Thanks sooninch.

Just gave them a call there and its exactly like you said. I could also use the hallenbad swimming pool in Oerlikon aswell.
I'll bring my degree back after christmas and become a member. Good thing is with my health insurance with Swica (and you should check this out yourself) i'll get a full refund of the CHF 350 membership (they refund up to 500CHF depending on which insurance you have.

Cheers

Brian

"Anyway, if you are only looking for a place with nothing more then machines to work out, there are two or three new gyms in town whose membership rates start at 29 francs per month. Just google them"

Yes,, how do i google that?

I want strictly nothing fancy, free weights, maybe some machines, no instructors, nothing else, any clues? Almost like prison, but with cleaner facilities.

Thanks for the info if that exists out here.

peace/jg

That'll be Kieser Training. No music, no food, just water and machines. www.kieser-training.ch/

Are there any sports centres or gyms in Zurich that you can just pay as you go rather than have a membership? The only one I found which mentioned single entry was CHF 30 a go which seemed a bit expensive.

I'm only here for a few months so don't really want to get tied down to a membership and the only one I found through Google which mentioned single entry was CHF 30 a go which seemed a bit expensive.

Hi Helen,

I don't know of a cheap pay as you go, however at McFit, there are various membership options like mornings only which help bring the price down. Furthermore, although it's not guaranteed, they do allow members to sell memberships before they finish... which makes me also want to suggest you look for any memberships on sale.

Why non pop in and ask? It's in the HB.

Migros Fitnesspark.

dave

Most Gym contracts have a get out clause that states if you move away from the area, my last gym said more then 40 km, then you can cancel. If you are leaving Switzerland then you can cancel contracts once you have the leaving paper from the local authority.

The Migros Fitness Park also have a '10er-abo' - that's like a block of 10 entries which is valid for a year at all the fitness parks.

There is one for CHF320 - use of all facilities including classes - another for CHF240 which is only for the classes I think.

check it out in any case at www.fitnesspark.ch

Thanks everybody for the help, I'll look into those gyms

Anyone have any idea how busy is the Nordfit gym (bike/rowing/cross trainers) in Oerlikon at say 0700 or 1800. Was it mobbed like Holmes place or useable ?

Thanks,

dave

I just joined this Silhouette joint...we took the deal for the location on Langstrasse (The Docks I think it's called?)
it just opened Monday, FINALLY....the opening was pushed back almost a month, so I am a bit behind on my goals.
The facility so far is quite nice. Great machines, alot of cardio machines, yoga/pilates/spinning classes as well...
it was 700 for the year, but we can only use THAT specific location.
For me, that was fine as I live 10min from it.

so far, I'm impressed. The people that work there have been really friendly and speak english!

I have just joined the Jackson's Gym in Wallisellen. It is CHF 780.-- for one year and at the moment, they have a sommer special with 350 for 3 months I believe. They only have machines and sauna though, no classes. The good point was that for the first 3 times, they supervised my training for free to make sure I do all the right things and don't hurt myself. Otherwise, it is 40 fr if you want an hour of personal training (which is great compared to 120 fr for the same at Puls 5). They speak English and are very friendly - am very satisfied with this gym.
By the way, don't forget that your employer and/or Krankenkasse will pay a part of your fitness abonement.

our new insurance doesn't.
the last one covered half, this one didn't cover anything.

I'm still in shock of how $$$ gym memberships are here. In Canada I was paying $25 a month for a seriously kickass gym with classes!

yes it is very very expensive, but in canada, the salaries are lower AND, you really have to check with your employer if he'd pay something. Mine is paying 750 a year which makes my membership almost free...

In response to the question about Nordfit in Oerlikon, can't answer for 07:00 but at 18:00 there are usually at least half the machines empty (bikes, rowing, running & elliptical).

It depends which day you go (the place is busier if there is a popular class due on and people do a bit of cardio beforehand) but I have never had to wait to use any equipment.

It is not as swanky as some gyms I have used in the past but I have been very happy with the staff and the equipment.

well, I don't have an employer...I work for myself
so I guess in a way, my employer IS footing the cost.

I joined the Migros Stockerhof gym. The instructors are friendly and can explain things in English if necessary. The gym can be very busy early evening on weekdays but it's better at the weekend. The Stockerhof also has a steam room, sauna and thermal bath. Its all included in a day pass but it can be expensive. I've also been to the Migros gym at Munstergasse, it's a lot smaller than the Stockerhof but the gym was well equipped, could be crowded during the week though.

Here’s where I go:

http://www.novafitness.ch/

it’s in the Hotel Crowne Plaza (formerly Intercontinental) : Badenerstrasse 420
(trams 2 and 3, several buses)
So being in a hotel, that means its open EVERY day. It also has a small pool, sauna/steam and whirlpool, and an open-air room with some cardio machines.
Never too busy (this weekend I was in the open-air room pretty much alone, for hours, both days) and with the hotel clientele one never gets a feeling of sickly seeing the same faces every week.

Does anyone know anything about the gym in Thalwil, can't remember the name but it seems to be the only one there.

My German isn't great so I couldn't make out much about the different memberships and I wondered how much cardio equipment it has - not looking for anything fancy.

please help...
have googled this to death but no luck so far...we're looking for a gym in the Embrach/Kloten area - anyone know if one?