People train in former theatres, churches and even in a gym on wheels
Regular training can become monotonous and repetitive, leading to a lack of motivation and, as a result, poor results.
But there are fitness clubs and gyms that are definitely interesting or at least unusual to visit.
A fitness club in a cinema
Crunch Fitness in San Francisco could claim to be the most beautiful gym in the world. It is located in the luxurious building of the former Alhambra cinema (which looks more like a theatre), which opened in 1926 and closed in 1998. Its exterior was designed to resemble a Moorish castle with two towers. The most impressive part of the interior is the kaleidoscopic domed ceiling, and there are also many intricate Art Deco design details.
Fitness clubs and gyms in churches
The Netherlands can be called the leader in terms of the number of churches that now serve completely different functions — they house hotels, apartments, bars, concert halls, libraries and training spaces.
At the B-Trained fitness club in Deren or Basic-Fit in Maastricht, you can lift weights or do burpees under vaulted ceilings. Want to dance in a hall with stained glass windows? Sign up at the Chassékerk in de Baarsjes church in Amsterdam.
Padel training is available at Holy Padel in Arnhem, and you can go rock climbing in four different venues (Nirvana in Scheveningen, Boulderkerk in Veldhoven, Apeldoorn and Venlo), but the skate park in Amsterdam in a former temple has been closed.
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Similar halls can be found in Belgium, the USA and other countries. For example, in Chicago, Nike converted a 19th-century church into a basketball hall. The stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings with wooden beams have been preserved, inspiring designers to create original changing rooms that resemble arched windows. And in Miami, a former church is now home to the glamorous David Barton fitness club with its own beach.
VR fitness
What happens when you combine augmented reality with real sports? The answer was found at the Black Box VR sports club in San Francisco, where they went beyond training on bikes on virtual tracks. Here, customers are offered VR glasses and equipment with motion sensors to conduct training in a game format. You can battle virtual enemies by doing chest presses (which throw meteors at them) or complete other tasks that require leg and glute exercises.
Fitness club on a bus and boat
In Tampa, Florida, there is a bright yellow fitness bus called Faith. This gym on wheels is equipped with various exercise machines and a punching bag. The mobile club does not just provide unusual training opportunities. As part of a non-profit organisation, Faith works with charities to help women and children in difficult life situations.
Is fitness on a bus not original enough for you? Then take a look at Aqua Expeditions in Peru — a sports club on a boat that ploughs the waters of the Amazon River.
Fitness library
The Library gym in New York combines a love of sport and reading. This cosy vintage-style space is equipped with modern exercise machines and lined with bookshelves. After an intense workout, guests can relax in special quiet areas where they can settle down with a book and exercise not only their bodies but also their minds.
Wood and stone exercise equipment on the beach
The Tulum Jungle Gym, located on the beach of the Mexican resort of Tulum, has repeatedly been included in lists of the best in the world. Almost all of the equipment is made from natural materials — wood, bamboo and stone. Since its opening, the club has been featured on MTV, in the Mexican national news and in Men’s Health magazine. Its popularity led to the need to expand and open a second gym, Tulum Jungle Gym Pueblo, with the same concept.