5 /5 Danial Beck: My wife was trying to cajole me into getting fitter for ages. She asked me just to visit Lifestyle Fitness and then she would leave the final decision to me. Arriving there, first impressions count and nothing more than at Lifestyle. I was greeted by Natasha and Jarvis and I was kind of floored by them. They were impeccably dressed, positive natured, spoke eloquently and plainly and treated me like a VIP as they showed me around the facilities. I am always impressed by people who take the time to know the products and services they were selling, regardless of industry, and Jarvis and Natasha were outstanding. I had some weird and esoteric questions I needed to ask (being a cynical gym user!) and they handled the questions diligently with grace and ease. Where there was no obvious solution, they made a solution happen. In any service industry, product knowledge, solution creation and professionalism makes you a true ambassador to the site and brand. Kudos to them both as they decided for me to join.
As for class and gym instructors, not all are created equal but I stand and applaud all those whom I have had contact at Lifestyle. My main go-to guys are Theo and Artis, who I thank them for getting to know me, I mean really know me. They remember my history of past injuries and stop me from doing certain actions and activities which may harm me when I do them, but instead modify the activity for me to avoid injury. From the hundreds of people they meet a day, how they remember my details I have not a clue. But dont let them fool you, they see everything and everyone! But let us not stop there with Theo and Artis. A big shout out Valerie, Manika, Stephanie S, Dominique H who are very professional in their knowledge and experience, making joining their classes fun! I come in to classes with a smile and I leave with a bigger (although more sweaty!) smile! Thank you to all the instructors who set the tone and vibe of Lifestyle. They are the breathing soul to the business.
The premises and building are outstanding , the equipment is unparalleled, the facilities impeccable and is just a place you *want* to spend your time (all day?), whether it is to have a coffee or milkshake, relax using one of their recovery services and facilities or just have fun in one the classes. However, a few things unsettle me. Why spend the money and bother in having a licensed bar lounge as a facility? Do you want members to drink before they train and injure themselves either on the machines or during a class? Or do you want to have members train, then drink and drive with potential repercussions to themselves or others on the road? I am sure the profits made from the bar dont justify its presence. And since we have a bar, why stop there? Why not open a cigar lounge and maybe a little cabaret club too? I say to Lifestyle Fitness management, you are sending the wrong message there.
Another is the parking facilities that Lifestyle Fitness provides. It is HUGE, so there is no problems parking. But the number of stories I have heard where members have their cars damaged by other members (many members are senior citizens who just lose the ability to park in closed spaces or have poor peripheral vision) and the thefts of items lying visible in the car after dark cannot be ignored. Imperfect solutions as they are, I would like to suggest that Lifestyle Fitness offers a voluntary service to members where they provide their license plates of their vehicles and if an alarm goes off or something happens to their car, the member can be informed. Another is to provide a security services on a motorbike (or electric bike?) where they patrol consistently around the parking area on the lookout for suspicious behavior. Not perfect as I said, but something.
I have only been there a few weeks but these are my observations so far of the place. But it is truly worth a visit to evaluate yourself since it is the closest thing I have seen to a luxury caliber gym, matching those in Dubai. And you know what they say about Dubai...
