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Our Guide to Gyms in New York

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO NEW YORK FITNESS

Article by City Lifestyle

Photography by Stock Images

NYC Area Gyms

If you are trying to find your favorite type of training among NYC gyms, you will not lack for choice. In fact, there are so many fitness centers/gyms that you may find yourself considering trying something different. So we’ll break them down into the categories of facilities found in the city. You will find Crossfit on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, as well as rock climbing on the Upper West Side, a 24 hour gym near Chinatown, a midtown gym with a lap pool and much more.

Finding the Right NYC Gyms

In addition to the type of gym you are searching for, location may play a part in choosing among NYC area gyms. So we’ll include a bit of neighborhood information here, as well. The one thing you can be sure of is that, whichever type of training you prefer, you are likely to find an affordable gym membership among NYC gyms without too much difficulty.

24-Hour Gyms in NYC

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the city that never sleeps has all manner of things to do around the clock. Restaurants, bars, you name it – and fitness is no exception. So, yes, of course, you can find a 24-hour gym. For instance, if you happen to be exploring Chinatown late in the evening, Ludlow Fitness is not far away and it’s open 24 hours during the week.

Climbing Gyms

Indoor climbing walls are a great way to learn how to climb or to keep your skills from getting rusty. But they’ve become popular in recent years because they are also so much fun, which makes them an appealing form of exercise. A lot people don’t realize, though, that there are different types of climbing gyms.

Bouldering is shorter climbs that don’t require a rope or harness, with a thick mat on the floor in case anyone falls. Top-rope and lead climbing are more advanced, with larger walls. For one of the most urban areas in the country, it’s amazing how easy it is to find a rock climbing gym; they’re all over Manhattan. Central Rock Gym on the Upper West Side offers 10,000 square feet of climbing wall, while Field House at Chelsea Piers features a main wall, bouldering wall and bouldering cave.

Boxing Gyms

Boxing is a very big deal in New York right now, among both men and women, so you can pick and choose among the best. There is a wide variety of methods between them, so you may very well find a boxing gym that offers a whole new type of instruction. You can combine boxing with HIIT in one place. Another will have dark lighting and thumping music. There is even a female-only studio with training at all levels.

Outdoor or Indoor Gyms in NYC

There’s nothing like getting a great workout outside in the fresh air. Of course, the weather doesn’t always cooperate, but you don’t have to choose if you have a gym that offers facilities for both. And finding an outdoor or indoor gym in NYC is not an ordeal; the Mercedes Club is a conveniently located midtown gym.

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Private Gyms in NYC

Some people prefer to work out in a quieter environment, away from the crowds, but still want to have access to a good range of equipment, facilities and instruction. Private gyms tend to be smaller, with more personal instruction – each usually found in only one or two locations, and owned by locals. There are very highly rated ones in New York, some with long histories.

Crossfit Gyms

Crossfit isn’t just a type of workout; it’s a whole lifestyle. That’s why it’s well known that enthusiasts are not going to be satisfied with anything less than Crossfit Gyms. And there’s no reason why they should be in New York, since there is one to be found convenient to most parts of town. EVF Crossfit on the Upper East Side, for example, doesn’t only have top-of-the-line Crossfit equipment; it also offers strength and conditioning classes featuring light weights and bodyweight movements.

Basketball Gyms in NYC

Anyone who is new to the city may be surprised to find how many basketball gyms there are. You can get to one fairly easily from almost anywhere in town. You can find pickup games, or just shoot free throws to your heart’s content. Many offer training, as well. Chelsea Piers Fitness has 3 full-sized hardwood courts, and is located near the beautiful High Line, one of New York’s favorite public parks.

MMA Gyms

Not everyone is into specialization, and just as mixed martial arts incorporates various types of contact sports and martial arts, MMA gyms also offer a variety of disciplines. The most common are Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, boxing and kickboxing. MMA actually only became legal in the state of New York in 2016, but professionals lost no time in setting up facilities for the public to practice this popular sport. There are now locations all over the city.

Muay Thai Gyms

This Thai boxing discipline deserves its own section, as a major part of MMA. It is extremely popular in New York, so there is a really nice selection of Muay Thai gyms. Although similar to kickboxing, there are major differences, which is why enthusiasts prefer facilities that specialize in the sport. One main difference between the two is that Muay Thai makes use of elbows, knees and upper body grappling, in addition to kicks and punches. There also isn’t as much circling, weaving and head movements as found in kickboxing.

American Ninja Warrior Gyms in NYC

American Ninja Warrior is a television show based on a Japanese program called Sasuke. It is all about athletes facing the challenges of an obstacle course. The show developed such a following that Americans all over the country were looking for gyms that would allow them to do the same type of training. And, thus, American Ninja Warrior gyms were born. Not only are these gyms found in New York, there are even competitions.

UFC Gyms

Some people tend to consider UFC and MMA gyms one and the same thing, but that is not actually the case. UFC gyms are an official extension of the Ultimate Fighting Championship brand, founded in 2009. While they do offer MMA classes, there are also free weights, cardio, functional, strength training equipment and more.

Powerlifting Gyms

Many people don’t realize that powerlifting, bodybuilding and weightlifting are all distinctly different types of training. Powerlifting gyms concentrate on the 3 major barbell lifts: deadlift, bench press and squat. Bodybuilding trains one muscle group at a time, for maximum muscle growth. Weightlifting is another competitive sport, as opposed to weight lifting, which is basically any strength training with weights.

In New York, powerlifters will like the Olympic lifting platforms at the Crunch gym location on 81st Street. For a great selection of equipment for general weight lifting, there is a Blink gym in 12 Manhattan locations alone.

Gyms With Pools in NYC

Swimming is one of the best exercises there is, because it works almost every muscle group in the body, and there are great NYC gyms with pools. Some are in gyms with other specialized facilities. For instance, Chelsea Piers has a 6-lane 75-foot indoor pool in addition to basketball courts and climbing walls. While the Columbus Circle Equinox gym has both a junior-sized lap pool and a saltwater pool indoors.

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A Rarity Among NYC Area Gyms

Even though we’ve covered an exhaustive list of fitness facilities categories, there is one last hidden gem to be found among NYC area gyms.

Face Gyms

Were you even aware that there are gyms specializing in workouts for your face? Well, if there was going to be one anywhere, there’s no better place than Manhattan. Face Gym offers signature massage techniques to stimulate collagen and cell renewal, face tools, skin care products, add-on technologies such as cryotherapy and much more.

Some cities may have several of the types of fitness facilities listed above, while other cities may have a different selection. But few, if any, offer the wide variety of features, facilities and disciplines that NYC gyms do. Hopefully, this guide has helped you find exactly what you were looking for.

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