Munich gyms - sports clubs

Does anyone know about a good Gymnasium (for body workout of course) in Munich which is not too expensive. I have visited a few before and did not find any affordable ones - all were about €700 to €1200 per year.

What i need is just a workout place with free weights. Machines, steam-sauna bath not the priority.

I am not a BIGGIE, just want to burn these love handles which have come up after marriage and eating bloaty food.

Thanks!

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Do you speak German? It's not exactly a Gym, it's the Männerturnverein (and yes women can join).

Take a look at: www.mtv-muenchen.de

It's at Goetheplatz and has got the lot including various aerobic/yoga classes plus a climbing wall. But it doesn't really cater to non-German speakers.

We used to go to a place called Smolana (or something like that). It is in Isabellastr. on the left hand side if you come from Hohenzollenstr, in a back house. Just past a kitchen design place I think. You can probably google for it. There's a separate free weights room downstairs and mixed and women-only rooms upstairs. Cheap, and not so cheerful. But at least people who go there are interested in getting fitter rather than standing around to be looked at.

Thanks Noddy, i found it at http://www.smolana.de/

The price is nearly same as that of MTV-Muenchen for 6 months. But they have much better offer for 12 months.

Today i had been to the MTV-Muenchen. I met a friendly instructor, did a brief test of my body streching level and then he guided me with a schedule for few weeks. Yes as Koala told, its all in German, so much so that the cycling machines have a german display. But there is also an instructor who speaks good english(Nick).

So hope to meet some of you guys there,

Thanks for all the info.
Hve a nice weekend.

"Injoy" which used to be called "RSC" and is just near Friedenheimer Brücke. It's pretty good and you get quite a lot of English speaking people knocking around.

I always go to Munchen-Solln. For most of the people it is pretty far away (Forstenrieder Allee), but it's a good place to go to, and affordable. If you take a monthly card for fitness, you can play squash for free.

I did 2 Schnupperwochen at Unsölds and it was great, despite being tiny. The yoga classes were really good and I like the whole 'Tussis tranieren woanders' philosophy.

...and you don't have to pay the 'pub' 60 euro's per month...usually 60 euro per day, but that's another story...

i pay €51 a month for an american-style club here in stuttgart (meaning, bright, clean, young). sadly it's the sign-up fee which is a killer. runs at €125 for an 18-month contract. cool thing is i can train wherever there is a partner in germany for an additional €10 a month. so far nothing in munich.

www.munichhealth.de is the most reasonable price gym in munich and the good thing about it is that there are american trainers working there. resonalble means 45 euros a month and it is located at Sendlinger Tor. the only downfall is that it's a bit spießig (square) but for 45 euros a month who cares.

There's a 24 Hour Fitness club in Munich? Weird, didn't know they were in Germany.

NOOOOOOOOOOO! the title of this picture is called "american fitness".

Ah, I get it (knock on head)! I suppose the palm trees could've clued me in that this wasn't munich as well...

I use T.C. training over Pacha, good mix of folks , many english speakers but its a little pricey. Am looking to use something a bit more hardcore though...

I go to MTV, which is on Häberlstraße by Goetheplatz.

Not the most cheery place, and their aerobics are a joke, but I don't do aerobics and the trainers are farily informed. It's also fairly central to town and often has low occupancy in the caridio/weight areas (aside from Monday evenings, when everybody comes in to pay for the calorie sins they committed on the weekend). The machines aren't the greatest either, but I can get a decent workout and be out without having to wait for some group of princesses/muscleheads to get done with a group of machines.

How pricey is it Mind's Eye?

I go to the Kieser training near Kürfurstenplatz (sp?) in Schwabing, I think its good, but mainly for the physio i need for my knee which i dislocated in a freak dancing accident, and i wanna learn to ski but am not going to try until its strong again!

Anyway, Kieser are really good for strength and muscle development, they have all kinds of proprietary machines which isolate and work the various muscles in your back (and everywhere else) which often cause back problems and so on. They also have a doctor on site who will prescribe exercise programmes for various problems.

However it focuses on this 'health orientated strength development' thing exclusively, so there is NO CARDIO equipment at all and NO JUMPING UP AND DOWN classes either.

Fairly puritan sort of crowd, generally older, no schicky types, no music, no air con, no 'juice bar' (free cold water!) good changing and shower kit, really friendly and helpful staff who seem to know the machines inside out. English is spoken by a few people on the staff.

