Sometimes a gym membership is more than about exercise. It’s about ‘me time’ and time to take care of yourself.
If you’re looking for something more than a basic gym with a row of machines and a few weights, you’ve likely come across LA Fitness and all that it offers.
LA Fitness looks amazing from the outside, especially when you hear about their amenities, but is an LA Fitness membership worth it? I dive into the details in this review.
What is LA Fitness?
LA Fitness is a gym chain with 600+ clubs across the United States. More than a gym, LA Fitness offers members a variety of activities for one low monthly price. They advertise warm friendly faces, a welcoming community, and activities for people of all ages and lifestyles.
But is an LA Fitness membership worth it?
What do they Offer?
To determine if an LA Fitness membership is worth it, you must know what they offer. While each location differs slightly, in general, you’ll find:
20+ group classes to choose from throughout the week with morning, afternoon, and evening classes
Cardio equipment (treadmill, elliptical, spin bikes, and rowing machines)
Let’s look specifically at some of the top amenities.
Exercise Classes
If you don’t like exercising alone or don’t feel motivated just walking on a treadmill mindlessly, you can choose from LA Fitness’s large selection of classes. The schedule varies by location (and COVID restrictions), but you should find a decent selection on any given day.
Cardio Jam, Cycling, Aqua Fit, and Hip Hop are just a few of the classes you may find at your local LA Fitness.
Pools
Many LA Fitness locations have a lap pool used for both group classes and lap swimming. You may also find your location has hot tubs and steam rooms to help loosen your muscles or help you unwind after a long day.
Locker Rooms
LA Fitness locker rooms have full-size lockers, plenty of showers, and a dry sauna. Lockers are for day use only and you must provide your own lock. Some clubs offer amenities such as soaps and towels, and all locations have hair dryers.
Stretching Area
Most LA Fitness locations have an area for stretching and bodyweight exercises. You’ll find large mats and open areas for stretching as well as stability balls, medicine balls, and foam rollers to help you feel your best.
Personal Training Area
All members get a free personal training assessment after joining LA Fitness. If you like one-on-one training, you can sign up for personal training sessions and use the private area where you’ll get one-on-one guidance to achieve your goals.
Basketball Courts
LA Fitness also has full-length basketball courts for free play. The area can also be used for volleyball games. Some clubs offer league plays too if you’re looking for something more structured.
LA Fitness Membership Overview – What’s the Cost?
The largest hurdle with any gym membership is the cost. LA Fitness, like most gyms, charges a monthly fee, but many clubs and memberships require an initiation fee too. Knowing the full cost will help you decide.
While the price varies by location, on average expect to pay the following:
LA Fitness Single Club Membership – $0 initiation fee and $33.99/month
LA Fitness Multi Club Membership – $49 initiation fee and $33.99/month
LA Fitness Signature Club Single Club Membership – $0 initiation fee and $39.99/month
LA Fitness Signature Club Multi-Club Membership – $49 initiation fee and $39.99/month
Esporta Fitness Single Club Membership – $99 initiation fee and $9.99/month
Esporta Fitness Multi-Club Membership – $0 initiation fee and $24.99/month
How does LA Fitness Compare?
In most locations, there are many other gym chains to choose from besides just LA Fitness, but how do they compare?
LA Fitness vs Planet Fitness
If you have Planet Fitness in your area, you may want to compare your options. Pricewise, Planet Fitness is much cheaper at just $10 a month, but that comes with tradeoffs.
Planet Fitness locations often have a 12-month commitment requirement with early termination penalties if you cancel early. LA Fitness is a month-to-month agreement that requires only a 5-day notice before your next billing date to cancel.
The Planet Fitness multi-club pass costs $21.99 a month, but you can visit any Planet Fitness location.
Planet Fitness charges a $39 annual fee and some locations charge an initiation fee too.
Planet Fitness offers mostly cardio and strength equipment. They also have a 30-minute resistance training circuit area. They don’t have free weights, a pool, sauna, or basketball courts like LA Fitness.
LA Fitness vs Lifetime Fitness
LA Fitness and Lifetime Fitness are rivals when it comes to the equipment and amenities offered. Planet Fitness is a basic gym for those who love cardio and don’t want free weights or classes.
