Gym Guide
How to Choose the Right Gym
By Jessica Clark
It’s no question that Austinites love working out. We can probably thank our beautiful geography, pleasant weather, and the amazing food in our city for giving us extra motivation to be fit (most of us will sweat for tacos). Around every corner these days it seems a new boot camp, fitness studio, or gym is popping up. With so many options, and more on the way, how do you choose the best fitness program and studio or gym for you?
Choose a program based on your fitness preferences.
You could choose a fitness program based on the type of activities or environment you enjoy most, or based on your goals. For example, if you love to run or want to become a better runner, you’d want to find a run group or group fitness class that incorporates running that will help you push yourself to improve your endurance and speed.
Maybe running is not your thing, but you love other types of cardiovascular fitness. There are many options, from indoor cycling, indoor rowing, kickboxing, higher-intensity yoga, Pilates, or barre “boot camp” classes, group HIIT classes, functional training classes, and even dance classes. There are even trampoline classes now available in Austin. Think about the type of exercise that appeals to you most, based on your main interests and what you truly enjoy, and explore gyms and studios that offer it.
When in comes to improving your health and fitness in a general sense, there is no such thing as a superior workout that works best for everyone. The “best” workout for most people is the one they will do consistently that helps them achieve their goals—with the key being consistency. So, figure out what you love to do, and do it consistently. If you have a specific performance or physique goal with a deadline, then it would be wise to seek out personalized or specified training.
Choose a program based on your location and it’s convenience.
You could choose a fitness program based on proximity and your schedule. For example if you live further out and work downtown, take advantage of the plethora of gyms located near your work. As a bonus, if you are going to the gym before or after work, you’ll beat traffic and get that hour of your life back to put toward your fitness goals! Find a gym or studio that is open early before work, at lunch, or open late after work so that you can get your workout in no matter how busy your days get. If you need access to a shower and locker room area, be sure to include that as a requirement in your search criteria.
Maybe you prefer to hit the gym after you’ve gotten home, or on the weekends. In this case, you will want to check out what is near your neighborhood. Use the guide we’ve provided and try out a few places. Be sure to go at times when you’ll actually be working out so you can scope out the atmosphere and see how crowded it might or might not be. If it’s too crowded or the class you want to take is always sold out, that might be an obstacle for you to stay consistent with your workouts.
Choose a program based on price and your budget.
Another way to choose a fitness program is based on price and what your budget will bear. However, don’t use this as your primary criteria for one simple reason: it’s not how much you're spending per month, but how much value you're getting out of that membership that means the most. A pricier gym or fitness studio that's closer to home, offers a program that gets you results, or offers longer hours might be a better option than an inexpensive gym, where there is little accountability or the workout isn’t helping you achieve your goals, in an inconvenient location with limited hours or classes that you can’t ever get into.
You’ll get the most value out of a fitness program that helps you meet the criteria most important to you. So, get clear on that, and then compare options.
At the beginning of the year, you’re likely to find a ton of great deals out there, so be sure you are using other criteria to help you select the right fit for you. The best time of year to find fitness deals is January and September, so don’t miss out! Take a few classes or try a gym out for a week or so before committing to a membership. Most studios and gyms offer inexpensive special deals for new students. Really take a look at what value you are being offered before you sign up for that long-term membership. All gyms and studios are in the customer service business first and foremost, so make sure you are being treated well and to your expectations. If you feel ignored or like another number, get out of there. There are too many amazing options in this town not to absolutely love your fitness program and find a community where you can grow.
North
#)
9Round Fitness
Kickboxing Gym
30 min Circuit Classes
There are no class times, come when ever you want to start!
