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 New York Sports Club
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1601 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Cross Streets: (48th St.)
Phone: (212) 977-8880
View Website
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User Rating
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No Ratings
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Editorial Review
Quickly becoming a household name in the fitness center world, NYSC must be doing something right. Perhaps it's the fact that an NYSC location is never more than a few blocks from any Manhattanite's doorman. Of course, it could be the fact that they provide more expansive facilities than most of the smaller gyms in the city for a comparable price. Whether your average gym-goer uses them or not is the real question. Sometimes it's enough to know that all the bells and whistles are there—just in case. And when “there” equates to a fitness center every five blocks in Manhattan, NYSC's over 40 locations become that much more attractive. While your more avid gym user may not mind a brisk jog to a different facility, the winter months provide a great argument to stay close to home.
For those needing a little motivation or distraction while you're on the treadmill, there's a television and CD player set up in front of every piece of cardio equipment. And with your membership valid at all locations, you can satisfy your needs for a workout wherever you find yourself in the city (even in the burbs). True fitness aficionados may prefer equipment and services that are more tailored toward hardcore training and an environment that fosters that kind of attitude and motivation, but your average New Yorker will enjoy NYSCs laid back atmosphere and expansive facilities. Despite having the intense drive found in most distance runners, I still find the atmosphere very enjoyable.
In my experience as a current member combined with tours of some different Manhattan NYSC locations, I find the staff to be friendly and plentiful. They frequently travel the fitness floor carrying rags and spray bottles, which is something that the smaller clubs are often lacking. However, the vast majority of them seem to have little or no experience in fitness, and certainly no professional training. I find it unsettling having to ask a staff that is collectively raising the white flag in the battle of the bulge for advice on my form. It seems that most of the employees, while very pleasant, see NYSC as a job rather than a passion. This shouldn't really phase the experienced gym-goer, or even your average cardio-junky, just something I note in passing.
Certain locations can be quite busy, especially at peak hours, which doesn't bother my workout at all, but those looking for a mat in a stretching room might be slightly hindered. This is not something unique to NYSC, but to almost every large fitness center in New York. As going to the fitness centers is becoming more of a social event than a night at the bars, getting your reps in is becoming increasingly difficult in the post-work hours. If your cholesterol is more important than your plans on Friday night, expect to run into a crowd with similar routine, but very different motives. I personally enjoy the interaction. Whether they'll admit it or not, every self proclaimed fitness buff has some level of yearning to impress the opposite sex with their tight abdominals.
It's a true challenge to satisfy the needs of gym-goers with varying fitness levels and age groups, and NYSC has experienced great success at this. With a formula that realizes the value of up-to-date, varying equipment and cleanliness, NYSC shows why they have such general appeal. Really you can't beat the value of NYSC for their convenience and wide array of facilities. For the health oriented public, or even the folks hitting the gym with little black books rolled inside their spandex sleeve, NYSC delivers the goods. |
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