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| - I have been a Mountainside member for over ten years. I first joined because of the great group exercise classes and the easy going, very friendly staff. Well, ten years later, the staff is still great, but the classes are not. TBC--total body conditioning dominates the schedules at the Chandler and Gilbert clubs. No more hi/lo, no more step.
TBC would be fine except the quality of the classes is not consistent and no one wants to do TBC seven days a week. The cardio section (when included) in most of the TBC classes is laughable and the weight lifting/body sculpting section in most of the classes is haphazard at best. It is as though most of the instructors (with the exception of two) just make it up as they go. Furthermore, if you have a limitation such as knee, back, or shoulder issue, then TBC is not for you which means your choice of classes is extremely limited. Boot Camp--which is touted as an extreme variation of TBC--will set you back 100 dollars and is not worth the additional charge. The same issues with TBC also apply to Boot Camp and if something unexpected comes up (such as an injury or illness), you will not get your money back.
I also agree with other posters that the constant barrage of children running around the gym is annoying as is the hawking of goods as you enter the gym. The Gilbert location also has a guy set up right in front of the aerobics room who will whiten your teeth!
With all that being said, I must say, out of all the gyms I have gone to over the past 21 years, Mountainside has been the best. The equipment is always up to date and if something is broken, it doesn't stay broken for long. Both facilities I use, the Ocotillo and Gilbert locations are always clean and the staff at both locations has always been friendly and helpful, with the exception of the aerobics director.
Consequently, if you are looking for a gym that caters more to the stay at home mom crowd and offers a plethora of so-so group exercise classes but otherwise has first rate equipment and staff, then Mountainside is worth a look. As my mom would say, "Better than nothing."
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