24 Hour Fitness
General Gym
Studio Classes and Training
A)
Anytime Fitness
General Gym
Studio Classes and Training
Austin Peace Studio – Yoga & Pilates
Yoga and Pilates Studio
$15 per class, $12 for 4 classes, First Class Free
Austin Prenatal Yoga
Yoga Studio
Classes on Tues/Thur/Sun
Austin Yoga Tree
Yoga Studio
B)
BAM Academy
Parkour Gym
Big Tex Gym
Powerlifting, Bodybuilding, Strongman
Black Swan Yoga
Yoga Studio
Body by Frame Gym
Transformational Fitness
BodyBusiness Fitness Club
General Gym with Training, Yoga, Cardio, Cycling, Dance, & Group Classes
Breath & Body Yoga
Yoga Studio
BVM Crossfit
Crossfit
C)
CorePower Yoga
Hot Yoga, Multiple Locations
Crenshaw Athletic Club
Gymnastics Studio
CrossFit Cedar Park
Crossfit Gym
CrossFit Central (Burnet)
Crossfit Gym, Multiple Locations
CrossFit City Limits
Crossfit Gym
CrossFit Realm
Crossfit Gym
CrossFit Round Rock
Crossfit Gym
Curves
General Gym, Women
D)
Dancers Shape
Barre, Pilates, Yoga
DANZA – Center for the Arts
Dance Studio
Defiant CrossFit
Crossfit Gym
DRAMATICO Martial Arts
Martial Arts and Self Defense
facebook.com/Dramatico-Martial-Arts/
F)
Flex Fit 24/7 Gym
General Gym
FTA Gym
General Gym
G)
Gold’s Gym
General Gym, Multiple Locations
GrassIron Fitness Training
Personal Training, Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting
GRIT Austin
Strength, Conditioning
GYM ONE
General Gym
H)
Heroes CrossFit (formerly CrossFit Valor)
Crossfit Gym
I)
illuminate Gym
General Gym
Inspire Fitness
Personal Training
J)
John’s Gym Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness
MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai in Austin & Cedar Park
K)
Kilter Fitness
Personal Training
Kim’s Gym
Gymnastics, Cheer
Koko Fit Club of Cedar Park
General Gym
roundrock.kokofitclub.calls.net
L)
LA Fitness
General Gym, Multiple Locations
Life Time Fitness
General Gym, Multiple Locations
M)
Marlow’s Fitness
Cardio, Strength Training
Maximum Martial Arts Academy
Taekwondo, Yoga
MBA Boxing Gym
Boxing Gym
Metroflex Austin
Hardcore Training
Modo Yoga
Yoga Studio
N)
Next Level Ride Austin
Wakeboard Park
O)
Of The Lion Fitness
Strength and Conditioning, Bootcamps
Orangetheory Fitness
Interval Training, HIIT
P)
Peak Performance Martial Arts
MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Football and Boot Camps
peakperformancemartialarts.com
Pinnacle Training Center
Muay Thai Kickboxing, Boxing & Functional Fitness/Exercise Training
Planet Fitness
General Gym, Multiple Locations
Premier Party Fitness
Zumba, Dance
Premiere Lady Fitness & Spa
General Gym, Women
Pure Austin Fitness (Quarry Lake)
General Gym, Cycling, Strength, Yoga, Personal Training
PURE Bikram Yoga
Yoga Studio
R)
Richard Lord’s Boxing Gym
Boxing
Rockhold Karate
MMA, Tai Chi, Archery
S)
SaraStyle Fitness
Yoga, Pilates
Spirit Fitness Training
Personal Training
Studio Mantra
Yoga, Pilates
Sundara Yoga Therapy
Yoga
SunstoneFIT – North Hills Center
Pilates, Yoga, Barre, Fitness
T)
TexFit CrossFit
Crossfit Gym
The Little Gym
Kid’s Fitness
thelittlegym.com/austinatlakelinetx/
The Pilates Center of Austin
Pilates
TITLE Boxing Club
Boxing
ToddPilates & Barre (Round Rock)
Pilates, Barre, Multiple Locations
Transform Fitness Austin
Yoga, Fitness
Travis County Strength
Strength, Conditioning
U)
UFC Gym
MMA, Fitness, Personal Training
V)
Voodoo CrossFit 512
Crossfit Gym
W)
White Tail CrossFit
Crossfit Gym
Woodward CrossFit
Crossfit, Strongman, Olympic Weightlifting, Gymnastics
Y)
Yin Yang Yoga
Yoga Studio
YMCA (North Austin)
General Gym, Fitness
Yoga Yoga Northwest
Yoga Studio
yogalotus Austin
Yoga Studio
Keep reading for more gyms!
