Meridian's Bodies In Motion

So, I have been a member of BIM, off and on, for about 14 years. The reason it was an "off and on" membership was not for being dissatisfied, but was due to my being transferred too far from a BIM that was close to work; so when I transferred to Pasadena, I joined again. I love my gym. They have great classes, awesome instructors, and the staff members...even the parking guys.. are a good bunch. To: Barry W aka linearvelocity (who has posted the same review twice, using two profiles)..Irma, the person you have slammed on a number of sites, happens to be a great hands-on manager; she very approachable, knowledgeable, actually knows the members and makes a point to greet and converse with them..which is usually a rare find in your bigger gyms. That goes for the trainers, instructors, and staff members as well...they're all there to help and are very friendly. Back to the gym....as I stated, they have great classes and awesome instructors. I joined just for the kickboxing, but was coerced by a friend to "try" RoadRacing (spinning)...and I have become an addict. It's all due to their having a great crew of instructors, each with their own great style...and their own "following". Get there early to sign up, the classes fill up fast! They also have other classes aside from RR, boxing, and kickboxing...if you're ready to work hard, then their Cross Training class will kick your @#*! That's another addiction....There are also specialty classes that are offered for a well-worth-it additional fee, like Boot Camp (great work out!). I do love the fact that you don't have to wait for the weights or machines, as you do at other gyms, and that this place is a "gym" gym; it's not frilly, fancy with bamboo walls, fountains, and members dressing to impress. People are there to work out, and couldn't care less if the shower doors are made of glass with etchings of swans...but I'm not saying the place is a dive at all...they have made this a nice place with the work they put into it. The parking lot does get quite busy in the evenings..but they have free valet, so don't be discouraged! All-in-all...BIM is a good gym for those who want to work out and get in shape!...and Barry, who joins a gym without trying it out FIRST??? Come on.....

Posted 06/20/09 | Report Abuse

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My wife and I visited Meridians Bodies in Motion January of 2009 in a New Years attempt to be more motivated to work out. We signed up and then went for our first workout in the Pasadena Club off Arroyo.
I wish I d worked out first because I would have never signed. I mentioned this to Irma after finishing my 1st workout. She said that I should give it a chance and if I still felt the same that she would work with me. I thought that I might be over reacting so I told her that I would give it a chance and in a month I'd let her know what I thought. She said that if I have any issues to just come and see her.
So a month went by and I still didn't like the facility. Some it had to do with the atmosphere but most had to do with the old limited equipment that was biomechanically unsound. I just felt at this point that I was going to be less motivated to workout than I desired so I called Irma, on the phone, and we discussed how I was feeling and that I was still disappointed. Irma still insisted that when I made my decision that she would "work with me" to resolve everything. I took here for her word but didn't realize that she was being cunning and misleading with her choice of words, at least not yet.
So my wife, at this point, was still training with Adrian at the club so, instead of canceling before 30days I allowed the memberships to continue and the monthly to continue being deducted from our account.
I had stopped going to the facility for several months prior to the conclusion of my wife's training with Adrian in May of 2009.
Now I felt it was time. I was less fit than before signing up with Irma at Bodies in Motion and mentally it was taking a small toll on my self-perception and day-to-day "just feeling good."
My wife drove to the club and was told by Irma that there was no way out of the contract at this point. I then drove to the facility and talked to Irma myself, discussing what her and I had talked about the very first day and then just 30days after signing up about "working with me" when I made my decision.
Like anyone confronted with being misleading or just plain lying Irma bounced all around trying to tell me what she "really meant" when she said that she would "work with me". I reiterated that from the very 1st day I was unhappy but, I would give the facility a try noting, that Irma said on the 1st day, "that if I have any issues to come talk with her" and she will "work with me."
Irma insisted that there was nothing that she could do at this point and canceling the membership was not an option unless I could prove I was moving and would be 25 miles from the nearest affiliated facility.
I told Irma that if she would have told me on the very 1st day that I had to make a "clear cut" decision to stay or to cancel I would have canceled and walked away on day one, after my 1st workout.
I'm not sure even still what Irma meant when she said she'd "work with me"
But I do know now it had nothing to do with what she intended it to sound like.
So Im still paying for a membership, that my wife and I will never utilize, until January 2010, which will be $704 dollars later.
I feel really stupid not walking away on day one and equally stupid that I trusted Irma Vargas.
I have not had work since March 7th 2009 and my wife and I are just barely getting by paying all our bills. Having to pay both of our monthly dues at a Health Club that neither of us are using and, at this point will not go back just because of the circumstances with Irma, really hits harder than it should.

