Gyms in Kreuzberg - Berlin

hello, i am moving to kreuzberg and looking for any decent gyms to try out or avoid. around kotbussertr station would be ideal.,
but anywhere around kreuzberg would probably work!
many thanks in advance!!!

I go to the American Fitness on the 4th floor of Karstadt at Hermannplatz. I have been a member since moving here 2 years ago and have had no problems... the staff are friendly and the start-up assessment is thorough. They seem to have all the necessary equipment for a good workout, although they have no pool. Or there's ELIXIA around the corner for 100 times the price (or so it seems!)

Hey

ive been looking around for a gym too >.>
how much do you pay in Karstadt?

try elixia / neue welt at hasenheide 109, near hermannplatz. a bit pricey and caters to more than a few yuppie scum, but i like it because it offers more than a normal german gym, i.e. a wellness area, sauna, a wide range of fitness classes, some outdoor stuff, massages and a swimming pool. best of all, it's open till late at night. they usually offer various tryout deals, like 1-day free passes, all you have to do is enquire.

see: http://www.elixia.de/de/club/neuewelt/

is that now called "American Fitness"???

originally it was "24 Hour Fitness" (a Magic Johson company) and then Kardstadt Fitness bought the location, then they changed to "Fitness Company"...and now its..."American Fitness"...I wonder if its new management or just more ID changes.

I was a member of 24 hour and it was great. Kardstadt fitness, everything went down hill (Germans and German standards are obviously lower)...however, the facility, staff, equipment all seemed to excellent condition. I like that it is a rule to bring in a towel and actual training shoes aside from sneakers worn on the street (especially for the studios/courts).

Whatever you do, do not join mcfitness...its the latest craze of this chain popping up all over Germany and in Berlin...it is cheap, but you will get what you pay for - not bad for establishing, my only real problem with them is that they build/open in areas that are not convenient locations.

Elixia: if you have the surplus income, it is more than worth the price of admission. The staff are all certified, well trained, the club is clean and has the most modern, well maintained equipment, along with the guarantee that they will not oversell memberships...they pride themselves on a more exclusive feeling...they have many areas within the club to have privacy and relaxation with many options/courses/training sessions to offer. pool, steam, sitz bath, jacuzzi, courts, etc.

I pay 44EUR a month but that was on a conract I signed 2 years ago. I think they had a Summer promotion with a trial period for 38EUR/month but I'm not sure if that is still running.

Included in this are using the equipment (of course!) any classes you feel like taking that they offer (spinning, pilates, yoga, body pump etc.), the sauna and wellness area (the women have their own sauna) and there is a really nice lady who offers massage from 12EUR/20 minutes. I find it adequate...

As for the re-branding. I joined Karstadt Fitness. It was then taken over by American Fitness about a year ago. The staff are the same, they made some renovations and bought new equipment... there is also a larger range of classes and equipment now.

Elixia IS nice, but at over 70 Euros a month, I don't think I'll be renewing...

Update: Elixia is the worst company I've ever dealt with, on any level, in my entire life.

vanillarama, please tell us why!

LOL, well, I've kind of screwed myself since I'm trying to sell their contract now and out of good conscience I suppose I can't (here especially )

But, basically, I can say it's a classic problem here in Germany- they totally misled me, contract-wise. I've talked to a bunch of other people who have experienced the same thing. The gym itself isn't bad, but I tried to be REALLY careful in regards to getting out of the contract, and I was misled, lied to and then told "well, there's nothing you can do about it now, since we have things on paper and you don't."

So, I'm stuck with two gym contracts now, which is breaking me, and add that to the Consatis going bankrupt thread, and yahoo, what a start to 2008!

I will say though, that I LOVE the Fitness Company (I'm at the one in Neukoelln) and they've bent over backwards to try to help me in any way they could. Give them your money instead...

But, if anyone DOES want this Elixia contract, it ends (definitely! no lies here!) in October 2008 and I'll give you a good price for it, available immediately... they do have a pool...

How about gyms in the Wedding area? What's recommended there? 44 per month is nothing in my view (coming from Dublin so everything's bound to be a bonus!).