My Top 100 Health Clubs in America
by Jay Cardiello 50's Trainer
I based my picks on the following specifics:
1. Fitness Professionals: These Gyms exemplify a standard of excellence with their Fitness Department.
2. Fitness Management: You do not feel as though you are buying a used car when you purchase membership at these facilities.
3. These Gyms respect their members and especially their staff.
4. The Gym owners are not running a Sweat Shop.
5. These Gyms address you in a professional manner when you walk into their facility. (Though, I have not visited all of these gyms-I have interviewed people and clients who attend these facilities-as well as have done extensive research on all of these facilities).
*It is important to note that this list is not bias; in any particular order; nor does it reflect one Gym or Health Facility as being better than a Gym that may not be listed.
* The Gyms are not in any particular order:
1. Complete Body Development: Make and Appointment with Alex Rezik. He’s not only the President of the Company, but one of the better Trainers in New York City.
2. Parisi Sports: Bill Parisi continues to raise the bar on fitness and athletic performance enhancement. Fairlawn, New Jersey and Nationwide. Be sure to schedule a session with Martin Rooney, CSCS. A great Strength Coach that’s willing to go to any length to get the best out of you!
3. Velocity Sports Centers: The Strength and Conditioning Coaches at these facilities know how to train a body in a safe and effective manor. Nationwide
4. West Side Barbell: Make a session with the King Louie Simmons and you will fire your trainer. Hands down…America’s Best Gym. Thank you Louie for all that you have done for the Art of Training.-Columbus, Ohio.
5. DeFranco’s Training Systems: I have had the pleasure of working with Joe DeFranco and I truly believe that he is the next Louie Simmons. Joe is 10 years ahead of his time. Wyckoff, New Jersey.
6. Metroflex Gym: The Best of the Best Hit this gym. Though, not a place to grab a Latte’ after your treadmill session. Arlington, Texas.
7. Super Training Gym: Knowledgeable staff that makes for a great training experience. Sacramento, California.
8. International Performance Institute: This state of the art training facility will turn any client into a pro. Bradenton, Florida.
9. D1 Sports Training: You do not have to be a Division 1 Athlete to train here. You just have to have the heart to make it through the workout. Nashville, Tennessee.
10. Performance Training Institute: Try on a pair of your favorite Nike sneakers, while you train with many of the top Strength Coaches around. Beaverton, Oregon.
11. Athletes Performance: Why don’t they ever mention Strength and Conditioning Coaches, in any Hall of Fame? For, it’s individuals like, Mark Verstegen, who have transformed many good athletes into great ones. Tempe, Arizona.
12. Brian Grasso’s Backyard: Brian brings it back to basics, making your body the gym. Thanks for keeping it real Brian. Hawthorne Woods, Illinois.
13. CLAY Fitness: A State of the Art experience, for those who are looking to make peace with their bodies. Be sure to look for the following trainers: Luis, Cheri, Melissa, *Lesile, Jamie, *Narween, Kristy, Odgen, *Kristen, Jamie and Barbara Amalric. (*Notes: Pilates and Yoga).
14. Gold Team Fighters: Jorge Macaco and his Brazilian Empire will not only get you in the best shape of your life, you’ll be able to kick someone’s butt!-Newark and Caldwell, New Jersey.
15. Strong and Shapley Gym: Wow! This gym is where building the body happens and the people that train here are serious. Without a doubt, the Strongest Gym in New Jersey! This is where it all began. Bob, has been doing it for years. East Rutherford, New Jersey.
16. One Human Performance: Ask for a Session with Eric D’Agati-he’s one of the best Performance Coaches around. New Jersey
17. Gunner Peterson Gym: Gunner has pushed the limits for many years with some for the top clients. And, will continue for so many years to come. Beverly Hills, California.
18. Results Fitness: Check in with a Session with Alwyn Cosgrove, Santa Clara,
California
19. Fitness Quest10: Todd Durkin CSCS, a true Champion in world of Strength and Conditioning Coaches –San Diego, California
20. C.H.E.K. Institute: Paul Chek-Vista, California
21. Pro Sports Club: Christy Peterson-Settle-Washington
22. Crunch Fitness: LA Location, Make a Session with Lee Wall and you will understand why he is one of LA’s Best-Los Angeles, California
23. Charles Stanley Training Systems: Charles Stanley-Gilbert, Arizona
24. Charles Poliquin: Canadian, (So many West Coasters have benefitted from his training that I had to mention him)
25. Evolution Trainers: Ashley Selman-San Francisco, CA
26. C.H.E.K.: Chris Mund-San Diego, California
27. New York City Gyms: Sheldon Shaw (sheldon.brando@gmail.com)
-New York, New York
28. New York City Gyms: Lisa Dodakian (lisagracie05@gmail.com)-N
29. National Institute of Sports and Fitness: Let Trainer Leon Clarke get you ready to run your best 40 or bench press a new max.-Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
30. Crunch Fitness-Layefette Location: Go a Few Rounds with Professional Boxer-Tafari Lawton. New York, New York.
31. Palm Beach Boxing: The New Gleason’s Gym. This Professional Boxing and MMA fighting Gym, run by Lou Martinez is growing to be one of the Premier Fighting Gym’s In America-West Palm, Florida.
32. Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning-One of the God Father’s of the Sport. Check out his two Facilities in Boston-North Andover and Winchester, Massachusetts.
33. Beckwith’s Gym: This gym is where you go to get strong. I have had some great sessions here. Ask for Bill. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
34. BJJ Center: Where World Champions are made and those who want to feel like they are workout here-Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
35. Gold’s Gym: Lake Meade Blvd-Where the Hard-Core go to train!-Las Vegas Nevada.
36. Smash Fitness: A great place to test your talents and great a workout-West Palm Beach, Florida.
37. Kaeos Fitness: A great secret spot in New Jersey-Englewood, New Jersey.
38. Steel Gym: A Dedicated New York City Gym that caters to an individual’s fitness needs. I always stop in whenever I am in NYC for a great workout. This is truly a great place to train at and forget that about the rest of the world. New York, New York.
39. Bullet Gym: With the open air-cooling your muscles as you try to fire through the greatest workout of your life-Missoula, Montana.
40. Metro-Flex Gym: Please excuse the dust on the floor. For, there isn’t a Spa, Lounge, or pretty smelling flowers in here-It’s Just Work-Arlington, Texas.
41. JP Fitness: Don’t Let the Ozark Mountains make you question the seriousness in the gym-Little Rock Arkansas.
42. Philippi Sports Institute-Mark Philippi is the King of in this Gym-Las Vegas, Nevada.
43. Hard Core Fitness: Train under the guidance of Lance Mosley in Boca Raton, Florida.
44. Xtreme-Couture: MMA Athletes are some of the greatest conditioned athletes in the world. So, why not train where the Champions are made-Las Vegas, Nevada.
45. Velocity Sports: Nation-wide, I love these performance centers. And, the trainers that are at these institutes are some of the best Nationwide.
46. Anytime Fitness: Hook-up with Ryan Parker.
His passion and dedication are what all trainers should possess. Arkansas.
47. Total Body Fitness: Jamie Hale will not only get you in the best shape of your life, but you may even want to strap the pads on after a session or two-Winchester, Kentucky.
48. D1 Training: Kurt Hester knows what it takes to bring the athlete in each of us-Nashville, Tennessee.
49. Revolution Fitness: Step into the “Pit” at this Amazing gym and you will truly understand why is this is one of my favorite gym’s in America-Boston, Massa chutes.
50. Orlando Barbell: Brian Schwab is doing one heck of a job in getting people strong-Oviedo, Florida.
51. Teamworks Centers: Grab a session with Strength Trainer David Jack-Acton, Massachusetts.
52. Gym Jones: The Name is Amazing; The Gym is Amazing and the Training is the Best-Salt Lake City Utah.
53. Urban Active: This State of the Art Training Facility is Heaven-Columbus, Ohio.
54. Quads Gym: This is where you go to train. I love this Gym-Chicago, Illinois.
55. Houston’s Gym: Everything is Bigger in Texas and the people who train here are big into their training. Houston, Texas.
56. Bay Tennis and Fitness: Tom, Sara and Doug have done a great job to bring a superior fitness center to Michigan-Harbor Springs Michigan.
57. Gold’s Gym: Venice Beach-Enough Said-Venice Beach California.
58. New Mexico’s Sports and Wellness Club: A great active club-Highpoint, New Mexico.
59. Primal Fitness:If you love to push your body to the limits, this gym is meant for you-Washington, DC.
60. Club One Fitness: An A+ Facility-Millersville, Maryland.
61. Sports University: With a 60 Yard Indoor track, A 50 Yard Turf Football Field, Batting Cages, Basketball Court, Olympic Weight Area, Health Club and all Trainers are Certified Strength Professionals…This is a great place to bring your future star or yourself to experience the Tri-State Area best facility-Fairfield, New Jersey.
62. Mendez Boxing Gym: From Celebs to Professional Fighters, this gym has it all-ask for Greg-New York, New York.
63. Fighthouse: Hey, I’m a huge supported of the MMA and again I have another gym that will get you in great shape and allow you to release your everyday City stresses-New York, New York.
