WHAT MAKES A good gym for you? Perhaps you like space to swing a kettlebell, luxe equipment, next-level recovery facilities, whiz-bang tech and intuitive and encouraging training staff. Or maybe you prefer a more Spartan approach? Barebones equipment, a conspicuous absence of mirrors, some ancient fight posters perhaps, but mostly just want somewhere to lock in on your goals, without frivolous distractions.
The perfect gym probably doesn’t exist, but there are plenty out there that come pretty close. Our job over the 12 months is to work out in gyms across the country, as we search for a fitness space that, unlike most of us, has no weaknesses.
THE GYM: Soma Health and Wellness Club
LOCATION: Aurora Place, Ground Floor, 88 Phillip St, Sydney
FIT-OUT: Luxe. Soma is a study in quiet luxury, with dim lighting on the gym floor befitting of a fine dining restaurant, state-of the art TechnoGym machines and specially branded dumbbells. The reformer Pilates room features soft lighting with a creamy cocoon-like décor and whimsical arch mirrors that highlight your form from all angles. The recovery room is similarly atmospheric, while the bathrooms echo those of a boutique luxury hotel. Overall, the subdued lighting and muted décor create a feeling of refuge from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding CBD.
CLASSES/SERVICES: Soma offers reformer Pilates, HIIT and stretch/mobility classes, as well as personal training. New members are assessed using state-of-the-art body composition scanners that track bone density, hydration, muscle mass, imbalances, visceral fat and metabolic rates, as well as postural analysis aimed to highlight areas of weakness and potential growth. The data links up to the Soma PT app, to create a customised program for every client. On-site nutritionists, physios and health professionals are located within SOMA’s Health Hub. Recovery options are comprehensive with traditional and infra-red saunas and a mineral cold plunge pool. There are also complimentary towels and a next-day laundry service. Membership is capped at 500.
Soma Health and Wellness Club
FOUNDERS: Originally based in the nearby Chifley Tower, SOMA was founded back in 2019 by personal trainers Simon Anderson and Franco Atashi, and senior lawyer and co-founder Amy Atashi. With over three decades of combined experience in the fitness industry, they boast an intimate understanding of what corporate clients want and expect in a fitness club.
VALUE PROPOSITION: Soma is aimed squarely at the corporate class, aiming to offer its busy clients a refuge from the stresses of their workdays. “Most of the time we deal with a lot of barristers, lawyers, finance, property people, who work in stressful busy environments, doing 10 to 12-hour days,” says Anderson. “We’ve tried to create an oasis where they come here for an hour out of their day and it’s time for themselves to concentrate on their health, their fitness, their wellness. They come in, do a PT session, they might do a reformer class, a yoga class, stretch mobility, whatever it is, have a sauna, a cold plunge and feel brand new again. You go back to the office, you’re ready to go for another round.”
It’s also popular with visiting celebrities: Glenn Powell, Winston Duke, Rebel Wilson, Rüfüs Du Sol, NFL player Nick Scott, and actress Tessa Thompson, have all dropped by for a workout.
COST: $96 a week, which includes all classes and use of recovery facilities, plus complimentary towels and laundry service.
DUMBBELL SCORE
5 OUTSTANDING
4 EXCELLENT
3 GOOD
2 BELOW AVERAGE
1 ENTER AT OWN RISK
SOMA: 4.5
If you’re a city worker looking for an elevated workout space, Soma offers a luxurious experience and comprehensive array of facilities at a competitive price.
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Find out more about Soma Health and Wellness Club here.
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Meet the man behind Australia’s most exclusive gym
