Spinning in Manhattan

Since its founding 15 years ago, Synergy Fitness has advocated for wholesome lifestyle changes through rounded programs and guidance. Rather than setting their members adrift in a sea of befuddling equipment, their nationally certified lifestyle coaches equip them with the planning tools to forge healthy habits both during and beyond workouts. Their advice can cover exercise, nutrition, and endurance, emphasizing the importance of variety in any health regimen. They keep abreast of the abreast of the fitness world's most recent developments with mandatory classes in their areas of specialization—which include diet, yoga, and MMA.

On the gym floor, machines from Hammer Strength and Life Fitness whir along with limbs, and individual television screens on some machines threaten patrons with footage of their grade-school choir solos if they don't keep jogging. Group fitness classes at certain locations take advantage of indoor cycles and boot-camp drills to condition physiques, and MMA programs tutor muay thai, kickboxing, and jujitsu.

The spinning wheels of a bicycle take on greater meaning at SoulCycle Union Square. The goal isn’t just a full-body workout or shedding buckets of sweat, but rather to create a “cardio sanctuary” where riders can clear their minds and find inspiration while riding in candlelight. In the Union Square branch of this popular nationwide exercise chain, 57 bikes support up to 13 lessons per day that incorporate core training and upper body work with up to 5-pound weights. However, it’s the community aspect of the workout that has helped make the place one of the hottest trends at the moment. Participation can be a serious financial commitment, and reservations are a must for peak-hour sessions, but there’s certainly no shortage of happy customers willing to pay the price, especially when celebrities like Jake Gyllenhaal clip into the pedals next to you.

East Coast Fitness’s 20,000 square feet house separate rooms for martial arts, spinning, group workouts, massages, and general exercise. On the main floor, strength-training machines, cardio machines, and free weights occupy separate areas, with additional room sectioned off for stability ball exercise and a herd of eight punching bags. Certified trainers and instructors also lead more than 15 classes that range from spinning and Pilates to yoga, kickboxing, agility training, and Zumba. In the lobby, a juice bar refreshes hungry athletes and a separate room offers free childcare.

At Simply Fit Astoria, exercisers move toward their health and fitness goals while surrounded by friends, supportive strangers, and trainers dedicated to helping them succeed. Here, classes—such as Zumba, Piloxing, and Spin—are as fun as they are challenging, often incorporating everything from Latin dance moves to colored strobe lights, or props such as exercise balls and weighted maracas. And, for gym goers looking to one-on-one attention, personal trainers are also on hand to lead individual or small group sessions that provide students with the extra help and encouragement they need.

Climbing onto one of many Spinner Pro bikes, stationary cyclists can slip sneakers into the straps or clip in with SPD-equipped cycling shoes at the start of each 45-minute class. Every bike at Simply Cycle Astoria is equipped with an adjustable resistance knob, allowing students to customize the level of their workout—so every class is open to all levels of cyclists. Classes take place seven days a week in the early morning and late evening, so clients can sneak in a class before work or after smoothie happy hour.

Though the Fitness Factory’s classes, weight-loss center, and personal trainers embody the efficiency that the gym’s name suggests, its commitment to personalizing the gym-going experience diverges from the idea of a factory. Each of the three upscale locations—outfitted with unique amenities—is designed specifically for different types of exercisers. In Palisades Park, the building’s three floors embody various disciplines: the first floor teaches endurance, the second floor's concentration is sports performance, and the third floor focuses on strength training. The Rockaway spot blends exercise and entertainment with a cinema room that projects the latest blockbusters on a true silver screen as members hit the treadmills. Edgewater builds communities and core strength with Pilates reformer classes, hot-yoga studios, and rooftop yoga sessions where guests can salute the sun and shame lazy clouds. No matter the location, each gym pampers members with saunas, babysitting services in a toy-filled playroom, and a smoothie bar stocked with healthy postworkout snacks designed to help build muscle.