LA Fitness — Attraction in Wyomissing

I have been a member for 3 months and so far it has been a great experience! Initially upon joining they did call me once to see if I was interested in personal training but didn't bother me anymore after that. On my own and from comments of others I know that go, I decided 1 month ago to try a personal trainer because I am completely out of shape and need help. It is pricey but I think I have the BEST trainer (Jesse), so it is becoming SO worth the expense. He doesn't put me down, doesn't make me feel like I can't do something, instead he is very encouraging while still pushing my to my max every time. He is extremely knowledgeable about every piece of equipment PLUS strength exercises off the equipment to change it up and make it challenging. Otherwise I have taken one spin class (and nearly died-I have to work my way up to that) and Yoga and Zumba. Love both of the Yoga and Zumba instructors. Zumba gets crowded but I ignore it cause it is so fun, Chantell is so energetic and happy, it is great fun. I have belonged to 3 other gyms in the past in this area and this gym by far has the most equipment and the biggest locker rooms. I have never had an issue with no paper towels or TP in the bathroom/locker room area. I have never had an issue not finding an open locker even during peak times - which it does get pretty full - but there is lots to do and when something is in use, I try something else. I have tried the Juice bar twice - great stuff - never noticed it was closed while I was there which is mostly evenings or weekend mornings. The black shirt guy that signed me up for training comes over and says 'hi' and chats for no more than a minute, no real bother. Overall I think it is very clean and when I have been there late (past 8) the cleaning staff is doing their job. And smell, it smells like a gym, all gyms smell like sweat. By the end I smell like it, but then that is good cause that means I got a good workout. And believe me, I have been in gyms that smell worse. I am really enjoying it and am very...

I did a fitness assessment yesterday and it wasn't the most positive experience. The trainer I met with had originally reached out to me through text, and I agreed to meet up to go over my fitness goals etc.

The whole time I was chatting with him, it felt like he was going over a script instead of listening to my personal needs. For example, he told me to picture my best self, and I said it was me right now as I am. He then specified physically, and I tried to explain to him that my goal isn't to look/be like my 21 year old self. I just want to improve on who I am now. That sentiment seemed to go through one ear an out another because later he encouraged me to print out a former picture of myself for motivation. He should have understood by then that that is not what will motivate me.

After our workout, I sat with him to talk about pricing. It was way out of my budget and I was very straightforward about it. He automatically went from extremely personable to hurt puppy. He wouldn't even make eye contact with me. He kept insisting there was a way I could do it, and asked if I cared about my personal fitness. Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't be there, but I also have bills to pay and other priorities.I was completely transparent about this but he just didn't want to hear it.

Eventually he said, "If we notice you're not going to the gym, we're going to reach out again." In my head I was thinking you can reach out all you want, but I'm not going to change my mind.

So there were two main points I took issue with with this experience: Trainers seem to be working with a sales playbook as opposed to listening and molding their pitch to someone's personal needs.

Second, the trainer I worked with literally couldn't handle rejection. It was not only unprofessional, but also extremely uncomfortable. I was almost to the point of just canceling my membership just so I wouldn't have to accidentally encounter him when I go to work...

I do not understand all the negative review of this place. I also find it funny that people say that Gold's down the street is somehow nicer. I have been there and both places are the same. I have a corporate Golds membership and have been to dozens of their locations throughout the DC the area, and I can tell you, on a whole, this place is cleaner. The one thing I will say is that Golds is more body building orientated, while LA is more fitness orientated. That being said, this LA does have a huge free weight area.

I do agree that the training situation does not appear on par with what is available at a corporately run Golds Gym. I don't know the case for the Wyomissing Golds, as this is not a corporate Golds; it's a franchise. That being said, at any of the corporately owned Gold's Gyms I have been to, the walls are adorned with the trainers' pictures and certification lists, followed by framed letters from customers thanking them for their success. The trainers all are in uniform, are always working with a client, and as a whole appear to be very professional. At this LA, not so much. But again, I do not go for the personal training, so could care less.

For the pool, basketball, racquetball, classes, etc., could not tell you. I am here to lift weights, and for $30 a month I am very satisfied. One thing that stands out is the dude that cleans the gym. This guy works his butt off picking up after all the lazy slobs that for some reason cannot re rack their weights or pickup their garbage. At Golds, you see the cleaning crew maybe once a week. Kudos dude, keep up...