So good if you've got a specific muscle problem / weakness (like me) or you want a focused addition to your cardio / general sport stuff. Bad if you want to pose, do boxercise or whatever else is trendy, drink juice, be pampered or entertained at the gym.

Its €400 for 12 months or €640 for 24 months, I think there's a free session if you turn up and ask for it. Oh, opening hours (7.30-21.30 weekdays 9-18.00 weekends) are useful for working types too.

American Fitness can't be all that effective if the club needs two escalators up to its front door! Or is this because the fitness freaks are so pooped after their workouts?

Or perhaps because it's a joke.

Google's got a pop-up blocker. Yahoo too.

I don't know what's on my browser because I'm technology-challenged, but I didn't get any pop ups.

Kieser is shit if u wanna develop anything like decent strength or muscle, they have some of the best machines ever made (MedX) but they way they force you to train belongs strictly in an old folks home.
Of the gyms I have visited here is my analysis (please note I am interested in the gym - that means weights and machines area although I do notice all the other crap too):

- Some (cheap) shithole close to Hohenzollernplatz - absolute shit - more rust than iron on most of the free weights - some ballet thing attached to it that id probably pay just to look at the chics in - maybe get me psyched for deadlifts or sumthin

-Some super expensive place at rosenheimer platz - oh Jesus is this the most cramped overpriced craphole , but full of fine things doing their cardio

-Superfit 2000 - well kitted out gym , a bit freaky cos of a few enormous dudes , not many females in the house.

-Munichhealth is great if u like cramped changing rooms, crap talkin metrosexual Yanks and machines from the 70s (albeit well kept)

-Swiss training - once again , some old folks thinking went into this trainin regime, but there was at least some flexibility amongst the staff there.

-Sportsheck - words fail me to describe the crapness of this gym (very little free weights and some really really badly designed machines although there is a decent cardio section or at least it looks good when i pass by

Elixia at Rosenheimer - Elixia is unusual in that there is a huge difference between what they offer at each location , I know that the best hardcore gym is in an Elixia somewhere North of Munich (too far - I live in Haidhausen) , but this one sux stones - old and I mean ancient folks in here , probably they come to and from the gym in wheelchairs or sumthin.

TC training - once again , long ass opening hours , decent changing facilities , all kinds of gym equipment (although no Hammer or Nautilus) , cute dancing areas/classes for the ladies/hairdressers amongst u and decent free weights. I couldnt remember all of the gyms I say in Munich , but Id say it must have been at least 12 - if u know how to train and wanna make progress then for God's sake don't listen to trainers here - most of them are still living in the 80's with their mothers...

I am still on the hunt for a gym with Hammer strength equipment , anyone help please???

it is getting summer and bikini time, so I guess i have to face it, some workout is needed. I am not exactly a fitness freak nor do I go to aerobic etc classes. I don't want to pay loads if i am only going once a week, maybe twice.
what is good place to go? I don't really care what ppl are in there as long as nobody notices me trying to be sporty in my "sport clothes" which are comfi enough for watching TV on the sofa as well. Anybody else with experience of Munich healthcare at Sendlinger Tor? couldn't find out about the prices, conditions and opening times...

i reccomend you go to as many as possible (most have a free test session) and pick one for u ,my preference is clear (btw its now renamed to "Stefan training").

can you get me some more information out of that? Or maybe a link, so I can get the information myself? Thx

'my sport lady' - my fave gym!!!

http://www.my-sportlady.de/new-site/start.html

Right ye are:

http://www.tc-training.com/aspapps/center/...how_contact.htm

http://www.tc-training.com/tc-muenchen/

Thank you both for the information!
@Melodia
that sounds really good and isn't that far from home either.
I heard from soembody that this place is pretty much of a Lesbian place...
Not that I mind, just wanna know. How much do you pay for it? It doesn't say it on the site?! Do you have to get a 6 or 12 months membership?
@parnell
same questions as above, tried to find out the conditions... couldn't see them.

As I said I don't really wanna join any courses like Aerobic etc
(And don't wanna have a sixpack or a hard core diet either...)

Ok , Im with you now , you wanna kno what the story is with regard to price - its around 620 of your German Euros a year I think , but I think it's 65 euro on a monthly basis but you should give em a call and arrange a probetraining to be sure.

Sixpack was an exaggeration but a hard tight ass on a woman...now that is something to (be) hold!

