COMMON GROUND

Good location. More compact than the other GoodLifes downtown but still has all you need (4 squat racks, 1 Smith machine, 2 flat benches, 1 incline bench, 1 decline bench, 2 leg press). The dumbbell area is quite small. It only takes a few extra people to show up and it can feel very busy. There's a small core/stretching area but it's got some decent equipment. They have most of the machines you'd expect, they're just hidden in a smaller area off to the side of the core area. This club is very clean and modern looking. Also has boxing classes. They validate parking for up to 2 hours after your workout (at least for weekends, not sure about weekdays). You just have to get a ticket when you drive into the parking garage, park in the GoodLife area on P3, and enter your license plate on the iPad stuck to a pillar. Nice view of Bay Street from the cardio machines room!

The closure of the Bay & Bloor GoodLife has been nothing short of a disaster. It has immediately overwhelmed every nearby GoodLife location, and this gym in particular has taken the biggest hit. This facility is already one of the smallest GoodLife gyms I’ve ever seen, with extremely limited floor space and a restricted variety of equipment. The sudden influx of members has completely disrupted the entire ecosystem here. After around 4 PM, the place becomes unmanageable — not only is every single machine taken, but there are lineups in the hallways just to wait for equipment. It’s very possible you’ll spend more time standing in line than actually working out. The gym itself is barely larger than a (big) condo gym to begin with, and the ventilation system was already just passable. Now the entire space is packed, stuffy, and filled with air that simply doesn’t circulate. It makes me wonder: does this location have any kind of capacity quota at all? Or is it simply unlimited entry as long as people keep paying? Unfortunately, nothing will change until another gym opens in the area — and even if GoodLife acknowledges the problem, a new facility won’t appear overnight. Their poor planning has ruined this location. Then again, maybe from a business perspective, doubling the number of members in the same space looks great on paper.

I joined early-2025 because I am dealing with a stubborn running injury, work stress, but, importantly, this GoodLife branch offers cardio boxing (craftboxing) way closer to me than my other gym. All the instructors are great, but I will say I really enjoy Shannon's bagwork and bodywork classes - she emphasizes proper boxing technique and engaged core strength - things that I let slip after years of running and picking up bad habits from mindlessly going through the motions of cardio boxing at my previous gym. I appreciate that she offers modifications and tells people to listen to their body and go at their own pace which you can sometimes forget when you're in the zone popping the bag with your fists.