64. Peak Performance: Joe Dowell is doing a great job with this secret New York Hide-A-Way. New York, New York.
65. Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center: This State of the Art Facility is what fitness is all about-Princeton, New Jersey.
66. Edge: A great facility to get a great workout in Upper Manhattan-New York, New York.
67. Asphalt Green: If you’re into getting in shape (in a safe and conservative manner) this is the place for you. The staff will take their time to develop a sound personal program for you-New York, New York.
68. CrossFitNYC:The Black Box: Another great find in NYC-New York, New York.
69. Silhouette: Located in Brooklyn, this is a wonderful place for women to train-Brooklyn, New York.
70. Zen Girl Fitness: A haven for Women who love Yoga and Pilates-New York, New York.
71. 19th Street Gym: For the hardcore only-New York, New York.
72. Chelsea Piers: I found heaven when I entered this facility-New York, New York.
73. Gold’s Gym Totowa: I haven for the weekend warrior-Totowa, New Jersey.
74. O2 Fitness Clubs: A clean comfortable setting for training-North Carolina.
75. Alaska Rock Gym: This place will test your limits and make for great family fitness-Anchorage, Alaska.
76. Sportplex: Alabama finest-Mobile, Alabama.
77. Peak Performance: Indiana has a great training facility at Peak Performance-Indianapolis, Indiana.
78. Drive 495: If you can’t get to the links, then this is the place for you. A State-of-the-Art performance center and gym-New York, New York.
79. Doug’s Gym: This is “Old School to the Fullest”-Dallas, Texas.
80. Bev Francis Gold’s Gym: A bodybuilder’s haven-Syosset, New York.
81. Ascona Tennis & Health Club: Formerly a World Gym, it features such hardcore accoutrements as a dead lifting platform, a couple of original Weider Arm Blasters and a few weight belts-Augusta, Maine.
82. Professor’s Health and Fitness: A free-weight lifters delight-Bedford, Massachusetts.
83. Musclebound Fitness: John Blackstone’s Gym is exceptional-Westlayfette, Ohio.
84. Weightroom: A Hardcore Weight Training Facility that will make your gym seem wimpy-Tulsa, Oklahoma.
85. HAWAI'I MARTIAL ARTS CENTER: I suggest hitting up Professional MMA Fighter and World Class instructor Anthony Bergamo with some technique and combat training before you decide to paddle out and get dropped in on by the locals. This gym is amazing and a truly world-class facility-Wahiawa, Hawaii.
86. Loprinzi's Gym: A true favorite to the lifters of Oregon-Portland, Oregon.
87. Bill Ogden's Weight Room: Bill is considered one of the “Best” trainers in the ‘Burg and this place is one of my favorites-Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
88. Iron Horse Gym: The true meaning of an old school gym is found here at iron Horse Gym-Waco, Texas.
89. Diamond Gym: This gym is no-diamond in the rough. This is an amazing place to train-Maplewood, New Jersey.
90. Gravity Fitness: If you have to travel to NYC and need a hotel with an amazing gym; then this is your place-New York, New York.
91. Barbender Gym: Get a session with Paul Vargo and you’ll understand why the place is called “Barbenders”-Hermitage, Pennsylvania.
92. The Athletic Factor Gym: A place to get a great workout and in a serious environment-Pompano, Florida.
93. Gleason’s Gym: One of Boxing’s most historic gyms-Brooklyn, New York.
94. Retro-Fitness: Look for owner Scott Barber’s facility to be one of the Top in America within this chain-Delaware.
95. Max Out Fitness: Aileen Meyers runs Mad Momas Boot camp-San Diego, California.
96. Philadelphia Sports Training Center: This place caters to every athletes need. Professional, amateur, or weekend-warrior (every age and level)-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
97. CrossFit: South Philly’s next best thing to their Cheese Steaks. This gym is geared towards bringing out your best-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
98. Athletic Edge: Ben Shear’s Training Philosophy and Dedication have made him one of the best-Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
99. Endurance Performance Training Center: from Pilates to personal training to athletic enhancement this place has it all-San Francisco, California.
100. The HIT (The High Intensity Training Centers: This is where it all happens. There are 13 facilities Nationwide. So, everyone can train to experience maximum performance and development at any age or level and you don’t have to be an athlete to experience their amazing training philosophy-Nationwide.
So, there you have my 100 Favorite Gyms Nationwide. I hope that my research makes your choice of finding “A Great Trainer” a little easier.
Where Can I Find A Great Trainer?: My Top 100 Gyms in America
Cardiello's success and passion for fitness has enabled him to be represented by Vitamin Water and appear as a TV and Radio Personality, while also working as a published writer for several top Media Outlets and On-Line Publications.
