TLS has a cardio, machines, and a free weight section. The cardio equipment is aplenty, with bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and step-ups available. It's never fully crowded in my experience. The cardio center got 3 TV's, so those of you who just want to chill while doing their cardio can watch tv while slacking off, hehe.
TLS is just chock full of machines. You want it, you have it. But I don't use the machines that much. One I use is the Smith machine, but for a totally different purpose: narrow-grip pullups, as wide-grip pullups (how people usually do them) hurt my shoulder a bit for unknown reasons. It also has an assisted chinup machine, which I use to perform chinups. I "remove" the assisted part by setting the assisting weight at 5 lb, followed by putting my keys and water bottle on the platform to fully bring it down.
As regards to free weights, it has about 7 free benches, with 2 dumbbell racks up to 25 kg's, a flat bench, incline bench and shoulder press rack with benches, a bicep curl bar and rack, few EZ bars up to 50 lb, a cable station, and a free full olympic bar (45 lb/about 20 kg). Come at the right time, and it'll never be full. The worst time would be late evening; it's good to claim a bench beforehand at this time period.
As regards to dumbbells, there are dumbbells up to 100 lb. But I've never seen anyone use more than the 25 kg's. I used a pair of 60 lb's once for farmer's walks, and that was the max I could do.
As regards to plates for the free weights, don't worry; there' plenty from the extra light 2.5 kg's all up to the 20 kg's (of which there are 6). If you're into lifting heavy, you won't find a problem.
It also has hyperextension benches, and 2 pullup racks with bars for pullups, neutral-grip pullups, dips, and hanging leg raises.
However, it doesn't have a power rack! If you're into barbell squatting, you're out of luck mate. To substitute squatting, I did some snatch-grip deadlifts, and plenty of single-leg squats (pistols and Bulgarian splits). Forget Smith machines; doing squats in them is like having a car run over your foot. No natural motion whatsoever.
It has 3 swiss balls, and a few med balls. The weird thing however, is that there are no walls to throw those med balls; at the free weight section and most of the machines section, the walls are covered with mirrors.
As regards to trainers, there are a few that are good, and there are few that are remarkably bad. There are some trainers who have no certification, and teach against common sense, e.g. bending the back with straight legs to perform stuff known to me as "what the fuck?" deadlifts. Or how about "let's shit that curvy back" "reverse" squats? There are trainers who don't know what a snatch is, and tell me it's going to break my shoulders. If any want to train with a trainer there, I'd highly recommend Wei Wah. He knows what he's teaching, and was able to instantly recognize exercises I used at TLS, which I don't see others do, like conventional deadlifts, bulgarian split-squats, pistol squats, and single leg Romanian deadlifts.
For those who are interested, the gym has 2 weight scales, an electronic BP monitor (for what I don't know) and a Tanita BIA body composition analyzer. The changing rooms have showers, and at the moment the showers are being equipped with hot water systems.
The environment is good. Everyone comes with a positive attitude. The staff is friendly. And best of all, even though the rules state no barefoot training, the allow me do so responsibly. The only problem is that I see many chatting more than actual training especially in between sets. Nice way for trainers to make business I guess; the slower the progress, the longer they stick with you.
But sometimes, no, usually, they close earlier than advertised. On weekdays, plan to finish by 10.30 pm, and on weekends, by 8.45 pm. And the music they play is sometimes just crap. Britney Spears ballads? Ugh. Lady Gaga is ok, the hip-hop is ok. But love songs are not acceptable.
"I don't know much, but I know I love you..." Everybody will miss their lifts hearing that.
All in all, decent for a weightlifter. I can't say good, cause a good gym for weightlifting always will have a squat rack. No excuses. Smith machines don't count. For cardio freaks, this is the gym for you, except it doesn't have a track (for real life sprinting). But you don't need an air-conditioned area to sprint do you?
Pros: Adequate dumbbells, adequate space, not crowded at the right hours (especially morning and post-dinner). In practical, you can barefoot train. They allow deadlifting. Very good training environment.
Cons: No squat rack, no jump ropes (travesty!), and some of the trainers are shit. Some of the music serves estrogen in teacups your grandma uses.
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