GoodLife Fitness

Had a messed up last few days. Week actually. Just life bs all at once. Thats led me to workout longer than usual. The great employees at this location have been the only bright spot. Does that mean im that pissy or they that good? Whatever. I needed it. Clean facilities. Smiling. Attentive. Caring. Great post workout fuel. Special shot out to Carlos for the shirt hookup when i spaced and forgot mine at hotel.

I have been going here since last August. The staff are friendly, the group exercise room could do with some renovations. The biggest drawback is on the weekends the exercise classes are too packed, they introduced a ticket system but somehow it is almost always too full.

Really nice gym, solid amount of machines and a few squat racks/​cages. The bars are the thicker cheaper kind but the plates are round rather than hex. Good value although a bit busy during peak hours, never had to wait for equipment though

Terrible Gym, the ceiling in the mens shower room is falling apart, Sauna has not worked properly for 6 months, change rooms are freezing cold in the winter and the Management could care less. Stay away from this Good life.

I’m still sore about an unfortunate billing incident a few years ago, but with the holidays approaching I’ll try to forgive and forget.
I recently held my nose and re-​joined Goodlife after taking a job downtown, mainly because my new neighbourhood has yet to gentrify enough to warrant its own Frankengym.
Instead, I carry my gear on the subway and thereby get enough of a workout so that I don’t actually have to make it inside an actual gym.
On the days I do make it in, this location is most convenient. Virtually on top of Yonge-​Eglinton station, give or take a few escalators, and a blocked out bank of windows where I think condos are going to be.
I tried this gym out with apprhension, given the mediocre reviews. I’d give it better than mediocre, for convenience and yes, cleanliness. Equipment is all new, although on the day I visited almost half the newfangled treadmills needed repair.
The locker room was scrupulously clean, and the showers were private and secure (I’m shy, ok?). The gym is small and a bit cramped, but it’s more convenient than the nearby Dunfield when I’m in a hurry, and thankfully everything’s on the same floor.

As many know, this #Goodlife location was once an Extreme Fitness and, before that, the #Dunfield Club.
GoodLife, sitting strong at 300 clubs nationwide, bought out the 13 Extreme Fitness locations to boost their national presence to 313 clubs.
I decided to check out the Dunfield gym since it’s near my new home. Usually I prefer small studios over big fitness giants, but my last studio was poorly equipped and I really want to take advantage of classes.
The upside:
Speaking of CLASSES, these are a major plus. There is something for everyone, including (at this location) Jillian Michael’s 30 DAY SHRED which I’ve tackled home alone and look forward to trying in a class setting.
If one location’s schedule is not accommodating of yours, we all know that a Goodlife membership at one club gets you access to all their LOCATIONS. In this area alone, there are three within walking distance of each other.
I like the Dunfield location because it is LARGE and CLEAN, has loads of machines (two sections) and studios (two class and one yoga). Plus it has a WHIRLPOOL. Even the locker rooms/​bathrooms are swank.
Another upside– no sign up sheets or time limitations on MACHINES. I also liked their CIRCUIT AREA designed for maximizing your 20 to 30 minute workouts– here you may have to be considerate of your intervals.
Chances are your work may offer you a CORPORATE RATE and good life. Anywhere from 5% to 100% off depending on the employer. Make sure to inquire on sign up. You can also PAY MONTHLY OR BIMONTHLY.
6 MONTH HOLDS/​SUSPENSIONS are allowed. Key for the travellers.
The downside:
Expect the usual SALES gimmicks and personal training PITCHES. I came in for a 3 day trial and the sales agent seemed baffled that I wasn’t ready to sign up right away. I was but it shouldn’t be imperative (hence the word TRIAL). But with a few incentives (mainly September free starting right away), I signed up.
Speaking of memberships, if you do not have a corporate rate they are COSTLY at about $ 70+ per month or $ 35.
30 days notice and, wait for it…$ 99 cancellation fee. I thought these were outlawed?!
Also the layout is weird. There are THREE FLOORS so you may go up and down quite a bit to get your workout in, but don’t worry, most floors have enough for running basic circuits. Besides, you said you wanted a workout right???

New change rooms are vast improvement and the club is exceptionally well managed. It is small but very central and the equipment is new and kept in excellent working order. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. Great club!

This review is for the Body Combat class.
I have taken the Body Combat class at the Mount Pleasant and at this location. I love this location’s Body Combat class! It is energizing, a great cardio butt-​kicking workout! I was out of breathe and loved it! Although the actual room is a bit small, I will be coming back for more!

I visited this location for the first time this week, and was really put back by how small it was.
Pros
New equipment
Classy entrance
Somewhat tidy
Cons
Small change rooms
Crazy busy after work (6pm onwards, typical)
Stretching mat is constantly full of people, do yourself a favour and learn how to use the stretching machine to avoid the mat.
One of the machines I was using had a broken handle, the rowing machine’s display wasn’t reading and the first shower I tried to use wouldn’t turn on.
The more I think about this, the less likely I’ll go back to this location.

I already wrote this review under the «Eclipse Fitness» listing, but that listing is now closed so I’m copying it to here:
I think it’s fitting to give this place a score of «Meh, I’ve experienced better» because I have indeed experienced better, right here at this exact same location! Let me explain. Eclipse Fitness was a small quiet gym which did very little advertising and seemed to survive based on a loyal membership base and some word of mouth. This fall, Goodlife purchased the two-​location chain and quickly converted it to a Goodlife-​branded location. I have no doubt that this was a good business move for Goodlife. For such a huge chain, not having a location at Yonge and Eglinton was surely a significant gap.
When Goodlife took over, they made some immediate improvements. A significant amount of equipment (including all the free weights) was replaced with new stuff. The place was painted and the floor was re-​done. It looks great. Unfortunately, I’ve also observed the following changes:
— Not surprising since most Goodlife members have a membership that allows them to go to any location, the gym is now much, much busier. I used to be able to go at any time I wanted (including a Monday at 6 PM) and not feel crowded. Now, sometimes you can’t even find a few square feet to do some pushups, without feeling like you might be stepped on.
— I used to almost always be greeted with a «Hey Terry!» as I walked in. The personal touch is now lost, as I’m one of 750,000 members (across Canada).
— The gym is dirty. Ok, it’s not filthy, but Eclipse had a cleaning staff of 3 – 5 people in the gym most evenings, and the place was spotless. Now I sometimes see one cleaner, sometimes. The mats and exercise balls have a permanent layer of dust over them from people wearing their outside shoes in the gym, towels are scattered around, etc.
Despite my complaints, I still think this is a decent gym, as long as you have some flexibility in your schedule and can go outside the peak evening hours. The equipment is up-​to-​date, the prices are reasonable, and for the most part the staff are friendly.

Good range of equipment, good classes, staff are very good, members have a decent attitude. But the men’s change room is a disaster — way too small, showers don’t work, mould on the grout, looks like someone used bolt cutters to render a bunch of lockers unuseable. And what’s wtih having to get towels from the front desk?