South
A)
Austin Simply Fit
Personal Training
B)
Bigger Faster Stronger Training
Strength, Conditioning
biggerfasterstrongertraining.com
Black Swan Yoga
Yoga Studio
Bonebreaker Barbell
Strength, Weightlifting
C)
City Surf Fitness
Surfing, Group Fitness
CrossFit Austin
Crossfit Gym
CrossFit South Lamar
Crossfit Gym
CrossFit and Fearless
Crossfit Gym
Crux Climbing Center
Rockclimbing
D)
Define Body Mind – South Lamar
Pilates, Yoga, Cycling
DeFranco's Gym at The Onnit Academy
Strength, Conditioning, Fitness
F)
Fit and Fearless
Self Defense (Krav Maga), Fitness, Fighting
FIT Austin
HIIT, Yoga, TRX, Fitness
Fusion Fitness
Fitness, Strength, Cardio
H)
HEAT Boot Camp and Personal Training
Bootcamp, Fitness, Personal Training
HiitFit Gym
Boxing, Kickboxing, Strength, Yoga, Cardio
I)
I Love Kickboxing
Boxing, Kickboxing
Ignite Fitnez
Fitness, Strength, Cardio, Boxing
Impact Strong
Kickboxing, HIIT
L)
LA Fitness
General Gym
Lifetime Fitness
General Gym
M)
MOD Fitness
Barre, Cardio, Pilates
O)
Orange Theory Fitness
Cardio, Group Classes, Fitness, Multiple Locations
S)
Sanctuary Yoga
Yoga
South Austin Gym
Boxing, Personal Training, Krav Maga
South Austin Rock Gym
Rockclimbing
Sukha Yoga
Yoga
T)
Tao Health and Fitness
Fitness, MMA, Tai Chi, Strongman, Yoga
The Barre Code
Barre, Multiple Locations
The Fit Pit Boxing and Fitness Acadmey
Boxing, Fitness
The Void Martial Arts
Martial Arts
Todd Pilates Fitness South
Barre, Pilates, Multiple Locations
V)
Vibe Austin
Fitness, Personal Training
Y)
Yama-Kan Self-Defense School
Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, MMA
Keep reading for more gyms!
East
A)
Ashtanga Yoga Austin
Yoga
Atomic Athlete
Strength, Conditioning, Military Training
Athletic Outcomes
Fitness, Conditioning, Recovery
Austin Bouldering Project
Rockclimbing
Austin Kickboxing Academy
Boxing, Kickboxing, MMA
B)
Better Bodies
Zumba, Turbo Kick, Yoga
Bikram Yoga East Austin
Yoga
Blackbird Fitness
Fitness, Nutrition, Personal Training
blackbirdfitnessandnutrition.com
C)
CrossFit Lumos
Crossfit
D)
Dane’s Body Shop
Strength, Conditioning, Fitness
Dharma Yoga
Yoga
E)
Eastside Austin Elite
MMA, Crossfit, Yoga, Personal Training
Eastside Yoga
Yoga
F)
Fortitude Fitness
Strength, Conditioning, Fitness
facebook.com/FortitudeFitness/
G)
Gracie Barra East Austin
Personal Training, Strength, Conditioning, Nutrition
Transform Fitness Austin
Yoga, Fitness, Gay Friendly
Y)
YMCA of Austin (East Communities)
General Gym, Multiple Locations
Yoga Volta
Yoga
Z)
Zen Fit
MMA, Yoga, Boxing
Keep reading for more gyms!