Hi,

That's a new one, didn't know that 'my sport lady' was a lesbian place... I've been working there (in both studios) teaching the kiddies music (Musikalische Früherziehung) whilst their mummies train their tummies (& working out meself now & then) since October 2002, and I'm still a happily married mum with 3 kids (no offence to any gay ladies here)!

The gym has different prices, the main ones are an 'all day' tarif & a 'day' tarif (there are two studios - as can be seen on their site). If any of you ladies are interested, then contact me via this site, go to one of them, say I sent you (they ask that, y'see - this will be in your favour ), get a free training voucher - & off you go! You will be well advised, assisted, etc. I personally recommend it, because it's a nice place, the trainers (women) are friendly, and really DO help you! By the way, it's not just a place for super trained bods, it's a grand place for ladies with weight problems (good advise) and also for any who wish to train during their pregnancies - & then getting into shape afterwards!

So, here's the website again -

http://www.my-sportlady.de

Have fun!

Just a quick update about my experiences so far...

I joined Elixia at the Lenbach 2 years ago on an introductory offer deal (free for 3 months). After the cheap period was over the rate went up to EUR102 a month which gave me access all the Elixia gyms in Munich including the pools and tennis courts. They also said that I could go to a cheaper rate if I didnt want that option.

Needless to say intention and action didnt quite match up so finally last week I tried to change my membership plan to a cheaper one. Result- after much noises and sighing they said I could have a Lenbach branch only membership for EUR92!

Needless to say I will no longer be a customer.

On that note does ANYONE pay this amount for the Elixia Lenbach or Elixia Prinz branches? If you have a cheaper rate is it a corporate rate?

I have since found out that Leo's top rate is "only" EUR79 a month and its a far nicer gym...

I pay €60.70 for Elixia West under our company's "deal" there. They also waive the sign up fee.

Bubblylady,

I think you already joined a gym maybe, but I have been going to My Sport Lady for 1.5 years & I love it there. It's well maintained & clean & they even have flowers so it smells nice! They have a ton of good classes & seminars & they give you free personal training sessions on the machines, etc. And it is not a lesbian place, I have seen a couple "manly" sorts but that's anywhere.

i am going to the Quickfit gym in Unterföhring. They have deals from 9,90€ a month. It is a big gym and they don't have any courses, sauna, pool etc... You have to pay for the shower as well.
It is good if you don't need a trainer and are not to keen on courses.
It is open for 24 hours. If you are really into fitness and bodybuilding this is probably not the best option for you though.

warning to anyone joining Elixia (or any other gym here)... they treat the contract like life insurance, unless you leave the city or die, you're stuck.

It took me 9 months and 2 months' membership fee to stop Elixia threatening to sue me, even though I was above board (they had lost my resignation). It has happened to other colleagues too. They reeeeeallly don't want to lose your cash.

I am now at Body Up, handy for work and they have Siemens rates, good stuff...

f*ck me! eur 102 just to prance around in leotards and pump iron! i hope you went 5 days a week or more. that is utterly ridiculous! if you guys are looking for a good deal, try InterFit. you can train all over munich and germany for eur 56 a month. for DB customers, you get a discount too. i would of done this, but i spend 3-4 days a week in heidelberg and they don't have a gym close enough to reach.

After a half year at Inning, and the Squash Club- I dont see any reason to pay the extra for the "convenience" of these gym's. I just go to Olympiabad. It costs 3 Euro. They have good courses, ok machines and an olympic size swimming pool. Also if you are travelling alot or on holiday you can waste alot of money. At the Park its 15 Euro for 6 entries, that normally is two weeks for me but if I am away I don t waste any money.

MunichGym.de has a special they were running (atleast a couple of months ago when I was there last) for 49/month for a contract with various contracts offered at different prices.
Not sure if that is still offered. If you are interested it is at least worth a call.

The men out number the women on any given afternoon, but the girls pour in during the evening for classes that only a few guys attend.

I started going in January but stopped the last two months for various reasons and plan to go back soon. The gym is near Nordbad and is expanding soon with an upper level.

fyi: no, it is not a gay gym (pardon the expression). There are indeed saunas that cater to the gay lifestyle in Munich, so I don't see people going to 'regular' gyms for the purpose of meeting people.

