A Side Note-French Gyms!

Recently I travelled to Europe for a few weeks and needed a few days cross training in gyms over there whilst in training for the Auckland Marathon.
I had heard of course that French women were renound for never breaking a sweat but I didn't expect it to be so true!!
I visited two gyms, one in Paris right in the city and one in Uzes-a small village in Provence. In both cases I encountered startlingly few women. In the Paris gym there was a grand total of one and the men in the weights room looked utterly shocked as I ventured through the doors away from the cardio equipment.
In terms of the quality of the gym, I paid 22 Euros for a casual pass (very standard over there) and it was of about the same calibre gym as the University of Auckland Gym- functional but no frills. There was an entire room dedicated to cardio, plenty of equipment there, a separate room for weights and another couple of bare rooms for classes and paired sports. Fans were the apparent form of ventilation- I was there in summer and it was incredibly warm inside!
The gym in Uzes ('Cocktail Tonic' it was called) was much smaller with only one treadmill, a couple of cross trainers and bikes and the standard free weights and bench equipment. I paid 9 Euros here, the staff were very friendly and engaging. The space was small but sufficient and what I would have expected for a small village. Once again the gym was filled with men and excluding myself I saw one other woman. One of the men seemed so surprised in fact he approached me to shake my hand simply for being there- most amusing!! Very warm again but sufficiently ventilated for the time of year.
Other than these gyms I visited the gym facilities in all of the hotels we stayed at, they were very useful and of the same quality as could be expected from 4-5 star hotels in NZ. I found these essential when travelling especially when I had to do my long runs and didn't know the streets or felt unsafe running alone in a foreign country.
Running in France was also a different experience. Whereas in NZ most runners will exchange a smile or wave, I was not acknowledged at all on the streets there. There were also noticeably less women running in general.
The summer heat was a challenge, even more so in Italy and Hong Kong where even in the early hours of the morning temperatures had already reached those expected in the height of summer in NZ.
Hong Kong was incredibly humid and almost impossible to run in- stepping out of the hotel produced an sheen of sweat on one's face along with grit almost instantly on the skin...ideal place to have an air conditioned gym!

Genesis Fitness Remuera

This gym offers parking right outside and is situated next to a large rugby field. The gym itself is very modern and clean looking with an extensive amount of cardio equipment which takes up the whole downstrairs area. One wall of this area is a large window which looks out over the rugby field. It is used as a showroom for new 'Nautilus' equipment on occasion so members get to try the newest innovations. Upstairs is the weights area with a whole room dedicated to this-the amount of weights equipment is abundant. One whole wall of this space is also a wondow overlooking the rugby fields which offers a lovely open-plan feel.  Upstairs is also a room for spin classes and a large open space for other classes or for the use of members when no classes are taking place. There are a variety of classes available along with circuits and personal training regimes.
The changing rooms are very nice with electronic locking lockers and hairdryers, they have a modern and clean feeling about them.
Trying to get in touch with this gym via email proved unsatisfying however, I never recieved any replies to any of my enquiries so it was best to just go in.
Genesis offers various memberships ranging from 3 month terms to the usual longer periods, all at fairly reasonable prices.

Burn Fitness

This is a 24 hour gym on the North Shore.
Parking is provided in a garage space below the gym.
The gym had a nice feel to it, large open area which housed all equipment, the usual safety features provided in 24 hour facilities, clean toilets and showers. It was modern, tidy and had cardio and weights equipment suitable for a medium-larger sized gym. The interior was light and well ventilated. Staff were friendly and the memberships were very reasonable- on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Located not too far from the end of the bridge which is good for for city-dwellers. One of the nicer 24 hour gyms I have visited, on a par with Anytime Fitness gyms but cheaper memberships.