Sincerely, Misled

Posted 05/19/09 | Report Abuse

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Bodies In Motion has just undergone a corporate buy-out and a major renovation. The women's locker room feels more spacious and polished. It has a dry sauna, but not much more in the way of amenities. I've visited the Santa Monica location twice, and Pasadena is bleak by comparison. No hot tubs, no climbing wall. But there is the option of visiting the other locations. The gym, locker room and studio areas are all clean and well-maintained.

When I signed up three years ago, I was thrilled by the variety of classes. Unfortunately, these have slowly been dropping off. Joey's Afro-Latino Groove is a Monday night (only) highlight for anyone that enjoys learning choreography as part of a high-impact aerobic workout. Any class taught by Charletha will teach you something new about your personal fitness. Pilates mat classes are becoming rare, and yoga classes always have been. Their new "yogalaties" class (a word an English professor friend of mine resists saying) will leave you wanting more yoga and pilates. Their kickboxing classes are always solid ways to get in your aerobics, but after two years of classes, I still don't feel that I've been well instructed in the basic techniques.

My gym membership costs twice as much as my sister's LA Fitness membership. I justified that when I joined because I wanted that variety of classes, and I'm still sure that I wouldn't have made it this far without that wonderful jumpstart. But most of the classes I used to attend religiously are gone now (though the instructors are still teaching locally). I haven't switched to a less expensive gym for two reasons: I never have to wait for aerobic equipment, and I'm free to do mat pilates on my own in the class studio when it's available, or in the pt room anytime.

I'm comfortable there. The teachers and staff are friendly, and it's clean. Highly satisfactory, but not as inspirational as it once was due to a depleted variety and number of classes.

Posted 11/23/07 | Report Abuse

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little else. While some classes are good with qualified instructors (Javier, Tom, Robert, Steven), others are bad. What's with the girls who teach boxing / kick boxing who have never been around the sport before? It shows, and they should not be instructors when they are not at the proper level, because they don't know technique. As a former 5 year member, I signed on at the time they were promoting the "renovation". In five years, it never happened. Questions about the "new locker rooms" etc. were met with blank stares by the staff. "Renovation" talks are a ploy to get you into a long term contract. Also, when you quit, make sure to send notice via certified mail. Their tactic is to try to tack on an extra three months once you've notified the gym (according to a former employee), knowing that most people won't go to Small Claims Court for 150 bucks or so. This happened to many former members, so beware. Generally, this place is poorly managed and has little concern for the members. Other places are more deserving of your money.

PROS: Location, size of facility, open-ness of space.
CONS: Not much else.

Posted 04/10/06 | Report Abuse

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This gym has it all-- lots of machines, a full schedule of well-taught classes, a friendly staff, and its never crowded, even at peak times. The facility is nice and has all the standard gym features, but I was most impressed by the extras-- fully-equipped boxing and pilate studios.

I took a kickboxing class and loved it; it was great exercise, a lot of fun, and completely pressure-free despite my beginner skills. They also offer advanced classes for members with more experience.

PROS: No lines for machines, lots of classes, friendly and knowledgeable staff,
CONS:

Posted 06/15/05 | Report Abuse

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this place is great, all classes are included in your membership, nice atmosphere.The cost of membership and monthly payments are a little too high though, If money isn't an issue then you'll enjoy this place

Posted 01/05/05 | Report Abuse

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