In an interview with Fox News Digital, Kenny Santucci \u2014 New York City fitness trainer<\/a>, gym owner and host of the “Strong New York” podcast \u2014 revealed the attributes of a great gym.<\/p>\n FITNESS EXPERT REVEALS SIMPLE RULE TO GET IN SHAPE WITHOUT DREADING THE GYM: ‘JUST MOVE’<\/a><\/p>\n “A lot of people traditionally look at gyms [as if] they have to have all the bells and whistles,” he said. “Spa, bathrooms, all these things. For me, a gym is a gym. I go there for the equipment, I go for the culture, I go for the look and feel of the place.”<\/p>\n He added, “You can have an incredible gym [that’s] a garage gym, and you can have an incredible gym [that] somebody could have built for $10 million.”<\/p>\n Amid today’s wellness renaissance, many gyms and fitness clubs can cost hundreds of dollars per month, depending on the level of access and amenities offered. A New York City fitness trainer (not pictured) has a different view of what makes the best gyms. <\/p>\n Santucci, who visits new gyms across the country and posts his experiences on social media, said he looks for a balance between aesthetics and equipment quality, as well as “great people.”<\/p>\n “I think you could go and get in a sweat or a workout anywhere \u2014 but if the people are great, that’s what creates that great culture,” he said.<\/p>\n MEET THE 80-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO HELD A PLANK FOR 50 MINUTES \u2014 AND LEARN HOW HE STAYS FIT<\/a><\/p>\n “If you ask the average person who goes to most big-box gyms, the things they tell you they love about the gym are, \u2018Oh, I love the showers. They have really nice towels.\u2019 It’s nothing that actually pertains to the gym, and I believe that people should go to the gym to progress and get better<\/a>,” he added.<\/p>\n With these goals in mind, Santucci revealed some of his top-rated gyms in the U.S.<\/p>\n Life Time Fitness<\/p>\n Life Time is a chain of luxury health clubs<\/a> in the U.S., offering amenities like indoor courts, swimming pools, saunas and group fitness classes.<\/p>\n Santucci applauded the gym’s founder and CEO, Bahram Akradi, for being a “very hands-on owner and operator,” overseeing hundreds of gyms across the country.<\/p>\n The facade of an upscale Lifetime gym is shown in Walnut Creek, California, on April 8, 2025. (Smith Collection\/Gado\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “[Bahran\u2019s] mentality and belief system around the fitness space, I absolutely love,” he said.<\/p>\n “I give a lot of credit to the guys who are owners and operators,” Santucci added. “They\u2019re in the space, they’re making sure things are going really well. I think if you’re going to be in the gym business, you should be one of those people.”<\/p>\n Anatomy Gyms (Florida)<\/p>\n Santucci also shouted out Marc Megna, co-founder and co-CEO of Florida-based Anatomy Fitness for building a must-visit space.<\/p>\n NYC UNVEILS FIRST INDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS AS GAME TRENDS IN US: SPORT IS FOR ‘EVERYONE,’ LIFE TIME CEO SAYS<\/a><\/p>\n “It’s an incredible culture there, and I think that’s what they really push at that gym,” he said.<\/p>\n “The way the gym\u2019s set up, the cleanliness of it, the aesthetics \u2013 you walk in that place, and you want to train \u2026 and those are things you can’t just buy … You have to live it, love it and be involved in the day-to-day operations.”<\/p>\n Powerhouse (New York\/New Jersey)<\/p>\n In a newer recommendation, Santucci said he\u2019s enjoyed stopping into Powerhouse Gym in New York City<\/a>.<\/p>\n The New York- and New Jersey-based gym focuses on weight training and bodybuilding, including a powerlifting room and boxing rig at its locations.<\/p>\n “I just started going there, once or twice a week,” he said. “I really love the people and the culture.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n The Training Lab (NYC)<\/p>\n For more of a group fitness and Hyrox training experience, Santucci recommends The Training Lab in New York City. (Hyrox is a global fitness racing brand and training system with affiliated gyms and training clubs.)<\/p>\n FITNESS EXPERTS SAY VIRAL WORKOUT FEELS ‘TOO EASY’ BUT DELIVERS REAL HEALTH BENEFITS<\/a><\/p>\n “The guys over at Training Lab are incredible,” he told Fox News Digital. “Another owner-operator who’s involved in the business, who partakes in everything. I think they’re another great gym.”<\/p>\n “If you’re looking for group training, Training Lab’s a great space.”<\/p>\n Participants compete in the burpee broad jumps event during the Hyrox fitness race at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Bangkok on March 21, 2026. (Amaury Paul\/AFP)<\/p>\n The price of wellness<\/p>\n While some premier gym memberships can cost upward of $300 a month, Santucci said it isn\u2019t necessary to spend a lot to get results, although it may result in more of an “experience.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “We need to restructure the way we think about health and wellness<\/a>,” he said. “People aren’t going out as much anymore. They’re not spending as much on alcohol.<\/p>\n “It’s all what you prioritize. I prioritize fitness,” he went on. “I belong to multiple gyms. I have a membership to TMPL Gym here in [New York City]. I have a membership to Renzo Gracie’s. That’s what I like to do with my money.”<\/p>\n While some premier gym memberships can cost upward of $300 a month, Santucci emphasized that it isn\u2019t necessary to spend a lot to get results. (iStock)<\/p>\n Santucci said what he\u2019s paying for goes beyond the equipment \u2014 pointing to the staff, community and overall atmosphere as part of the value.<\/p>\n “If you want that elevated experience, you’re going to pay for that just like you would at a hotel or a restaurant or anything else,” he said.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/weight-lifting-diabetes.jpg\")
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