11 Types of Gyms You  Can Join and Why

You’re mindlessly walking across the street when you spot it. A building with large windows with weights clanging and people are grunting inside. It’s the new gym that just opened.

You think, “I really should start working out more.” And then you remember that you don’t enjoy going. In fact, you dread it.

But did you know there are various types of gyms available? Some are highly competitive that will get you as strong as an Ox. Others focus on community and helping you feel comfortable while you’re working out.

The goal is to pick one that makes you want to go and, most importantly, return.

Let’s breakdown 11 of most popular types of gyms to help you make your decision:

1. Big Box Gyms
2. Boutique Gyms
3. Personal Training Studios
4. CrossFit Gyms
5. Strength Gyms
6. Bodybuilding Gyms
7. Bootcamp Gyms
8. 24/7 Gyms
9. Luxury Gyms
10. Women’s Gyms
11. Group Fitness Studios

Some of The Most Popular Types of Gyms

Big Box Gym - The Traditional Choice

You’ve seen these fitness centres all over the place. These are corporate chain gyms that provide various weight machines and equipment, group classes, personal trainers, and more.

Naturally, each gym chain will offer its own pricing scheme with membership fees, but the average weekly fee is $21. This fee typically doesn’t include access to group classes or a personal trainer, which can cost extra.

A big box gym is ideal if you are budget-conscious, have some training experience and know how to use the gym’s cardio and weight lifting equipment. Even if you don’t, your introductory consultation should include a tour of the gym and equipment tutorials from a member of staff.

All in all, a Big box gym offers plenty of freedom to design your own workout routine.

Big Box Gyms Include:

• Fitness First
• Gold’s Gym
• Snap Fitness
• Planet Fitness

Boutique Gym - A More Intimate Setting

Boutique gyms or wellness studios are smaller (between 800 – 3500 sq. ft.), more intimate versions of the big box gym. They typically have fewer members and offer a friendlier environment that encourages community and collaboration.

These gyms often include access to group classes led by certified instructors. You’ll find many class types on the schedule, from yoga and pilates to group cycling and HIIT – all with a greater emphasis on toning and fat loss.

Boutique gyms usually offer a trial period, so you can test the facilities and see if it’s the right fit. Expect to pay between $30 – $40 per class or a specific amount weekly for unlimited classes.

Boutique gyms include:

• SoulCycle
• Pure Barre
• Sweat440

Personal Training Gyms or Studios - For One-on-One Attention

While a standard gym lets you free reign to design your own workout routine, a personal training gym or studio offers the guidance of a certified professional. This one-on-one setting is an excellent source of motivation, as you’ll be held accountable for your progress (or lack thereof).

Personal training gyms or studios are generally on the smaller side, containing dumbbells, TRX bands, medicine balls, weightlifting, and cardio equipment. Your workout plan is designed specifically for your fitness goals, and you’ll have the trainer’s undivided attention to reach them.

These gyms also usually offer individual or small group classes, so you can expect more one-on-one attention from the instructor. The general idea is to create a more personal, intimate atmosphere.

As you might expect, a personal training gym or studio session in Australia will cost substantially more than a standard gym, costing anywhere from  $50 – $100 per session. However, it’s worth the investment if you’re looking to make steady progress without the guesswork.

Personal training gyms and studios include:

• Live Well Health & Fitness Studio
• Imperial Health & Fitness Studio

Crossfit Gyms - For the Competitive Type

A CrossFit box is a strength and conditioning gym that prioritises functional strength and HIIT (high-intensity interval training). These workouts are constantly varied, from weightlifting and gymnastics to running and rowing.

Most CrossFit gyms have a competitive atmosphere, as members love to outdo each other with personal bests. In fact, many of these members compete in CrossFit competitions regularly. These workouts are usually performed in a group setting, with a qualified coach leading the way.

Of course, this kind of atmosphere isn’t for everyone. A CrossFit box might not be the right gym for you if you’re not competitive, have a fitness goal outside of general strength and conditioning, or just prefer to train at your own pace.

CrossFit gyms offer a hybrid of free weights, bodyweight exercises, cardio and plyometrics. Overall, they’re perfect for those who want to give functional strength training a go while getting in shape simultaneously.

The Strongman, Weightlifting or Powerlifting Gym - For those Who Want to Seek Strength

First, we must establish that powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman are entirely different disciplines. Powerlifting gyms will have more in common with a standard gym, as the focus is on building strength in the big three – the squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Weightlifting gyms focus on the clean and jerk, the snatch, the front squat, and other lifts utilised in the Olympic games. This kind of lifting is more technical, requires specialty training gear, and takes much longer to master. As such, a coach usually oversees things to ensure proper technique.

Strongman gyms, on the other hand, are all about raw strength. You’ll find things like Atlas Stones, yokes, log presses and tires. These gyms are geared towards those who want to enter strongman competitions, and the atmosphere is very competitive.

Despite these differences, all three have a strong competitive spirit, as members are always pushing each other to achieve personal bests. They’re also going to make you stronger, much stronger!

Overall, strength gyms are perfect for those who want to focus on strength, whether it’s static or functional. Like standard big box gyms, you’ll find various weight training machines and equipment like bench press, dumbbells, barbells, and squat racks. However, you’ll also find things like logs, tyres and sandbags.

