By Dr. Sarah Bennett, NMD / June 28, 2019
A healthy, balanced diet is one of the key components of a healthy lifestyle. But no amount of clean eating can replace physical activity. Even just 30 minutes of activity every day is enough to yield long-term health benefits!
It’s true; exercise and proper nutrition are both necessary for a happy, healthy life. But it’s still wise to err on the side of caution when it comes to finding (and committing to) a workout routine. Jumping straight into intense, hardcore exercises right from the get-go is definitely not the best route to take.
In fact, without proper training prior to such extreme activity, you put yourself at risk of seriously injuring yourself.
It’s always wise to choose the slow and steady path of portion control, healthy eating, and well-rounded exercise.
We’ve already covered several types of diets in our previous blog posts, so now we turn to gyms, fitness centers, and workout studios to help get started on – or continue! – your fitness journey.
For this post, we specifically cover gyms found in Phoenix, AZ.
Several studies have suggested that resistance training affects the hormones responsible for muscular force and power production. This means that simple exercise equipment like resistance bands, free weights, and deadlifts can regulate your hormone levels and make you stronger.
That alone should get you pumped enough to hit the gym, do some pull-ups, maybe even do a few bench presses with your workout buddy.
But wait!
Before you sweat it out at the gym, remember what we said earlier?
Slow and steady wins the race.
Before jumping to any sort of resistance workout program, you should take it easy and gradually condition your body first (especially if you’re a beginner or have been leading a fairly inactive lifestyle).
To help you get started, we’ve listed some of the largest gym chains found in Phoenix that are beginner-friendly.
Why club chains or commercial gyms?
Because despite the notion that “private gyms are better than commercial chains,” commercial gyms are actually great if you’re just starting out and have no idea how to build your workout routine. They have tons of workout equipment, fitness classes, wide space workout areas, and certified trainers that can help you.
On top of that, they have great amenities like pools, massage areas, basketball courts, and many more. So even if you don’t feel like doing your regular workout (it happens!), you can at least take a dip in the pool or shoot some hoops to stay active.
To kick off this list, let’s take a look at Anytime Fitness, one of the largest fitness club franchises in the United States. They’ve got gyms in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world, too.
This means you can still get your workout in even if you’re out of the country, so long as you’re a member and you’ve got your card. Good news for people always on business trips or vacations!
Like any other Anytime Fitness gym, the Phoenix branch has dedicated coaches, trainers, and friendly staff who are always happy to help you out. They also have tons of modern, state-of-the-art equipment at your disposal. So you won’t have to wait 25 minutes for the first guy to finish his laps just for you to use the treadmill.
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Like Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory is a global franchise as well (though perhaps not as widespread as the former). What makes it stand out is how it combines science, coaching, and technology in its workout plans for members. Everything, from the diet to the exercises to the routines, is scientifically backed and based on customized data.
Orangetheory also prides itself on its total-body group workout that guarantees major caloric afterburn. The classes are designed to keep your body burning calories long after the session is over for maximum long-term results. One of their key methods to achieving this is by getting clients to spend 12 minutes or more in the “Orange Zone,” which is part of the 5 Heart Rate zones.
As with any global fitness franchise, Orangetheory can guarantee that their coaches and instructors are certified, accredited, and trained to assist you at all times.
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Despite the high-energy, high-intensity, all-out-hardcore-workout vibe of this place, EōS Fitness is actually a great gym for people of all fitness levels and experiences. It focuses more on achieving steady, balanced workout routines that can be easily implemented in the client’s schedule and lifestyle.
For those who need variety, EōS Fitness offers over 60 classes a week, so you can switch up your workout in case you get bored with your usual routine. For those who need personalized or hands-on guidance for their fitness journey, they offer Certified Personal Training programs. And for those who already have a set routine that they want to stick to, there are plenty of free weights, cardio machines, and other cutting-edge equipment ready for us.
What’s more, this gym is a lot more budget-friendly than other gyms in the area. And any membership plan grants you access to some pretty unique amenities, like the MOVEōS Cinema cardio room and the Recovery Room (with fun water-based massage beds!).
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A staple gym in Arizona, Mountainside Fitness started out in 1991 as a humble, 4,800 square-foot fitness center in Ahwatukee. In the span of thirty years, it’s grown into a proud fitness empire with eighteen locations and over 100,000 current registered members.
Incredible growth aside, Mountainside Fitness deserves a spot on this list because of its commitment to creating an all-inclusive environment that is fitness and family-friendly. It’s one of the only gyms in the area that provides outstanding, reliable childcare for moms and dads on their health journey. They also promise an innovative approach to group fitness classes (of which they offer over 80 sessions a week), cutting-edge equipment, and state-of-the-art amenities.
