months, and now there just isn't one. Vicki, the general manager, and Cecily, the group exercise manager, told us in 2007 that they would replace the boxing equipment, but have yet to do so. If I were either of them, I would be very embarrassed about charging the rates that they do when they are always out to save every penny they can. (Cecily is a fabulous group exercise instructor, by the way.) None of the broken ellipticals on the floor ever seem to get replaced.
I keep on paying these exhorbitant rates because the best group exercise trainers work at the Sports Club. Euni's definitions class is amazing, has done wonders for my metabolism, and has changed my life. I plan my life around her classes, and you should see how much nicer my butt is. She is such a pleasant person that she somehow gets fifty adults to do some very unpleasant things, like lunges, and have fun in the process.
Kevin's spin class must be the most effective calorie-burning hour because I am always ravenously hungry afterwards. Great music and a great person. He invested several hundred dollars of his own money to buy his own wireless microphone for spin class.
The non-management staff, especially Ghee and Ming in the women's locker room are very nice.
I know the club is really hurting for members and waiving the first month's dues and initiation fee for new members. I wish the management would show more interest in retaining existing members and fix some things.
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8/21/2007
*****5 STARS for the group exercise instructors, especially Euni and Albert. I wasn't in Euni's… Read more »
i joined this gym about a month ago, and overall, i love it. i'm a pretty hardcore, dedicated exerciser, so financially, paying $158 / month to work out in a lovely space with all of the newest and fanciest machines is definitely worth it to me.
my main complaint about sports club la, and what bugs me about it almost every day, is that it seems about half of the cardio machines are always broken. all of the machines have their own screens, which is great, except that so many of them don't work. either the sound or the picture is broken, and many times i've moved from one machine to the next to find one that works. what's the point of having a great machine if it's broken?!?
i do LOVE the techno gym equipment on the 2nd floor. my favorite new brand. and i actually just love the 2nd floor in general...
tried to take a pilates class but no one else showed up. would love to take a ballet class but wish they happened at later times. haven't been to the pool. the steam room (i call it the rain forest) is incredible and the bathrooms are luxurious. everyone is incredibly cordial and charming.
i think parking is actually incredibly easy. it's $5 every time, but it would cost me $4 on bart roundtrip anyway...
overall, i love it here. a million times better than when i was at mission cliffs. quiet and polite and people actually know what they are doing. but i would like everything to work! i would give it a solid 5 stars if everything worked, right now i'm wavering between a 3 and a 4... but if i just ignore all the broken stuff i still love it. !
I was a member for a number of years but had to leave because the monthly dues kept on creeping up! The gym is great, but during peak times, you do have to wait for a cardio machine. This place gets packed around 5-7pm on weekdays (except Fridays).
I love the pool and the classes - they have fantastic teachers.
The spa is also great here and reasonably priced for members. If you work downtown, this is the best gym - if you can afford it.
Oh how I love the pscyhology and economics of gym memberships.
I've been a member of SCLA for almost 2 years now, and I have a few observations to make:
-- most months, it would be cheaper for me to pay on a pay-as-you-go basis of $25 per visit rather than paying the monthly $160 (and if I amortized the initiation fee, it would be even worse);
-- the locker room is cleaner than my own bathroom (if that sounds nasty to you, then it would horrify you to know that I considered typing 'bedroom');
-- Cecile is the most amazing yoga instructor to ever grace a developed nation; and
-- cardio equipment is ALWAYS available when I want it.
Am I doing the most efficient thing economically? Absolutely not.
But does it feel fabulous knowing that I sweat it out somewhere gorgeous, spa-like, and practically deserted? Yes!
And so I will continue behaving irrationally and squandering buckets of hard-earned money on my overly-priced membership. I hope my financial advisor never finds this post.
Reasons I love the Sports Club:
- They keep this place sparkling clean
- Fantastic pilates class
- Ron, my awesome trainer
- Great cafe (I'm especially obsessed with the sweet potatoes) with large TV always tuned to CNN
- $4 for three hours of parking downtown
- Elliptical and treadmills overlooking market street
- It's never too crowded
- Showers more reminiscent of a hotel than a gym
- Members get 10% off at the spa
I've been really happy with my experience here so far. I'm holding back the last star because it is a bit too pricey.
The gym is generally very nice and clean, unless you show up after 7 pm when the rush has come through. For the dues they charge, you expect perfection, and it just doesn't meet up. Trainers not showing up for sessions, "forgetting" to issue rebate cards, and broken stuff in the men's locker room. On the plus side, it is HUGE and there is always plenty of equipment. I've never found a seated row machine in this gym - what gives?
The salt water pool is very nice, but always crowded.
Visited for the first time today for a spa treatment - deep tissue massage. Eventhough more pricey than my usual place - I was pleasantly surprised on the service, cleanliness, and atmosphere. I felt really pampered with some of the extras - use of the locker rooms, showers, steam and dry sauna's. It's nice after a massage to be able to relax and take a shower.
Definitely a place I'd go again if I need a bit of pampering.
It depends on what you're looking for -- it's spacious and clean, the classes are well run, and it's... pretty.
However, it seemed like every time I went in, they were trying to get me to spend more money. When you put that on top of the already ridiculous monthly dues, it started to feel almost insulting.
A pleasant place to be, but the upsell just got to be too much.
Great place to work out!
And its really clean here too
and its not really dirty and geto geto here haha.
Best place to help u get back to shape.