Lifetime Fitness offers similar equipment and classes as LA Fitness along with group classes, but LA Fitness has a few key differences.
Lifetime offers:
Indoor and outdoor pools with both leisure and lap pools available. Some clubs charge an annual fee per member to use the outdoor pools.
Organized sports teams. The type and frequency vary by location, but may include tennis, basketball, pickleball, and rock climbing teams.
Adult only events including marathons, dance parties, and cycle jams.
Organized activities and sports for kids as well as kids studio classes and training.
Events created just for kids including Parents Night Out, pool parties, and dance parties.
Personal and sports training opportunities
Full service salon and spa for hair, nail, and skin treatments.
Cafe and pool-side service serving healthy and delicious foods.
Health assessments and lab testing to assess your overall health.
Of course, these amenities come at a price much higher than LA Fitness. Each location has different pricing, but on average, they charge:
$99+/mo for standard club access and digital app membership
$169+/mo for standard club access plus group training and priority reservations for classes and baby care
$89+/mo for young adults ages 26 and under, provies single-club access and a digital app membership
$89+/mo for students, provides single-club access and a digital app membership
Common LA Fitness Complaints
Most members are happy with LA Fitness while they use it, but when they try to cancel their membership, the complaints start.
The Better Business Bureau has hundreds of complaints from people who tried to cancel their membership during COVID due to the lockdown and/or not feeling comfortable going back to the gym even when things opened back up.
LA Fitness didn’t handle the cancellations as most members would have hoped, especially during this difficult time. It ended up in thousands of complaints, and even a few lawsuits.
While LA Fitness has rectified the situation, that doesn’t mean it’s any easier to cancel your membership, so be aware of the possibility if you join.
LA Fitness Membership FAQ
How do you cancel an LA Fitness membership?
LA Fitness memberships are month-to-month, so you can cancel them at any time, but you must be diligent in your efforts as they aren’t the best at following up.
You have two options to cancel your membership:
Download a Cancellation Form
– Log into your app and click ‘cancellation form’ under ‘account information.’ – Print out the form – Mail it to: LA Fitness PO Box 54170 Irvine, CA 92619
– Follow up with customer service in a week to make sure they received your request
Bring the form to your local LA Fitness
– Download the same form as stated above – Bring it to your local LA Fitness, giving it to the operations manager between 9 AM and 5 PM
Can you freeze an LA Fitness membership?
If you need to temporarily stop your membership, you can for a fee of $10 a month. You can unfreeze your account at any time. You won’t pay initiation fees or other dues other than the monthly membership fee you agreed to pay.
Does LA Fitness charge an annual fee?
No, LA Fitness doesn’t charge an annual fee. Some locations and some memberships charge an initiation fee, but this is a one-time fee. It’s in addition to your monthly fees, but again, you pay it one time and you’re done.
How can you avoid the initiation fee charged at some LA Fitness locations?
Like most companies, LA Fitness will negotiate, but many people don’t know it. The easiest way to negotiate is to try out your closest location – most gyms offer a free trial. At the end of the trial, talk to the manager about waiving the initiation fee. If you act like you won’t join if you have to pay the fee, chances are they’ll work out a deal with you to get your business.
It depends on what you’re looking for in a gym. If you’ll do more than walk on a treadmill and lift a few weights, it can be worth it, especially if you live near an Esporta location that charges only $9.99 per month.
But, if you won’t use the pool, spa, basketball courts, or step foot in a group class, then the higher fees aren’t worth it. You’d be better off streaming your own workouts at home or joining a cheaper gym that offers only the basics that you need.
I do like that you can cancel your LA Fitness membership at any time, even though many say it’s difficult to do. With enough follow-through, you can get your membership canceled and in the meantime enjoy everything LA Fitness offers.
Click on My LA Fitness. Login, click on Account Information tab and then click on the "Cancellation Form" option on the right side of the screen. Mail the form to the address listed on the form or you can provide written notice to us at PO Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619-4170.
