Fitness World

Fitness World

(various locations throughout Lower Mainland)

~30-50$/month, depending on your gender

Fitness World is a members-only gym network situated throughout the Lower Mainland. The facilities are very clean and up-to-date. The equipment is well-maintained, with broken machines clearly labelled with break-down dates (I'm fond of this, as it increases accountability, as opposed to a vague message that leaves you wondering just really how long it's been broken). It is a very professional atmosphere, with instructors typically certified through the BCRPA. I don't buy that a Kinesiology degree would be better for the purposes of training the average exercisor/participant at FTW.

Lockers are available for people to bring their own locks, or you can rent one there. (Deposits are made at the front desk).

However, Fitness World is also very professional at weasle-marketing. The Kingsway location has been having their Grand . Opening for the last 5 years. The (.) is about the size of the (RE) that is enclosed between the two words. Fitness World is very keen on tricking people into signing long term contracts. Last winter they had an offer advertised for a rate of 20$ per month, for life. The fine print: you enroll for 2 years at ~45$/month. It is sometimes mentioned that if you want to opt out of a contract, you only need apply with a note. An aquaintance did this, to be told that it needed to be a doctor's note stating why she was unable to exercise.

FTW has a policy of gender discrimination. Each centre is divided into a Ladies-Only and Mixed-Only. There is no place for men to work out without having to wait for women to finish with equipment. I think that women shouldn't flatter themselves that they're being watched by men-if someone's truely being distrubing, talk to an employee. Regardless, if there are to be separate facilities, then I would have to say men are entitled to an equal area of equipment.

And to add onto the above paragraph, men always pay more than women. There is no plan I have seen advertised where women pay more than men, which I would expect for receiving deluxe memberships.

All in all, Fitness World is a high-end, yuppy affair.