Working out is hard work, but deciding where to get your sweat on shouldn’t be.
Calgary is a city that’s as large as it is diverse, and with that comes dozens of gym and fitness center options to choose from, ranging from nation-wide chains to community centers and small, sports-focused gyms.
To make the process of elimination a little easier, we’ve rounded up the city’s best gyms based on three criteria: convenience, affordability, and amenities.
Whether new to the arena or a veteran looking for a switch, there’s a gym in the city for you.
CONVENIENCE
GoodLife Fitness is a Canadian household name, and it’s hard to beat when convenience is a must.
Not only are there 15 locations in Calgary, plus three more in Airdrie, Cochrane, and Okotoks, a membership enables users to access any gym in Alberta.
Plus, if you happen to be traveling to another province, certain locations allow users to access their facility at a discounted rate.
For the hard-core gym junkies, most locations are open late and several locations, including Beacon Hill in the northwest and Stephen Ave downtown, are open 24 hours.
The amenities at the various locations will meet the needs of any gym-goer, including the standard weight and cardio machines, as well as scheduled fitness classes or virtual classes that can be started at any time of the day.
While many locations have a steam room and sauna, highlights include a hot tub at the Eau Claire Market location and a pool at the 130th Ave SE location.
For about $56 per month on a one year plan or $52 per month on a 2-year plan, it’s not too late to start living a good life.
Anytime Fitness – This gym’s name is quite apt. You can quite literally workout at anytime of the day.
There are currently 26 existing or planned clubs in Calgary and more than 3300 locations worldwide — all of which members have access to any time, any day.
No more excuses about not being able to work out because the gym is closed. Members receive a scan tag that enables them to access the facility after regular business hours.
So for those who don’t want to fight for the squat rack, a midnight workout session at this gym might be for you.
The gyms offer a wide range of cardio and weight equipment, as well as lifestyle options such as personal training, tanning, fitness classes (virtual and real-time), and yoga.
Membership starts at $50 monthly.
AFFORDABILITY
Fit4Less – Imagine a world where you could work towards your fitness goals for about the same price as your favorite Starbucks drink.
Well, it’s possible. Fit 4 Less has two Calgary locations – Pacific Place Mall in the northeast and Macleod Plaza in the southeast. New members can choose from two attractive plans.
The first (and the most economical) is the 4Less Card. At $4.99 bi-weekly on a 1-year membership, gym-goers get access to one location, the cardio and weight equipment, virtual fitness and cycling classes, as well as the 30-minute express circuit (a timed, pre-set workout).
For those looking to splurge, the Black Card is $9.99 bi-weekly and provides access to both locations in Calgary, as well as all the locations across Canada.
Members can share their membership with friends and family, and receive free tanning, and unlimited hydro massage bed and massage chair use.
And, of course, members also have access to the cardio and weight machines, and virtual classes.
AMENITIES
Repsol Sports Centre – This gym is a fitness lovers’ paradise.
Located just south of downtown, the Repsol Sports Centre offers so much diversity in its fitness activities that you could never again claim to get bored with your workout.
The facility includes swimming pools, dive towers, a hot tub, and steam room, a sports recovery cold tub, sports courts, a fitness center with a wide range of weight and cardio machines, a personal training studio, a strength and balance studio, a power cycle studio, and running tracks — just to name a few highlights.
If you prefer not to work out alone, the facility has many aquatic, dryland and group fitness classes, as well as programs and camps for people of all ages.
The Sports Performance Centre located at the facility also offers specialized training and coaching at an additional price.
Membership ranges based on age. An adult monthly pass is $69.
The facility offers a late rate, which means that during the last 90 minutes of each night people can drop-in for only $8.
World Health (GYMVMT Fitness Centre) – The luxury of this gym is that you can choose the amount of luxury you prefer.
GYMVMT has several locations in Calgary, each of which falls under two categories: Fitness Clubs and Executive Clubs.
Fitness clubs are geared more towards those on a budget and offer the standard amenities such as access to weight and cardio machines, and group fitness classes, as well as the use of the saunas or steam rooms.
The Executive Clubs tack on towel service and have larger facilities in general.
Executive members can also access additional features such as squash and tennis memberships.
The staff at GYMVMT meets with new clients one-on-one to devise a membership plan that meets both your fitness goals and your financial means with rates varying depending on the flex options and special add-ons.
Ultimately, working out is about finding a gym that can provide you with the tools to meet your goals.
There is no shortage of gyms available in Calgary!
Your first piece of unsolicited fitness advice: before signing up, contact the gym to see if there are any promotions or deals going on at the time.
Many gyms offer enrolment incentives as well as a free trial to test out the facility before making any commitments.
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