Your fitness center should be a place in which you feel comfortable, and also which provides the equipment, support and amenities you need to get the most out of your membership. There is no shortage of fitness centers in Houston, TX, but here are the top five in my experience.
Bally Total Fitness
9801 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 467-8181
Located on the west side of I-10, Bally Total Fitness is one of the best fitness centers in Houston. They have more than 80 cardiovascular machines, including elliptical climbers, cross trainers, and treadmills, as well as more than 60 pieces of resistance training equipment. They have 4 studios in which Yoga, Pilates and kick-boxing classes are held throughout the day, and a pool and sauna for your enjoyment. The staff is always friendly, though this fitness center is enormous and can be difficult to navigate.
Hank’s Gym5320 Elm St
Houston, TX 77081(713) 668-6219
Located between Hwy 59 and the 610 loop, Hank’s Gym is for athletes who are serious about training on a regular basis. They have one of the most extensive groups of fitness machines that I have ever seen, and they have personal trainers on-site every day to assist with weight, cardiovascular and resistance machines. The atmosphere, however, is not what you would expect from a serious fitness center. The staff is extremely helpful, but never intrusive, and the lighting is bright but not blinding. A plus: they have so many treadmills that you almost never find that they are full.
One 2 One Training Center
6322 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77057-5906
(713) 339-1100
I’ve included this gym in my list of top five fitness centers because they have an amazing variety of equipment. They even have therapeutic massage. I also like that they open early on business days — 5 a.m. — so you can work out before work if that is the only time you have. You’ll find machines that you don’t see anywhere else and you’ll notice that all of their equipment is reasonably new and well-maintained. Their clientele ranges from us regular folk to professional bodybuilders to professional athletes. They also have a Kirby location. However, I do not recommend working with any of their trainers; I know several people who have been dissatisfied.
Sound Fitness
11211 Slater Ave NE #100
Kirkland, WA 98033
(713) 781-3779
This is the perfect fitness center for families because they offer a kid-friendly environment; baby-sitting comes with their membership. Sound Fitness offers a month-to-month contract, which means you can try it out without any kind of commitment. They have excellent trainers who are regulated closely by the center and who really know what they are talking about. Their cardio fitness center is truly spectacular.
Anytime Fitness
9642 Jones Rd.
Houston, TX
(832) 237-7771
If you’re the kind of person who likes to work out whenever it strikes your fancy — 3 a.m., midnight, whatever — then you should check out Anytime Fitness. Their fitness centers are going up all over Houston in 2007, and all of the reviews so far have been glowing. They also have franchise opportunities, if you’re interested in a lucrative investment.
