Westwood Sandymount going downhill

tomdublin

Westwood Sandymount seems to be deteriorating badly. A few weeks ago, a sizeable part of the gym floor was sectioned off as women's only gym (which seems to be empty most of the time), and when I went yesterday most of the remainder of the stretching area had been eliminated by a massively oversized and pointless reception cubicle. Meanwhile, some weights machines and many of the dumbbells have been removed, so as to make the gym look “less crowded” (there are no dumbbells left between 12 and 16 pounds). Instead of replacing the ageing and creaking weights machines, management has just bought dozens of new flatscreen TVs which suggests a bizarre sense of priorities. A trainer told me that several members have recently started to leave in frustration but they can't do anything about it because of "orders from above." It seems they are trying to mutate into some kind of aerobics gym with attached beauty spa which is a pity as the location is convenient and the seawater pool nice. Has anyone tried the YMCA in Sandymount?

Transform

tomdublin wrote: »

Westwood Sandymount seems to be deteriorating badly. A few weeks ago, a sizeable part of the gym floor was sectioned off as women's only gym (which seems to be empty most of the time), and when I went yesterday most of the remainder of the stretching area had been eliminated by a massively oversized and pointless reception cubicle. Meanwhile, some weights machines and many of the dumbbells have been removed, so as to make the gym look “less crowded” (there are no dumbbells left between 12 and 16 pounds). Instead of replacing the ageing and creaking weights machines, management has just bought dozens of new flatscreen TVs which suggests a bizarre sense of priorities. A trainer told me that several members have recently started to leave in frustration but they can't do anything about it because of "orders from above." It seems they are trying to mutate into some kind of aerobics gym with attached beauty spa which is a pity as the location is convenient and the seawater pool nice. Has anyone tried the YMCA in Sandymount?

wow another gym that becomes a 'leisure facility'

2-3 years from now i would put money on it that more people will train from home with a few bits and bobs or train in gyms like www.crossfit.ie that encourage proper training with excellent coaches

death to the leisure facility

tomdublin

You are right almost every gym here either starts out as rubbish or turns into rubbish after a while. But it's like that only in Dublin. Every other comparable city I know of has several cheap basic gyms with a good selection of free weights, well maintained equipment, clean changing rooms, a decent atmosphere and friendly and knowledgeable staff. Maybe the problem is that Irish gyms tend to recruit their management from the "hospitality sector" which is often clueless and disinterested in the actual sport and fitness aspects of a gym. In other countries, gym managers have relevant professional qualifications and take a genuine interest in what they do. Raw Fitness is one of the few gyms in Dublin that’s run professionally (but unfortunately out of the way for me).

Transform wrote: »

wow another gym that becomes a 'leisure facility'

2-3 years from now i would put money on it that more people will train from home with a few bits and bobs or train in gyms like www.crossfit.ie that encourage proper training with excellent coaches

death to the leisure facility

Frank Bullitt

The exact same thing happened in the Clontarf gym.

floggg

Or, like everything else in this world, it could be just that successful gyms have started to go ask corporate and commercialized, and rather than focus on substance, they emphasis the shiny and stylish. Westwood is a chain, an english owned chain as far as I know. I'm sure somebody in an office read somewhere that 4 out of 5 cars prefer lcd screens to dumbbells and ran with it.

RawIs great, but if it ever grows to a point where's, there's 3 or 4 off them, best believe they'll appoint a marketing graduate who will say go with the shiny.

And I bet you all this great little places abroad will probably go through something similar!

mollydog99

Even though I am a woman, I don't understand the need for a female section, its hardly a busy gym by Clontarf standards.
The tiny stretching section now is a complete joke.

Sandymount is an out-dated gym with 90's decour and a hotel gym feel about it.

COH

floggg wrote: »

RawIs great, but if it ever grows to a point where's, there's 3 or 4 off them, best believe they'll appoint a marketing graduate who will say go with the shiny.

Over my dead body :mad:

Transform

floggg wrote: »

Or, like everything else in this world, it could be just that successful gyms have started to go ask corporate and commercialized, and rather than focus on substance, they emphasis the shiny and stylish. Westwood is a chain, an english owned chain as far as I know. I'm sure somebody in an office read somewhere that 4 out of 5 cars prefer lcd screens to dumbbells and ran with it.

RawIs great, but if it ever grows to a point where's, there's 3 or 4 off them, best believe they'll appoint a marketing graduate who will say go with the shiny.

And I bet you all this great little places abroad will probably go through something similar!

do not agree at all because if you go to the biggest chains in the USA like crunch, equinox they are super well equiped and have a massive turnover

The Davestator

The chain gyms are going to do more crossfit, strongman, oly, Kettlebells as more trainers spread out into the general industry. It's already happening in some gyms.

Transform

The Davestator wrote: »

The chain gyms are going to do more crossfit, strongman, oly, Kettlebells as more trainers spread out into the general industry. It's already happening in some gyms.

totally agree so long as the lazy ass trainers get up off their ass and get inspired to actually train people and talk less to themselves in the big gyms

Dazd_N_Confusd

Transform wrote: »

2-3 years from now i would put money on it that more people will train from home with a few bits and bobs

I already started.

Transform

Dazd_N_Confusd wrote: »

I already started.

more power to you and i have lost count the number of my clients that have kettlebells at home and a few bits and bobs for home workouts.

total investment possibly no more than €150 versus a yearly gym membership of €300-€1000+ per year

Dazd_N_Confusd

Transform wrote: »

more power to you and i have lost count the number of my clients that have kettlebells at home and a few bits and bobs for home workouts.

total investment possibly no more than €150 versus a yearly gym membership of €300-€1000+ per year

I went a bit more hardcore than kettlebells. 170 kg barbell set and a big rubber mat. Altogether cost €350 which is cheaper than most gyms around my area. No squat rack or bench as of yet but I can make do.

Transform

Dazd_N_Confusd wrote: »

I went a bit more hardcore than kettlebells. 170 kg barbell set and a big rubber mat. Altogether cost €350 which is cheaper than most gyms around my area. No squat rack or bench as of yet but I can make do.

man a set of rings or a TRX and you are good to go - bumper plates would be nice

Four-Percent

Gintonious wrote: »

The exact same thing happened in the Clontarf gym.

It's a joke in that place these days...