Gravity Gym in NYC!

OUT OF TOWN GYM REVIEW!

Gravity gym is pretty rad.  This past weekend was a great adventure in mid-town NYC for myself and my online workout buddy Angie.  We wanted a hotel with a kickin' gym and a spa if possible and also a location proximal to Central Park.  We found all these features in the Le Parker Meridien. We met up from the wilds of North Carolina and Michigan for a trifecta of wurking it, exploring and shopping, and eating amazing food.

http://www.parkermeridien.com/gravity/

We both love to go "meathead' in the gym and are pretty competitive.  SO we immediately ditched our baggage, real and emotional, in our room, a mere ten minutes after we hopped out of our taxi and b-lined for a 2:30 class called American Psycho, more on that below!

Gravity gym has a plethora of work 'em out tools.  Cardio equipment in multiples!  And I never saw 100% capacity on the cardio machines, although I wasn't always around at rush hour.  A full free weight area, yea!  And extensive resistance machines if that is your scene.  I prefer body weight exercise and free weights, so the machines are never a must have for me, but the ones at Gravity were in good condition.

Cardio equipment is also high quality, no wobbly treadmills, or sad ellipticals.  Also found here for heart pumping goodness were an arm ergometer, and rowing machines; not your typical gym fare.

This gym also has a pool, and a full group fitness class schedule.

The group fitness rooms are on the smaller side, maybe 10-20 max capacity.  Here is were I think there is potential to grow.  Our instructors often did not demonstrate our exercises, and did not really do anything besides hold a timer.  NO form correction, NO verbal encouragement, NOTHING besides start and stop.

I have had a variety of instructors along the ability and experience spectrum but none as spartan with instruction as my experience here.  I only interacted with two trainers but I was not impressed.

We did a Tabata style class that was 20 seconds on all out, 10 seconds off to recover the whole time! I felt that the exercises were randomly chosen and they were trying to drill us into the ground versus maximize our success.  Ang and I , Meathead 1 and 2 gladly took the abuse! BUT I have had better, more balanced workouts.  Also no real warm-up to this class.  The kicker was when one of the trainers came up to me and stretched me waaaayyyy beyond  my end range of motion.  I was too shocked from the workout to verbalize a no-thank you but not impressed by that!  We were laughing all weekend at how not-too-out-of-shape folks ruined themselves within two hours of landing in NYC!

We also did a spin class were the instructor did not bike along!  Yikes!  Once again, our instructor was just calling out tension levels and time frames but once again no verbal encouragement or push.  I have had so-so spin classes and spin classes that border on a spiritual experience because the instructor engages and pushes you to your limits!  I would have liked a little more meatiness this workout.

From a technical aspect, they need to improve there sound system in the group exercise room.  A huge gym like this should have an integrated professional jam set up!  Half the fun of group exercise is great motivating music, which we definitely had, but you also need to hear them.

The bones of this place are great.  This gym is outfitted with high quality equipment and all the usual suspects for getting fit.

I would like to keep sampling the platter of offerings for the classes!  And see what other things are out there as far as options for instructors.   A great instructor pushes and makes you come out of class successful and pumped, and I just did not get that experience here.

Definitely utilize this awesome gym but maybe ask around at the front desk for who is an engaging instructor who really interacts and is fun.  Gravity totally redefines working out away from home with this multi-level workout space, no sad garage sale T-mill and one ten pound dumbbell tucked away in the bowels of the hotel.

We also had amazing massages at Moonshine spa tucked nicely inside the gym, so the Le Parker Meridien is full of all kinds of goodies.  Also Ten Over Ten, located in the hotel, does great mani's and pedi's and blow outs are available at Dry Bar (also in hotel!), a do-up-the locks station!

Lastly, verbal hug to poor Madeline, our video sampler extraordinaire as the cold monster has stopped her in her workout tracks.  We wish her quick healing and look for her updates once she feels human again!