West
#)
5 Fitness Training and Yoga
Fitness, Yoga
A)
Anytime Fitness
General Gym, Multiple Locations
Austin Girl Pilates
Pilates
C)
Coach Mo’s Elite Fitness
Fitness, Yoga
Core Therapy & Pilates
Therapy, PIlates
CrossFit 2222
Crossfit
CrossFit Barton Creek
Crossfit
facebook.com/CrossFitBartonCreek
F)
FinkFit
MMA, Obstacle Training
G)
Gold’s Gym – Westlake
General Gym, Multiple Locations
I)
Intense 22 Fitness
Personal Training, Fitness
Iron Tribe Fitness
Gym
J)
JoyMoves Pilates
Pilates
L)
Luke’s Barbell Club
Strength & Conditioning
M)
Mauro Pilates
Pilates
MOVE Austin Fitness
Fitness, Strength, HIIT, Cardio
O)
Orange Theory Fitness – Westlake / 620
Fitness, Cardio, Strength
P)
Pure Barre – Westlake
Barre
R)
Rellim Fitness Austin
Personal Training, Strength & Conditioning
Ro Fitness – Tarrytown
Rowing, Multiple Locations
S)
Studio Mantra
Yoga, Pilates, Bodywork
T)
Tangra Elite Athletics
Athletic Performance, Training, Fitness
Train 4 the Game
Athletic Performance, Training, Fitness, Cycling
W)
West Austin Strength & Conditioning
Crossfit, Strength & Conditioning
Westlake Taekwondo Academy
MMA, Taekwondo
Wild Basin Fitness
Gym
Wild Heart Yoga
Yoga
Y)
Yoga Yoga – Westlake
Yoga
Keep reading for more gyms!
Central
#)
24 Hour Fitness
General Gym, Multiple Locations
9 Round Fitness – Central
Boxing, Kickboxing, HIIT,Multiple Locations
A)
Anytime Fitness
General Gym, Multiple Locations
Austin Jiu Jitsu
Jiu Jitsu, Ground Fighting
B)
Barre3 Austin
Barre
BFree Yoga
Yoga
Black Swan Yoga
Yoga
Blue Honey Yoga & Fitness
Yoga, Barre, Pilates, Boot Camp, Fitness
Breath & Body Yoga
Yoga
C)
Castle Hill Fitness
Fitness, Yoga, Pilates, Gym
CorePower Yoga – Monarch
Yoga, Multiple Locations
CrossFit Central
Crossfit
Crush Fitness
Cardio, Group Classes
D)
Dane’s Body Shop
Strength & Conditioning, Fitness
Define Body & Mind
Yoga, Pilates, Barre, Cycling
Driven Performance Training
Fitness, Training
E)
East Side Balance
Pilates
F)
Fight Club Austin
Boxing, Training
Four Elements Aerial & Creative Movement
Aerial Yoga, Pole Dancing, Trapeze
Fuerte Fitness
TRX, Fitness, Conditioning
G)
GoddessFit
Wellness, Fitness, Women
Gold’s Gym
General Gym, Multiple Locations
H)
Hyde Park Gym
Training, Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting
K)
Kor180
Pilates, Cycling, Multiple Locations
L)
Love Cycling Studio
Cycling
M)
Mecca Gym & Spa
General Gym, Spa, Fitness
O)
Orange Theory Fitness – Triangle
Fitness, Cardio, Strength
P)
Pure Austin Fitness
General Gym, Fitness, Classes, Personal Training, Multiple Locations
Pure Pilates Austin
Pilates
R)
RIDE Indoor Cycling
Cycling
Ro Fitness Downtown
Rowing
T)
Tetra Fitness
Cycling, Fitness
The Bar Method Austin
Barre
The Lagree Studio
Pilates
The Little Yoga House
Yoga for Kids
W)
Wanderlust Yoga
Yoga
Y)
YMCA
General Gym, Multiple Locations