Some popular strength gyms include:

• Westside Barbell
• Mark Bell’s Super Training Gym

Bodybuilding Gyms

You remember those super muscular dudes and gals who used to (and still do) grace the covers of fitness magazines? Well, many of them are bodybuilders or some sort of physique athlete. These athletes focus on building muscle and achieving an aesthetically pleasing body instead of functional strength or raw power.

A bodybuilding gym caters to this crowd, emphasising free weights and machines. You’ll find barbells, dumbbells, leg press machines, preacher curl benches, and a wide array of cardio equipment. And because the emphasis is on bodybuilding, contest prep and physique transformations will be the norm, so expect to see a lot of people measuring their food and posing in the mirror.

A bodybuilding gym is the place to be if you’re looking to dramatically improve your body composition. However, you might want to look elsewhere if you’re more interested in functional strength or powerlifting.

Boot Camps

Like boutique gyms and CrossFit boxes, boot camps are a type of group fitness class that a qualified instructor leads. The main difference is that these classes are outdoors, usually in a park or beach.

The workouts tend to be high-intensity and include anything from bodyweight exercises to running and sprinting. With various multi-jointed activities performed at low and high intensities, boot camps are a great way to improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, and conditioning and build muscle across the whole body.

They’re also perfect for those who enjoy being outdoors and prefer a more immersive fitness experience. It’s certainly a change of scenery from the usual gym setting, which can be pretty refreshing.

Of course, boot camps aren’t for everyone. The workouts are more intense than a typical gym workout right after you wake up or finish work. If gasping for air outdoors in the sun isn’t your idea of fun, consider going elsewhere.

24-hour Gyms

A 24-hour fitness centre is your standard big box gym, except they’re open 24/7. These are catered for those with hectic schedules or who train in the very early hours of the morning or late at night. It also fills the need for a gym that’s open at all hours for shift workers.

Like standard gyms, there will still be peak hours when the gym is packed full of people. So unless you’re willing to train past 9 pm, you’ll still have to deal with the odd person hogging the squat rack and bench. If you’re like most people and can only train during the day, a 24-hour gym will offer no extra benefits than a standard Big box gym.

Every member receives a keycard or 6-digit code to enter the gym anytime. This is quite convenient, as you go in and out in your own time. 

Some popular 24-hour gyms include:

• Anytime Fitness
• 24 Hour Fitness

Luxury Gyms

While the end goal for most people is nearly the same – to get fit and healthy – how we achieve that can be quite different. Luxurious gyms provide added comfort, service, and amenities that standard gyms can’t offer.

While your standard gym might smell like gym socks and sweat, luxury gyms are often filled with the scent of eucalyptus or citrus and have marble countertops and plush carpets. The idea is to make the gym experience more pleasant so that working out becomes less of a chore.

Luxury gyms often have personal trainers on site, as well as masseuses, nutritionists, and even in-house chefs. They also tend to have more diverse classes, such as yoga, pilates, barre, and spin classes. Their equipment is also top-of-the-line – after all, you get what you pay for.

Of course, you can expect to pay A LOT more than a standard gym. Luxury gyms are costly, often costing thousands of dollars per month. Furthermore, they’re probably not going to have the same competitive atmosphere as powerlifting or Crossfit gym.

Some popular luxury gyms include:

• Equinox
• SoulCycle

Women's Gym

Gyms, unfortunately, can be a little intimidating for women. It’s where you go to improve your body, and it can sometimes feel like everyone’s judging you. This is especially true for beginners or those self-conscious about their bodies.

A woman’s gym is exactly what it sounds like – a gym explicitly geared toward women. These gyms are usually much smaller than your standard big-box gym and have a more intimate and welcoming atmosphere. And because there are no men around, women can work out more freely without feeling self-conscious.

Classes at a woman’s gym are often more on the side of weight loss and toning to improve health and body image. They also have a lot of group classes, such as aerobics or Zumba. With that being said, they tend to offer the same equipment i.e., treadmills, ellipticals, free weights, and other cardio machines, as a standard gym as a regular gym.

Some popular women’s gyms include:

• Fernwood Fitness
• Curves

Group Fitness Studios

A Group fitness studio is awesome if you want a more personal and personal workout experience. These group fitness classes are done with smaller groups (3 people) to larger groups (9 people), so you can get to know your fellow classmates.

Like a personal training gym, you’re paying for the instructor’s expertise, who will efficiently guide you to your end goal. If you’re a gym newbie who can’t tell a kettlebell from a barbell, it’s an ideal way to put you on the right track immediately.

The main drawback is the lack of independence. Because you’re working out in a group, you can’t go at your own pace or perform your own workouts.

Which is the Best Type of Gym for You?

The type of gym that’s best depends on your goals, budget, schedule, social expectations and more. Standard gyms are great because they’re so accessible, while luxury gyms offer all the bells and whistles.

Before you pick a gym type, ask yourself the following:

• What’s my budget?
• How often do I want to go?
• What are my goals?
• Do I want to compete with others?
• Do I feel comfortable working out around other people?
• Will a busy gym full of sweat, mirrors, and grunts distract or motivate me?
• Do I need a personal trainer or group class to help me stay on track?

If you’re unsure which type of gym is best, try a few different ones! Most gyms offer a free trial period, so take advantage of that and sample the offerings of each type of gym before you commit to anything.

Ultimately, the gym is more than just a place to get fit; it’s a place to feel good about yourself, relieve stress, and make new friends. So choose the one that makes you happy, and stick with it!