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With a strong focus on families and youth fitness, Lincoln Family YMCA has a long history of serving the community and providing them with balanced fitness programs to promote a healthy lifestyle.
They offer programs and services that highlight their four core values: (1) caring, (2) honesty, (3) respect, and (4) responsibility. That said, being a member of LFY means giving back to the local community, too. As a gym, Lincoln Family YMC ultimately aims to foster relationships between members that go beyond the specific activity or program. They want to focus less on statistics and more on creating a positive impact in the lives of their clients. They are, as they put it, “more than a gym; [they] are a cause.”
On the fitness side, their programs condition the body to endure resistance workouts. They also like to introduce gym-goers to other fun workout activities like camping, swimming, and many more.
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If you’re feeling more comfortable with your body and feel like you’re starting to build more stamina and endurance, you can take it up a notch and start exploring specialty gyms.
There are several gyms around Phoenix that offer specialized and tailored programs for cardio, weights, and resistance training. Think Circuit Training, HIIT, Pilates, and more.
If you prefer boutique gyms over larger gym chains, Tangible Wellness (and Tangible Fitness) could be just the club for you. They’re currently only accepting membership appointments, though, and they only allow a maximum of 40 people in the gym for each time slot (called “GymTime” slots). Bit of a bummer if you have a rather inflexible schedule, but this at least shows that they take their client’s health seriously.
One of Tangible Wellness’s more unique services is their combo Tanning/Fitness Premium Packages. They have highly specialized Tanning and CryoTherapy services meant to help optimize their member’s health and fitness transformations. Based on the reviews, a lot of members seem to enjoy this.
Overall, Tangible Wellness’s vision is to build community through wellness. So even if you’re just starting, you won’t feel intimidated or out of your depth. The staff is always friendly and the members, always encouraging.
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TriFIT Wellness markets itself as “the gym for non-gym people,” promising a welcoming, non-intimidating, all-inclusive safe space for people to reach their health and fitness goals. For people who shy away from the hardcore, gym-rat, pure-testosterone-fueled atmosphere of a typical big box gym, this is a godsend! It’s the perfect place to start your journey without worrying about people judging you or your performance (a fear that is, sadly, quite commonplace with big gyms).
TriFIT Wellness’s team can help you come up with a balanced fitness routine that you can stick to—and that won’t overwhelm you either. These kinds of plans can help you stay consistent and motivated.
They also offer tons of resistance training programs that are great for balancing out your hormones.
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Another boutique studio to add to this list is Studio Verve Pilates. True to its name, this gym in Phoenix puts Pilates right at the center of its fitness program. Their tagline reads “Core Conditioning + Strength Training + Flexibility = An Amazing You!”
Pilates is a full-body workout with low impact and high results. It is a perfect workout if you simply want a toner and healthier body. This type of workout not only increases your flexibility but also helps eliminate aches and other body pains.
And to top it all off, Pilates is also a great resistance training for those who just want a regular mild workout and not really fond of intense training.
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Spire Health Club takes a more holistic approach when it comes to its training programs. They look at your lifestyle, habits, and goals in order to create a training program uniquely tailored to meet your specific needs! Both their group fitness and personal training programs are comprehensive; built around a combination of “foundational movement patterns, cardiovascular endurance, psychology, nutrition, and overall wellness.”
Their mission? To help you live a better, healthier lifestyle.
Once you get comfortable enough with your workout routine, you can count on Spire Health Club to tweak your program a little so that it better suits your current situation and lifestyle.
(P.S. As of August 2021, they’re currently offering a free trial week for interested applicants!)
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Now that you’ve finally gotten into the groove of a regular workout and a healthy, balanced diet, you’re ready to step out and explore more advanced, explosive routines. Alternatively, you may also decide – if you’re comfortable enough where you are – to simply stick to a routine that helps you maintain your current fitness level. Not dropping back down to complete inactivity, but no longer upping the ante either. Just a doable fitness program that’s enough to maintain optimal hormonal balance and keep you healthy—and that you can commit to, week after week.
After that, you can go about your day!
Here are some of the best gyms around Phoenix where you can get your quick, regular gym fix.
Quick warning: F45 is not for the faint of heart!
As one of the fastest-growing fitness chains in the world, F45 has created a global community of committed fitness enthusiasts who believe in functional fitness. In fact, F45 stands for functional training—a mix of circuit and HIIT style workouts that last for 45 minutes total. They’re designed to utilize all of the different muscle groups, leading to optimal physical performance both in and out of the gym.
An F45 membership also comes with a free nutrition program, since getting fit means having a well-balanced diet, too. As an F45-er, you get access to daily meal plans, meal tracking, and community support.
Their F45 training programs consist of three days of cardio, three days of resistance, and one hybrid super circuit that combines both. You can also avail of their hormone therapy treatments on top of the resistance program in order to fully balance your hormone levels.