For most people, an LA Fitness membership is worth it, but it depends largely on the quality of your home club. LA Fitness gyms have a ton of equipment and some decent amenities, but cleanliness, professionalism of the staff, and general upkeep of the gym vary by location.
You'll have to fork over a monthly fee, but a gym membership gives you access to more machines, equipment and space than you have at home. Most gyms also offer extra perks we can't fit or can't afford in our own homes, such as tanning beds, swimming pools and steam rooms, that make a membership even more worthwhile.
To cancel your membership, you must fill out a cancellation form then send the form in the mail, fax it to the gym, or take it to the gym in person. Unfortunately, LA Fitness has not made an option available to cancel your membership online.
Your gym should let you cancel your contract if you've had a change in circ*mstances that means you can't afford the monthly payments. It would have to be something significant, eg you've lost your job or suddenly found yourself in a lot of debt.
In short, yes. If you fail to pay your membership fees, your gym can send your account to collections, which is a major negative mark on your credit report. A gym membership is just like any other recurring bill.
The Winner. Even though the dumbbells at GoodLife don't go as heavy as the ones at LA Fitness, GoodLife has a larger variety of strength training equipment and better machines. If you want high-quality equipment, GoodLife is the gym for you.
Why They Are Successful: LA Fitness remains successful due to its ability to maintain consistent management across all locations. The facilities are kept clean and the equipment is fixed promptly. They offer group fitness classes that come with most basic memberships along with other amenities.
Whether you should join a gym or work out at home often comes down to personal preference and your budget. If you're self-motivated and know you'll exercise no matter what, working out at home may be a good option.
The statistics show if you're retaining about half of your new members, you're on par with the average. Most memberships last an average of 4.7 years. Gyms typically lose about 50% of all new members within the first 6 months. About 8% of male gym-goers quit their membership after a year.
To sum it up, when it comes to the time of day you will find gyms the least busy is typically mid-afternoon (11 am - 3 pm) or late evening (any time after 7 pm).
Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, but rest assured that the cost of membership can be recovered quickly thanks to massive price savings once you start shopping.
If you cancel your membership before the billing cycle ends, you can use LA Fitness until the new cycle, but you can't ask for a refund. The only exception to the no-refund policy is if the company receives your LA Fitness Cancelation Form less than five days before your last paid month ends.
How do you politely cancel a gym membership? Send your letter by certified mail so that you can keep track of when the gym received it. Delivery by hand is preferred. If your contract requires you to send a cancellation letter at the gym, please do this as well.
One of the most common reasons for customer churn are subscribers having too much product. If customers don't have the option or aren't aware of the ability to skip a shipment, change their schedule or try a new product they're likely to cancel their subscription.
If the gym charges your card after that, however, contact your credit card company and send it the proof that you canceled your membership. You also should contact your local Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general to file complaints about this gym. In the future, avoid gyms that push contracts.
Luckily, gym contracts are absolutely negotiable. “Based on my research of gyms and my own experience negotiating with LA Fitness and Planet Fitness, it's more than possible to bargain for a lower rate or sign-up bonus with a new gym,” says J.R. Duren, a personal finance journalist at Highya.com.
Your local gym will not report the payments on your membership to the credit bureaus. Making your payments on time will not help your credit score and late payments will not hurt your score. It is not like a credit card where even one late payment can badly damage your credit rating.
Since most gyms are accessible to the public, it is not a violation of privacy laws to record someone in a gym's common area. Typically the law does not prohibit watching or photographing activities that are outside a person's reasonable expectation of privacy.
In this case, you'll just have to pay the standard $29.99 monthly fee, or around $1 per day. For those who want multi-club access to the over 600 LA Fitness gyms across the country and Canada, the initiation fee is a modest $49 with the same $29.99 monthly fee.
LA Fitness offers Zumba, Pilates, spin, and yoga classes free for all members. Some locations also offer aqua aerobics, boxing, and fitness dance classes. If you're interested in CrossFit, you can also take similar classes at LA Fitness called HIIT by LAF. They combine interval training, endurance, and barbell work.
For most gym goers, 30 minutes to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity done three to five days per week is the sweet spot and meets the American College for Sports Medicine's recommendation. Different fitness levels require different intensities and durations.
