I mentioned a couple of times my gym I have been using in the past years, Powerhouse Gym, in Capital Group Building (next to Swissôtel). The large gym with the hundreds of workout machines and treadmills was quite an experience but I was not that happy with the quality of services. Though so-called part of an American chain, it looked like the US guys stayed home. English speaking staff, none, and most were often clueless when any question was asked. The personal trainers looked ok. Sauna (dry and hot) were a disaster, the air was often horrible and temperature control was a joke. Ever been running at 28C, hot dry air in the middle of winter? Maintenance of equipment close to zero, unless something really broke down. I never saw anybody from the management checking the gym. Bad sign.
Then they moved around April to another building, “behind Poly Plaza”.
As I had been fighting bronchitis thanks to the horrendous Beijing pollution, I did not go to the gym for quite a while. Indeed, running in Beijing is bad for your health – just two days ago API was at 500 with the WHO limit being 50. Gesundheit!
Two days ago I discovered the “new” Powerhouse Gym, after a long search. It’s hidden in a building next to Dongzhimen bridge. What a disaster. Tiny, run down, chaotic, 80% of the equipment gone. Looks worse than a bad local gym. I think I saw 5 people. All windows open as the aircon does not seem to work. All the traffic pollution coming in from the 2nd ring road and Dongzhimen Wai Road. All you need to get your lungs and your nerves busted.
Guess there goes Powerhouse gym, most probably financially busted. Pay a visit to California Fitness and see what they do in terms of management.
I still have to decide where to go now… But I will forget about the 3 months remaining I had actually paid for and the 6 months they promised to give free to “compensate” for the move. I could as well run along the 2nd ring road.