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#StrongIsHappy
Offering both group fitness sessions and individualized training programs, Happy Factory goes above and beyond the norm to keep clients engaged, motivated, and – you guessed it – happy with their fitness journey. From exciting and effective group classes to private and semi-private coaching, there’s a package for everyone here.
Happy Factory trainers believe in goal and goal-setting for optimal results. They aim to help clients overcome their self-limitations by focusing on achievable milestones rather than seemingly impossible “perfect bubble” situations. With this mindset, members are pushed to look beyond the typical and explore new ways of getting fit.
This gym focuses on gains that really matter (and are not just exclusive to ripped muscles and bodybuilding). The kind of “gains” they want their clients to get are the kind that helps increase one’s stamina, strength, and endurance.
They want their clients to gain knowledge about food and nutrition so that they can make better dietary choices. The gains you get from Happy Factory are the kind that you can consistently maintain—and the kind that truly matters in the long run.
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If you want to level up your wellness game and create long-term sustainable strength, you should really check out Fit Phoenix. It looks beyond scale weight and focuses on improving overall health and physical capability.
Apart from the tailored functional fitness programs, Fit Phoenix also provides integrated nutrition and wellness education. It also focuses on the little details that many generalized workout programs seem to miss: core strengthening, flexibility, cardio conditioning, soft tissue therapy, recovery, stretching, nutrition, and sleep-life balance.
The goal is to give their clients a better idea of how to stay fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle in the long run.
Apart from resistance training, they also offer CrossFit, powerlifting, strength training, boot camp fitness, Kids@Core, and many more.
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Slow and steady wins the race—this is Sol CrossFit’s main game. Instead of advertising the sort of explosive, intense, get-shredded-in-two-weeks! packages we’re used to seeing advertised online, this gym promotes gradual, sustainable fitness. The programs it offers are all designed to help members persevere and reach their fitness goal, no matter how long and difficult the process is.
In every aspect of your fitness journey, you can rely on Sol CrossFit to be with you every step of the way. If you are still skeptical of their expertise, then you can just sign up for their free 2-week trial.
What’s great about this gym is that they offer a corrective exercise program as well. So whether you are a mom of three kids or a grandad watching over five teenagers, this gym can make you healthier than you already are!
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No-fuss, no-frills, just all fitness. If you’re looking for a straightforward personal training studio that cuts out all the filler and gives it to you straight, then HITZ Fitness might be the perfect place for you. It’s an in-and-out kind of gym with tons of cutting-edge equipment and free workout space, making it perfect for busy professionals who just want to finish their daily workout routine and get on with the rest of their day.
Unlike commercial gyms and boutique clubs where there are tons of amenities, extracurricular activities, and other potential distractions, HITZ Fitness is equipped with nothing but mat, weights, equipment, machines, and personal trainers ready to help you get in the best shape of your life.
Their driving belief? Consistency is key. It doesn’t matter how slow or how fast you are on your journey; what matters is that you don’t stop.
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Cardio with purpose! This gym in Midtown has given new meaning to cardio workouts. Rather than doing endless miles on treadmills, they would encourage you to do interval sprints instead. This would not only increase your endurance and reduce fats but would also help you build muscles more sustainably.
Even though their resistance training is a bit limited, it’s still a great place if you are looking for one-on-one training.
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Hopefully, this list helps you find the perfect gym to suit your needs and situation.
To briefly recap, we covered:
Remember; fitness is a lifestyle. Training programs and exercise classes, no matter what gym they’re from, are not meant to be quick fixes or overnight solutions. They’re meant to help you achieve long-term, sustainable results.
What’s more, no amount of exercise will help you outrun a bad diet. A truly healthy lifestyle is a balance of good nutrition and consistent physical activity. So if you have the means to do so, why not sign up for meal/nutrition plans along with your exercise routine? We guarantee the diet can double or triple your results!
Or, if you prefer, you can book a FREE nutrition consultation with our experts now!
Hello, my name is Dr. Sarah Bennett, NMD!
I am a naturopathic physician licensed in the state of Arizona currently practicing at my office in Scottsdale, AZ. I received my degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, did a year residency at Keystone Natural Family medicine, and received additional training for aesthetics & anti-aging at National Laser Institute.
My passion and fascination for natural medicine began during my undergraduate studies at Indiana University where I got a dual degree in neuroscience & psychology.
I saw how a preventative approach could help you live a long and youthful life. Since then I have dedicated my life to serving others to understand the latest medical trends.
I spend my spare time running, hiking, rock climbing, camping, testing out new diets, and reading books on latest medical trends / listening to podcasts to find the latest nuggets of knowledge to improve the quality of life for my patients. I look forward to serving you!
