Akron General Lifestyles – West

Beautiful, clean facility. Excellent selection of equipment, classes included with membership. Heard such great things about this place and all of them were true! Worth the price. Very nice.

In full disclosure, I am reviewing this after being a member for 3 weeks. As a college student home for the holidays, I was worried about my marathon training in the midst of Ohio winters. In these crazy weeks of blizzards, black ice, and unusually cold weather, Lifestyles remained a top-​notch facility where staff seemed happy to be doing their job!
For $ 75, students can get a one month membership. My mom and brother (he is considered a dependent) are also on annual memberships and it comes out to something like $ 5/​day, which is a STEAL given the quality of this gym. Let’s review some Lifestyles-​specific highlights:
1) The space, built into the Akron General hospital building, is as clean as gyms can get. The locker rooms are especially pristine, with carpeting, ample bench and countertop space, and added perks like a hair dryer/​curling iron mirror station in the women’s, towel service, and a couch-​and-​tv waiting area in each locker room for straggling workout partners. It’s amazing how a carpeted locker room can make a gym seem like a destination of sorts :) Showers and toilets are separated from the changing and locker areas by a heavy door, which encourages cleanliness and helps with the awkwardness of stripping about.
2) The «crowds,» even during this holiday and resolutions season, are so manageable. The machines are clearly labeled with «limit use to 30 minutes during busy times» signs, but I’ve never had to heed those warnings because there is always an open treadmill, elliptical, or weight machine. The lap pool, with the exception of afternoon swim team practices, is always operating at under capacity with ample lane space for slow swimmers like me. The space, unlike big single-​room gyms, winds around itself and separates the indoor track from the free weights from the cardio machines… which means getting in a varied workout doesn’t have to feel claustrophobic! It can be downright FUN to traverse the workout studio rooms and up to the «Peak,» an 18+ zone where the beefiest dads can lift in peace.
3) I have been in gyms where the machines seem constantly in need of fixing or an upgrade… Stairmaster makes noises, treadmills are the narrow, old kind… but here, the machines are state-​of-​the-​art. I love how some of the treadmills have screens that map your runs, simulating track workouts, and how all of them have TVs built into them that link up the headphone jack. It’s these types of electronic add-​ons that make me want to roll my eyes as a running purist, but I have to admit they’re nice perks when the Ohio winter sets in and running outside becomes a dangerous endeavor.
4) The staff is so friendly. They clearly didn’t know me the first few times I went, but they read your name off the check-​in monitors and greet you by name. They consistently look HAPPY to be doing their jobs.
5) The group exercises are HUGE plus when considering this gym vs. others. Instead of paying for yoga or barre studio classes, you can get them here, included in your membership. The studios are pristine, chock full of high-​end mats and bikes, and the instructors are all upbeat and accommodating to beginners. I’ve tried out pilates, barre, and spin classes so far, and I’ll be truly sad to lose them from my weekly routine once I go back to school.
So, if you’re looking for a family-​friendly facility that’s got decent hours, impeccable machines, and high-​quality group exercise, I can’t recommend Lifestyles more. Now get going on those resolutions!

We cancelled our membership here for multiple reasons. Small children run around the weight area and track creating a hazard for everyone. Staff has literally argued with us. Would never go here again, especially given the price of membership.

The Mecca of all gyms.
Not only did i frequent Lifestyles for my workout daily during my high school years, but i considered it the source of most of my socializing as well. All my friends went there and i would get to see them every day after school.
I didn’t realize until I moved away how spoiled i was here. Its so clean, so big, and the lockers are programable so you don’t need to bring your own lock. AMAZING!
Showers are clean. (major plus) and there is a kids area. pretty cool.

I’ve been an active Lifestyles member for a few years now and I really enjoy this place. As far as gyms go, this is about as good as it gets.
Among the positives:
–Lots of treadmills, ellipticals, stair machines.
–Very friendly staff/​trainers who know you by name.
–Indoor track.
–Large pool.
–Child care.
–Group Exercise
–Full size basketball court.
My biggest grip would be the free weight area is a little congested. It can get a little tricky to work with barbells without banging into the benches.

Have been a member for four years. Great place. Never a wait for equipment. Friendly attendants and instructors. Good selection of group classes.