LA Fitness — Attraction in Town of Hempstead

First off, let me preface this with I rarely write google reviews so that's why you don't see many by my name, but when something either really outstanding, or really terrible happens I feel compelled to share.

In this case it is something OUTSTANDING!.

Anyone that knows the LA Fitness branch in Garden City knows that the old personal training area is on the same level as all the cardio machines and is passed by EVERYONE that will head to the locker rooms, so you can be on display for all to see. That didn't attract me at all.

My wife purchased a block of 20 Personal training sessions for me just under a year ago. I never used them, wasn't going to use them, in fact I went into the gym looking for a refund on the sessions. That's when Phil said "Can I show you something?". Reluctantly I said yes, he is a nice guy, and I thought here comes the classic "last ditch" sales pitch.

He brought me up to see where the basketball court was. A little over a month ago it has been converted to a completely brand new Personal Training Room. Only the trainers and their clients are allowed access to the room. It is private and feels like true personal training. It is spacious, bright and has all the equipment you need for effective personal training.

So that was it, once I saw the room, I said I will give it a go. I was scheduled for a free introductory session with Jahmarli.

But what if I "hate" the trainer???

From the beginning Jahmarli was patient and explained and illustrated each exercise as many times as I needed to grasp it. He was just the right amount of motivation and support.

I am in my mid-40's and never in my life had I done any sort of strength or any sort of other training other than Cardio. Certainly never with a trainer. I was always too self-conscious and I used the "don't have time" excuse. It's probably too expensive.....

I have gone 3 times a week since that introductory session and I have 8 sessions under my belt!!!

The sessions that Jahmarli runs are the AM Sessions (6am, 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am). They are designed as "Group sessions". I haven't been in a group of more than 4 so far, and frankly everyone is so supportive and Jahmarli does a really good job of paying attention to each client. The draw of the group sessions is that they are 50 mins long, and cheaper than if you did individual one on one sessions. Like $40 for the 50min sessions. And you might be able to get a break if you buy a bundle.

They do offer PM Group sessions also, along with one-on-one sessions (if that's what you prefer), and if the other trainers are like Jahmarli, you will be in good hands.

Bottom line is this. If there is something holding you back (time, cost, ego, anxiety), just take a look at the new PRT room on the 2nd floor. Ask one of the staff to take you up there. Enquire about the pricing. Take a free session and then decide if it's not for you.

I'm so glad I got over myself and that Jahmarli is my trainer, and thanks for Phil for making that "last ditch" sales pitch!!

So far it's all been a...

To whom this may concern,

Thee years ago myself and a few adult friends inquired about joining LA fitness of Garden City New York. We asked the manager (Donovan) if we would be able to use the fitness room to just practice Tai Chi at times when there were no classes going on.

We explained that we are not going to be using the gym for anything else at all and this would be the sole reason for our joining. Donovan assured us that there would be no problem at all and there were always people in that room when it was free doing things that they're interested in.

My friends and I joined the gym for $40 a month which we have been paying for 3 years now. We have always been respectful, quiet, and keeping to ourselves as we practice our Tai Chi exercises while others were hitting punching bags, stretching, doing dance routines etc.

All of a sudden there is a sign on the door of the fitness room saying that the room will not be available to anyone other than the times that there are fitness classes. This was shocking to us because it's the sole reason we belong to the gym.

We inquired with the manager as to what the reason was who first told us that it was a corporate decision. When one of my friends called corporate, he was told that that was not a corporate decision and it had to be a local decision or a regional decision.

When we confronted the manager with that information it was then explained to us that the real reason was that people were leaving weights on the floor in the fitness room. If that is the case, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to go in and continue practicing Tai Chi quietly when the room isn't in use for fitness classes. We do not use equipment, we do not bring in equipment, we have no use for equipment.

I would appreciate it if you would consider speaking to the manager of the LA fitness of Garden City New York and asking them to put up a different sign with a different policy that reads something very simple like this "Members cannot bring weights or other forms of equipment into this room from now on". This would solve the problem of people leaving weights on the floor in the room.

Unfortunately we will all be canceling our membership as soon as you confirm that the rule will remain the way it is right now.

Thank you for your...

I am absolutely disgusted with the way 2 of my friends were treated at this location. It seems like this specific location is just making up their own rules as they go.

Twice this week, I brought 2 different friends to try the guest pass and the 3-day trial pass with me. Both times, I was brought to the salesmen named Joe. Both times, he "implicated" that these passes won't activate for 24 hours. I've mentioned to him that this "rule" is nowhere mentioned on the app or any fine print I could find.

Just yesterday, my friend (who actually USED to work for LA Fitness at Garden City Park) signed up for the trial pass online and was told to wait for Joe. Joe noticed me again and mentioned the same thing to my friend about the 24 hour activation, unless she pays for a membership the day of. My friend was immediately annoyed because she KNOWS that's not a rule and asked for corporate's number. She calls corporate on the spot, explaining her frustration. With no general manager in sight, there was no one that could actually help mitigate the situation at hand. Corporate did mention that this 24-hour activation rule was, in fact, NOT real and even tried to sell her a membership as well, when that's not what my friend wanted!!

At the end of the day, Joe didn't want to actually help my people. All he wanted was a damn sale. I'm glad my friend went above him to get to the bottom of this but it really felt like he had a racist attitude about him. I will be calling corporate myself and making sure Joe doesn't work here anymore.

Aside from these interactions, this gym is ALWAYS packed and dirty. Broken machines and broken saunas that never get fixed. Most machines don't even have a sign on them that it's actually out of service! Each time I come here, I have to cross my fingers, hoping that I get a working machine. The pool is always occupied with kids and old people....I'm sorry but there should be a time limit for EVERYONE involved. There's never enough dumbbells since they're splayed out EVERYwhere in the entire gym. This gym could have so much potential if more people who cared worked here. I'll never be returning to this...