Mangonui Health and Fitness

Whilst on holiday in the far north I had an insatiable urge for some gym time and found myself in Mangonui Health and Fitness.
The cost was $10 for a casual student pass and $15 for adults.
The gym itself is located up a bank in Doubtless Bay (Coopers Beach), it is fairly small with about 2 of each type of cardio machine, a rack of weights and swiss balls and a couple of benches for heavier weights, along with boxing bags and stationary weights machines.
The view from this gym is truly spectacular! The gym has windows running the length of all four walls so from its elevated vantage point you get a view of the entire bay and the ocean whilst working out! On warm days like the one when I was there they open the back wall which is also a large sliding door, this opens the back section up to the foliage behind the building and adds to the open-plan, fresh-air feel of the place.
Air con was limited to fans and music was emitted via a stereo and one of the staff member's ipods.
I was not around long enough to check out the classes they may run, but the atmosphere of the gym itself was lovely. I had also rung in beforehand and was told it was pretty busy..but upon arrival found only 4 people there.. I suppose this is one of the benefits of being used to a big city - being pleasantly surprised by another area's definition of busy!
The staff were friendly and unimposing.
Overall a very pleasant experience indeed.

Genesis Fitness Remuera

This gym offers parking right outside and is situated next to a large rugby field. The gym itself is very modern and clean looking with an extensive amount of cardio equipment which takes up the whole downstrairs area. One wall of this area is a large window which looks out over the rugby field. It is used as a showroom for new 'Nautilus' equipment on occasion so members get to try the newest innovations. Upstairs is the weights area with a whole room dedicated to this-the amount of weights equipment is abundant. One whole wall of this space is also a wondow overlooking the rugby fields which offers a lovely open-plan feel.  Upstairs is also a room for spin classes and a large open space for other classes or for the use of members when no classes are taking place. There are a variety of classes available along with circuits and personal training regimes.
The changing rooms are very nice with electronic locking lockers and hairdryers, they have a modern and clean feeling about them.
Trying to get in touch with this gym via email proved unsatisfying however, I never recieved any replies to any of my enquiries so it was best to just go in.
Genesis offers various memberships ranging from 3 month terms to the usual longer periods, all at fairly reasonable prices.
Overall a nice, modern and varied gym.
Next Post: Burn Fitness Takapuna

Baywave-Mount Maunganui

I really enjoy going to this gym. The gym itself is located upstairs overlooking the entire pool facility which offers a nice distraction and lots of things to watch whilst slogging away on a bike or the like. It is a medium sized gym with about 6 of each cardio machine and 3 rowers. The brand used is 'Technogym'. This equipment is situated in the centre of the gym space with some weights equipment down either end. There are plenty of free weights and weights machines, all very similar to Les Mills. The gym never seems too crowded. Baywave's classes are of the Les Mills variety which are always reliable for providing a challenge.
If paying for just a casual pass at the gym ($10 for a student or $18 or a day pass) you are entitled to the use of the gym and also the whole pool facility during your visit. The pools include a deep lane pool-unsure on specifics but too deep to be even close to touching the bottom, another pool with a shallow side where children can play, this pool has a gradual gradient and aquarobics classes are taken in the slightly deeper section, with aquajogging possible in the very deep side. This pool also doubles as a wave pool at certain times of the day. There is also a childrens pool, a spa and steam and sauna rooms, along with various fountain-type attractions for childrens play. A cafe is available with a view of the pools.
The gym changing rooms are nice with regular showers and hair dryers for convenience. The pool changing rooms are not as aesthetically pleasing and do not have hairdryers but are still functional.
The gym staff are friendly and accomodating and do not get in the way.
There is extensive free and unlimited parking right outside the Baywave complex in a large carpark.
Next Post: Genesis Fitness Auckland

Windermere Polytech-Tauranga

The gym at the polytech facility is fairly small, there is often a wait on cardio equipment at peak times but it's never usually too long due to the 20min max time limit imposed. There are many spin bikes for use however when other equipment is occupied. There are about 3 cross trainers and treadmills along with a variety of other bikes.
In the room adjacent to the cardio room is the weights room which is well equipped to serve members in terms of quantity. The staff here are very friendly and approachable. Early on some mornings a cardio health class is run for older people with trainers assistance which does take up extra equipment.
There is also a pool right outside the gym itself which has one very deep side where water polo trainings take place sometimes (also perfect for aquajogging) and one regular depth side for swimming. There are also aquajogging classes held in the pool along with other classes taken in the gym.
Parking is available right outside the gym and pool facility. Membership prices are reasonable and opening hours are satisfactory but quite short in the weekends. Again this gym has no pretentious airs nor members.
The changing rooms are basic-showers, toilets and mirrors.
This gym is perfect in terms of the variety of activities available i.e pool and gym, to keep working out from becoming boring.
Next Post- Baywave Mount Maunganui, and Genesis Fitness Auckland