Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Spacious, comfortable, friendly well equipped gym . |
| Disadvantages: |
Oh dear, it has a bar ! |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
I joined Greens having recently changed job, with a Greens Fitness Centre located opposite my new office. Joining seemed a good alternative to a daily stop at Subway for a sandwich and i promptly inquired about fees, facilities and opening hours.
I was offered a couple of packages, one of which was the off peak annual membership i purchased. I think, but i'm not a 100% sure that I got a corporate discount.
FEES
Off peak member ship cost £35 a month, with an initial £15 deposit for the security band that gets you in and out of the building, lockers etc. This gives me full access for the following times:
- Monday to Friday - 0630 to 1700hrs
- Saturday & Sunday - All day
Basically i can't use the gym after 5pm during the working week.
Full membership was £45 giving access at all times.
STAFF
There is a large staff compliment. The girls on reception are
very friendly (and also very attractive) and can help or point you in the direction of someone who can help at any time. Staff assist with training programmes, and they all seem very knowledgeable. In addition there are several personal trainers who can be hired. Notably a number of sessions are currently being offered leading to the Great North Run. (only for the very brave)
LAYOUT
The gym is spread out over two levels. downstairs there is a reception area, changing rooms, a bar/ cafe, a hairdressers and a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a hair salon.
Upstairs there is a cardio area, two weight/ resistance areas and rooms for classes.
The whole building is air conditioned.
EQUIPMENT
All the equipment, cardio and resistance is Technogym. There are approximately:
- 20 bikes (of which about 5 are recumbent)
- 25 treadmills
- 6 steppers
- 6 arm peddles... (for lack of a better name hand peddle bikes where you peddle with your arms)
- 14 x trainers with arm action
- 8 cross trainers with no arm action
All cardio equipment has CPR programmes and can read the heart rate monitors you can buy from polar etc. It is all in excellent condition.
Again all the resistance equipment is Technogym. Spread out over two rooms, there are at least two or more of each machine. There are also some loose weights, and numerous mats with ab machines and an abundance of exercise balls.
ENTERTAINMENT
All cardio equipment is fitted with headphone socket and station selectors so you can listen to any of the main radio stations or channels such as BBC, Sky Sport, MTV etc shown on several large plasmas. (managed to catch Dr Who tonight) There are 20 channels to select but you need to bring your own headphones.
POOL
Standard 25m pool. It is clean and the temperature is good.
CHANGING ROOMS
The changing rooms are spotless. Each locker is operated with an individual security wristband you get on joining. There are showers equipped with soap should you forget your own, and a dryer for bathing costumes etc. These are cleaned at least daily, as the guy with the hose always seems to be there whilst i'm getting changed.
BAR/ CAFE
I've visited the bar twice. The food is nice, as long as you stay away from some of the strange soup concoctions. Chicken is a good bet. The price is reasonable to high.
OTHER FACILITIES
I've never nor do i intend on using the salon. this seems to be visited mainly by ladies.
Some
SPORTS WEAR is sold: trainers, clothing and accessories such as Heart Rate Monitors and power breathers. I did check out the prices of the mens trainers and a pair of New Balance trainers would set you back approximately £80 - seems a bit expensive for that brand.
There are spinning CLASSES etc, but again I haven't attended any of these. Classes are included in the cost of membership.
HYPOXY TRAINING (Vacunaut) is offered at an additional charge. If you've never heard of this, then in the simplest of terms, this is exercising in a wetsuit from which they suck out all of the air. Working in the low atmospheric pressure results in your blood circulating to the surface and stripping away at the fat cells which you then burn off as you exercise. One session lasts 40 minutes and you are measured at hips, stomach and waist before and after. The aim is that you will get significant inch loss, even after the first session. GREENS ARE THE ONLY
PLACE IN THE NORTH EAST TO OFFER THIS! Trial sessions cost £15. The package, which you must buy in full, consisting of 12 sessions costs £300.
I tried a trial session and they set me off exercising on a treadmill at a moderate pace. Its really sweaty work even though its not actually that hard to do. Apparently because they suck the air out its the equivalent to working 2000ft under the sea. I did however lose 0.5cm from the hips, 1.5 cm from the stomach and 0.6 cm from the waist.
I'd recommend the gym. Its a nice friendly place. Very well equipped so you'll never be waiting for any equipment and the staff are very helpful. It's easy to get to with secure parking; exit operated by wristband.