Joined Kieser a couple of months ago. Relaxed, no attitude and cheap at € 400 a year. That's a mere 3 helles a week! No way would I fork out €720 for a "deal" (say) at Elixir!

Quite a few gay blokes go training; sometimes they might meet someone there.
But there's NO jiggery-pokery and it is NOT comparable to exclusively gay saunas where there certainly is sporting activity of the other kind - not my cup of tea, as it happens.

As for "My Sport Lady" if we are talking about the one in the Klenze Strasse, OF COURSE there's gonna be a high-ish number of lesbians there, look at the address: 80469! But same rules apply, Sisters of Sappho ain't gonna jump a hetero lass getting changed!

I almost wish I was lesbian so I could go by such a cool title.

Hi all

Just joined the Elixia Gym http://www.Elixia.de on Lenbachplatz and as a student with the Open University was able to get monthly membership fee of 74 Euros instead of 120 Euros. Not a bad discount.

hello friends,

I have been going to ELIXIA at leopold straße.. it is nice and good trainers. I havenot found any bad experience till now. and it is worked out cheap for me because of some corporate discount. But I do not know whether I canuse any ELIXIA in City.Friends which ELIXIA gym has tennis courts? btw any TT member is going to ELIXIA leopold str. center?

Sai

Reviving this thread, I'd like to hear from anyone who is currently a member of:

Munich Health

Munich Gym

TC Training

Smolana or Femme Fitness

Those are the gyms that are close to me that I'm interested in checking out. I want to get some more current opinions than 6 months to a year ago.

Me, too! I'm shopping for a gym so any input from those listed would be great. I did check out Munich Gym (€64 a month for one year contract) and Health & Fitness by Poccistrasse U-Bahn (€69 a month for one year contract) but am looking for something a little less pricey, that has good free weights and a steam room. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I Belong to Life for Fit Princess (by Leuchtenberger ring and Prinzregentstr), its for women, I pay 55 per month, with unlimited drinks (power shakes cost though). Its for women only with a steam room, sauna, large pool (with lots of classes in Aguaaerobics), and a great selection of Cardio machines and weights.

anyone go to this gym or at least heard of it:

http://www.backup-fitness.de/

i hear its reasonable and is at 40euros or 45 euros a month.

think you have to join for 5months at a time.

I have some co-workers who belong here and I went on a guest past for a week. It is a small gym with both machines and free weights. The equipment is all new and nice but there's not a lot of it. I don't know how many members they have but I would hope they would limit it. The locker rooms are small and crowded(well, the women's locker room is). The sauna area is the same - small. They do have a women's only night in the sauna.

If you're looking at this gym, then check out Nautilus Fitness on the corner of Frankfurter Ring and Ingolstsadterstrasse - cheaper and much nicer.

Just to let you know, TC Training is now called Stefan Sport Center. The location is the same, only the name/management has changed. The fitness club is in the same building as the nightclub Pacha, but it's on the 4th floor. I pay 51€ per month and they just renovated the entire club...saunas included. And you never know...you could meet the Governator in there...

I'm a member at Femme Fitness (Leonrodplatz) and these are my observations:

Pros:
- very well priced with discounts for students (and I mean REALLY well priced!)
- friendly staff
- one can feel free to wear daggy stuff and just workout. It is not pretentious

Cons:
- Very small .. sometimes one has to wait to use machines
- Not many classes
- it's basically a "no frills" gym, but if you know what you're doing and you're just there to train (like me), you don't need all the extras that places like Elixia offer.
- limited weekend opening hours (they close at 6pm on Sat/Sun).

I signed up there because of the price ... I have a lot of gym experience and work well alone. For newbies or people who can't get motivated, I wouldn't suggest Femme Fitness.

Also another strange phenomenon - I generally like easy-going gyms where girls can feel free to wear their baggiest trackpants ... one shouldn't feel the need to wear the latest/tightest/fanciest sport gear. Buuuut ... I've noticed that if I wear my usual Aussie tank top and bike pants (totally normal in Australia) I get funny looks ... I think the ladies at Femme Fitness are TOO used to their baggy tracksuit pants and get offended when well-toned girls show a bit of skin. Ah well ... what should I expect ... winter seems to last half a year here and people are really of the "oh my god I can see some skin!" mentality!

canuck: 51 a month? Hmm... what kind of deal did you get? I pay 55, and that was reduced 10 euro a month for MWM residents.

@randy: I got the Infineon/Siemens company rate...