Planet Fitness. Planet Fitness advertises itself as a gym for people who don't like gyms, with ads referring to every Planet Fitness location as a "Judgement Free Zone." ...
Is one hour in the gym enough to get fit? When it comes to building strength, an hour-long session is more than adequate for both beginners and intermediates. It will allow you time for a 5-10 minute warm-up, 40-45 minutes of weight training and 5-10 minutes of cooling down and stretching.
Your physical performance might improve: Research shows that most people function better, physically speaking, later in the day. Muscle strength, flexibility, power output and endurance are all better in the evening than they are in the morning.
While gyms are excellent places to use equipment to help you reach your weight loss and fitness, they are not necessary to lose weight. Losing weight is about increasing physical activity and decreasing caloric intake. This can be achieved anywhere by simply increasing your daily activity and eating a sensible diet.
Men reported higher rates of competitive sports, strengthening exercises, and aerobic exercises, whereas women were more likely to walk and participate in recreational activities.
Exercising two times a day can be beneficial for very fit individuals but it is important to space out your workouts. Allow at least four to six hours in between workouts for optimal results. I was working out twice a day for about 2 months.
If you really want to see results reflected on the scale and continue to make progress over time, you need to commit to working out at least four to five days per week. But remember, you'll build up to this. To start, you might only want to do two or three days per week and slowly work your way up to five days.
You can improve your longevity and quality of life, and even have some fun along the way. Getting a gym membership, sticking with it, and working out regularly can be challenging, but it's worth reducing your risk for preventable health problems.
We'll make it very clear and simple for you: the $120 annual fee for the Executive card is worth it if you spend more than $500 a month or $6,000 a year total at Costco on eligible purchases.
Ultimately, if a single person can comfortably afford the $60 membership and has the room to store items purchased in bulk, then it makes sense for them to become a Costco member. Those short on spare storage shouldn't slink away from the store just yet, though.
View our full list of Costco Services. Executive Members also receive a monthly edition of The Costco Connection magazine. Costco membership is $60 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $60 upgrade fee a year.
In order to terminate a contract, many gyms require members to submit a notarized letter of cancellation. This is a letter signed by an official notary public. When writing the letter, be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number.
Even if you never use a credit card to pay for your gym membership, your credit score can still take a hit if your unpaid membership is sent to collections. Take the time to make sure that your membership is canceled to avoid the hassle of having an account sent to collections.
Simply log in to your account online at lafitness.com. Once logged in, you can select the "Freeze" option on the right side of the screen to suspend your account. When you are ready to reactivate your account, you can do so by again logging in to your membership area.
Especially if you think that you have already ended your membership but there are still steps left to be taken, you could have a membership bill for LA Fitness continue to accrue without your knowledge. LA Fitness might send you to bill collections, which could impact your credit score and history in a negative way.
If you have a fixed term membership, e.g. for 12 months, but your circ*mstances change in an unforeseeable way – a long-term illness, losing your job or having to move – you could have grounds for immediate cancellation.
We require an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through checking accounts for your convenience: This allows us to be able to continue your membership without interruption or the hassle of updating your payment information if your credit cards are lost/stolen, invalid or expired. When is my annual fee due?
The fact that they don't do credit checks to check affordability or even ask for an original ID for verifying that the member is who they say they are, means one can go and register at any Gym Company by pretending to be someone else and gym for free while the victim pays or gets blacklisted.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
Some, but not all, gyms will run what's called a soft credit check before you join. Your credit score could affect your payment options as a member. And while your monthly gym payments don't help you build credit, they could be turned over to collections if you're long overdue, which can hurt your score.
Bruce Burkitt, founder and managing director at property buyers Property Experts, says: 'Your regular monthly outgoings for example a Netflix, Spotify subscription or even how much you spend on a gym membership, despite their relatively low monthly values, will be held against your ability to afford the mortgage ...
As muscle cells get smaller, fat cells tend to get bigger. After all, the muscles aren't working hard enough to burn away calories. This can lead to weight gain as soon as 14 days (or earlier) once you stop exercising, according to Men's Journal.
Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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