SC
Stanley Cochrane
6 days ago
Absolutely filthy gym with equipment that has been broken for months. The staff are kind and do their best to accommodate you, however the company itself is super unprofessional and honestly predatory. Be very careful signing up for a yearly membership as even if you move away, it has to be 30km away from the nearest Fitness World for them to cancel it, which is insane.
This gym is always packed no matter what time of day, and cleanliness rules are definitely not enforced (there is an older gentleman that works out in underwear often, and more than half the users do not wipe down machines).
If you can, literally go to any other gym. Even at $15, or whatever they are charging now biweekly, it is not worth it at all.
I’m very disappointed with my experience at Fitness World. Customer service was unhelpful, and my concerns were not properly resolved.
Canceling a membership is extremely difficult, even on a month-to-month agreement. I was given multiple explanations and excuses that did not make sense, which made the process frustrating and stressful. This felt misleading and not transparent.
Additionally, the cleanliness of the equipment and washrooms needs serious improvement, and the way customer concerns are handled feels unprofessional. Overall, the service quality has clearly declined.
I hope management takes this feedback seriously and improves transparency, cleanliness, and customer service.
SJ
Sobhan Jahangiri
Dec 2, 2025
I’ve been going to this Fitness World location for about a year now, and I think my review is fair and balanced. I started right away with weekly personal training and that shaped most of my experience.
My first coach was David. I trained with him for about six months. He was young, dedicated, and extremely talented. He’s the kind of trainer who pushes you to break limits quickly. Unfortunately, he had to relocate, and because of my contract, I needed to choose another coach.
That’s when I started working with Sensei Shota Yagami, and I’m still training with him today. He is, without exaggeration, the most professional coach I’ve ever met. His Japanese-style discipline and long-term planning are on another level. He plans 8 weeks ahead, gives detailed programs in the gym’s app not only for our sessions but also for the entire week, and even offers guidance on sleep, recovery, and diet (including vegan and vegetarian plans). His expertise alone is one of the main reasons I continued my membership.
Other coaches such as Parash, Matheus, Laura, and Adam are also consistently kind and professional. I haven’t trained with them directly, but I’ve seen how attentive they are with their clients. They never pressure people into buying personal sessions and always consider everyone’s time, needs, and budget.
The gym itself has two spacious floors.
• The upper floor has a large studio for classes and free use between sessions, plus a patio with fresh air and punching bags.
• Across both floors, the equipment selection is excellent. The weight racks are complete and all standard machines are available.
You can finish your workout by using one of the three types of massage chairs, and if tanning is your thing, the booths are available (I personally haven’t used them). The showers are convenient if you’re heading somewhere after training.
However, there are a few issues worth mentioning:
Gym-related issues:
• Sometimes repairs take a long time, and the fix can be sloppy. Recently, after a repair, the decline chest press and shoulder press seats wouldn’t adjust properly.
• Ventilation—especially on the lower floor—needs improvement. When it’s crowded, the air becomes damp, the windows fog up, and breathing gets uncomfortable.
Customer-related issues:
These are not the gym’s fault, but they affect the environment:
• Some members ignore the rule about leaving personal belongings in lockers. Gym bags, umbrellas, and jackets get left around like street clutter, blocking pathways.
• A number of people don’t clean equipment or return weights after use. This is irresponsible and makes it harder for everyone, especially anyone with mobility limitations.
• And finally, hygiene. Some gym-goers simply don’t shower and insist on wearing sleeveless shirts despite having a strong, vinegar-like odor (a mix of sweat, protein powder, and cumin 🤮). I truly hope they read this and take hygiene seriously—for everyone’s sake.
Pricing
The gym offers various plans and promotions throughout the year. If you sign an annual plan, it automatically switches to month-to-month after the first year unless you give a 4-week cancellation notice.
Personal training is $89.99 CAD/week for weekly sessions. If you buy packages of 3, 5, 10, etc., each session becomes more expensive (typically over $100).
Summary
Fitness World Howe Street is a solid, inclusive downtown gym with great equipment and excellent trainers—especially Sensei Shota. For what you pay, you get a lot of value. Despite a few issues, I would still choose this gym again if I went back in time. I’ll update this review if anything changes.
— Sobhan