Chuze Fitness — Attraction in Citrus Heights

UPDATE: Thank you, Chuze, for putting back the sign that explains the Circuit Training system. It helps to let us circuit users know you really do value us. However, your other members are still continuing to ignore the circuit rules, and when you tell them, either politely or directly, that they are using it wrong and that you are trying to complete your 30 minute workout, they either ignore you, tell you to wait, get nasty or (on rare occasions) they might thank you for letting them know. Most just don't get it. Please see below for possible solutions.

I have been a member since the gym opened and I do love the facility. It's clean and well maintained and the staff is friendly (even when I complain about the circuit training and people not using it correctly, which is the ONLY complaint I ever have). I started as an all-inclusive member with access to everything, but I soon found I had very limited time to work out so I chose the basic plan for circuit training. It is 10 machines, well laid out in a sort of circular pattern with each machine numbered and each one works different muscles (the machines are laid out in a specific order for a reason). If everyone uses the circuit correctly, you can get a good workout in 30 minutes by going around twice. There is a timer and you can really start on any machine (as long as you don't interrupt the user next to that machine by staying on it until the next green light) but you go in a clockwise direction, 60 seconds on the machine, then 30 seconds to switch to the next one. The timer has a green light for 60 seconds, red light for 30 seconds to indicate when you are working and when you rest as you switch machines. The timer is located very high and is probably not loud enough.

People who do not want to work the circuit and follow the timer are constantly coming over and using the machines, sitting on them past the timer cycle, often on their phones in between reps. It is extremely rude. They will go to a machine and take it over for several minutes. It tells others that this is okay and many of these folks do not realize it is a circuit. This stops someone like myself and others who want to do their full workout in 30 minutes as intended by the circuit training system. When you tell them you are doing the circuit they are either rude and tell you to go to a different machine (which interrupts your workout and that of others following you in the circuit) or they sometimes are nice enough to get off the machine as they truly did not realize that there is a timer and rules.

I and other circuit users have complained to the managers at this location many times. There used to be a sign in the middle of the circuit but it was ignored. Now the sign is on the wall between the bathrooms and even less conspicuous.

I just want to do my 30 minute workout. Now you have raised the prices and nothing has been done. There are plenty of machines these "squatters" can use that do not disrupt circuit users, but nothing stops them from taking over these machines and interrupting the circuit system. The managers say to go up to the front desk and tell them when this happens, but that obviously would also interupt your workout and you'd only have to do it again after the staff member comes over to tell the "squatters" to move and then returns to the front desk. Management says these people are just being rude and I keep saying that most of the time, even if they are rude, they just don't know the rules about the circuit training system. The only way to preserve the circuit for what it was intended is to:

1. lower the timer,
2. rope the area off, and
3. put messages on each machine
4. put a big sign that says Circuit Users only

Planet Fitness has their circuit training area sectioned off. I'm tempted to switch gyms but it is further away from me and less convenient.

Chuze should respect ALL of...

I've been going to Chuze since the start of this year. Before Chuze, I had memberships at two other well-known, but crowded and overly priced locations. This location is about 5 minutes further from my house than the other two gyms, but I fell in love with the set-up, the different options of machines, the cinema cardio room, the outdoor turf area, the sauna and "recovery" room and just recently the steam room and the jacuzzi. I went with the "More" membership option, because I wanted access to the recovery room, workout classes and turf areas, but didn't need child care which is what you get if you purchase the "Premium" membership. I can still bring a guest, which is perfect when I'm bragging to friends about this gym and they're wanting to try it themselves. I see a lot of reviews about it being crowded around 4-7pm, but I think that's typical for most gyms. I usually come before 6am just to get my workout out of the way, help start my day on the right track and avoid crowds or waiting for machines if I were to come later. I work from 8-5 so I'm not sure what the crowd looks like during those hours, but early morning and after 7 or 8pm seem to be pretty ideal as far as the crowd goes. I've never had any issues with other gym patrons or the staff. In fact, all of the staff members that I've ever talked to are very nice and always in a good mood. You can't NOT smile if Roosevelt is there, he's always super nice and rooting for everyone walking in. The only suggestion I have, now that the pool and jacuzzi are open, is maybe offering plastic bags in the locker rooms for your wet clothes after you're done in those areas. I've seen bags provided at other gyms and didn't realize how helpful those are until I didn't have access to them. Other than that, I absolutely...

On Monday Memorial Day , I visited Chuze Fitness. Before coming in, I called the front desk — I’ve gotten into the habit of checking ahead because it’s common for amenities like the steam room, hot tub, or pool to be out of order. I was told that everything was working except the pool.

After using the steam room, I went to the hot tub. The water was warm, but the jets weren’t working — no bubbles at all. Since I was soaking wet, I didn’t want to walk across the gym like that to the front desk. So I did the logical thing: I called and asked if someone could come check it.

Eventually, a manager named Lorenzo showed up. Instead of offering help, the first thing he said — sharply — was that I shouldn’t call again, that I should “come to the front desk” because staff are busy with other members. I tried to calmly explain that I was wet and wasn’t trying to cause trouble — just asking someone to verify the equipment that was supposed to be working.

Lorenzo checked and confirmed that the water was hot but the jets weren’t working. So I was right — the hot tub wasn’t functioning, despite being told otherwise over the phone.

What I still don’t understand is this: why is it a problem for a member — dripping wet — to call and ask for help? Why is it too much to ask for someone from the staff to take 30 seconds to walk over and check equipment? Isn’t that part of the job?

As a paying member, I expect a basic level of respect and support. Instead, I was made to feel like asking for assistance was a burden. Management at Chuze Fitness needs to seriously address this attitude. If this is how members are treated when they follow the rules and ask for help, that’s a...