The Good, the Bad, and the Long-Awaited: My Experience at the Kustodieva Street Fitness Club

Hello everyone!

If you're reading this review, chances are you've been searching for information on the gym on Kustodieva Street, which has been in the works for what feels like an eternity.

Fitness club on Kustodieva opening I've lived right across from this place for nearly two years, and I've seen the construction site, workers, and delivery trucks almost every day. At first, it was just some building going up, and I'm not even sure if the club built it from scratch or used an existing structure. But the process of installing the equipment took forever: I first found out it was going to be a fitness club back in the summer of 2018. They promised it would open in December 2018, and they even started pre-sales and ran some aggressive ads in the metro and around the neighborhood. Of course, nothing opened in December. And then they pushed the opening back to March 2019, but that didn't happen either. Then it was June 2019... by the time the first customers got their fitness memberships, the year was already over. I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been for them, judging by the discussions in the group and online reviews. Many people wanted to return their money, but I'm sure that wasn't an easy process. In the end, the club started functioning somehow by the fall, and by the end of December, they even opened the pool. Fitness on Kustodieva reviews So, from the time they started advertising the opening and doing pre-sales to the actual grand opening, it took over a year. It's really frustrating to wait that long, especially when you're being fed promises of an imminent opening, but I guess that's just the way it goes. The good news is that they finally opened, and the people who were waiting got a longer membership period as compensation. Fingers crossed that everyone's happy now!Cost and Membership Options

I'm still trying to figure out why the pricing information is such a mystery. You'd think it'd be a straightforward thing to find on the website, but nope – you just get a request to call them for more info. Even in their VKontakte group, the discussions are pretty vague. It's like they're hiding the prices behind a 7-layer cake. I get that prices can change weekly, but that's not an excuse to keep it under wraps. As someone who used to work in the fitness industry, I know that's not how you build a loyal customer base.

But then my friend spilled the beans – there's a promotion going on for buying two memberships (2 for 27,000, 13,500 per person, unlimited for a year). I quickly found her in the contact list and we headed over to sign up. The price is amazing, if I do say so myself. I've got experience with a nearby gym, Fitness House, where they were selling a year-long membership for 14,900 before New Year's. Compared to that, this place is a steal. Plus, they've got a pool. The prices are pretty competitive, especially considering the quality of the facilities.

And if that's not enough, I've also got a Tinkoff Bank credit option that lets me pay in installments without any interest or penalties. I can split the payment over 3 months, with no down payment required, and pay through their app. It's a no-brainer, if you ask me.

One thing that caught me off guard was the need for a doctor's note to visit. It's a standard requirement, but you can get it from your local doctor for around 300 rubles for six months or bring one from your clinic. I actually managed to visit three times without it, and only once was I reminded, and even when I bought the membership, they didn't mention it to me - I had to ask about it myself.

The Club System

I have to say, the club is HUGE - 6,000 square meters is no joke. There's plenty of space, and the design makes it feel airy, with high ceilings everywhere and even some two-story sections. As you enter the club, you'll find yourself in a grand hall:

Right in front of you is the reception desk, to your right is the cloakroom, and to your left is a seating area with a massive staircase leading up to the second floor. And then, through the glass wall, you'll see the pool. The openness of the pool area (with windows all the way up to the ceiling and out onto the street) might be off-putting to some.fitness club for all fitnessThe New Year's decorations are still up, and there's even a Jaguar for some extra flair. I'm not fussed about whether anyone's watching or not (although I do wonder if there are any voyeurs out there?). What I love is the sense of space and freedom that the windows give me. Many fitness clubs have pools tucked away in cramped basements with low ceilings, so this is a major plus for me. Plus, it's great for parents whose kids are taking swimming lessons - they can watch from the seating area in the main hall. The locker rooms, massage and medical rooms, sales departments, and restrooms are all located just down the stairs. They've also got a storage cabinet stocked with all sorts of sports and swim gear - if you forgot something, you can just buy it. Somewhere down there (I'm not entirely sure where, but I think it's from the locker rooms) you can take another set of stairs down, and from the looks of the plan, that's where the kids' area is - kids' locker rooms and sections for gymnastics, dance, and martial arts.

So we made our way down, and it's time to get the key from the locker room attendant. The system here is a bit old-school - you've got to tell the attendant your last name, and she'll check you in and give you the key (and on the other side, nobody loses their turnstile cards). They've promised to switch to a card system soon, so you won't have to give your name every time. Some people already have these cards, which are just simple red cards with the logo, about the size of a credit card. Sometimes you've got to wait a minute or two in line, since there are only two attendants, and people just keep coming and coming.

Fitness at Kustodieva StreetKeys are given right on the branded silicone wristband, which you can wear on your hand or leg (at the pool) or put in your pocket. The blue lock from the turnstile isn't working yet. Fitness Club at Kustodieva Street 11The number is the number of your locker in the changing room. Again, you can ask for a specific one, and they'll give it to you if it's available; otherwise, they'll give you a random one. Some visitors suspect that the ladies at the reception are just messing with them, giving out lockers in a specific range to fit as many people as possible on a square meter (more on that below). But that's some kind of cosmic conspiracy, right?)At the reception, you can order coffee or juice.

Lockers are attended by two ladies, so you can quickly hand in and pick up your clothes. They give you a number, and there's a basket for flip-flops.

Given the current eco-friendliness trend, it's probably a bad thing, but at least the club is clean, and they don't bring dirt and sand into the changing rooms.Changing rooms, or rather, the arrangement of the lockers is a bit uncomfortable due to their larger arrangement on both sides of the long corridor leading to the showers and pool:

The design looks decent at first glance, but imagine a few people trying to squeeze in at once. The open shelving units take up most of the space between the bench and itself, and people heading to the shower or sauna have to navigate between the benches, doors, lockers, and bare bodies: fitness club on Kustodieva And what if there are more than a few? There are too many lockers per square meter. It's a real challenge. Some people head to the corner to change, others wait, and others try to change as quickly and quietly as possible so they don't disturb anyone. It's a whole ordeal. Aside from the 'corridor-style' lockers, there are some decent little nooks:

It's not crowded here, and you can actually fit. As I mentioned earlier, you can try to reserve a locker and ask for one from the 'normal' range. Each nook has mirrors and a large one right in front.There's also a tanning bed and scales in the locker room.

Time to hit the gym!

To do that, you need to head back to the hall, take the stairs. On the landing, there are some tables:

And another thing that adds to the ambiance: The door from this area leads to a corridor with group fitness classes. To the right is the yoga room with mirrors: To the left is the aerobics room: When group classes aren't being held, the rooms are locked with a key. I have to admit, this slightly disappointed me, as I used to love working out in rooms like these, using the equipment from them. The rooms are spacious, with room for 30 people without feeling cramped, and there's plenty of equipment - you can see the number of steps, benches, and dumbbells in the photos. The only downside is that the mirrors are seriously warped. When you're trying to focus on your form, you have to turn your head, and as a short person, it's a bit of a challenge. The farther you are from the mirror, the worse it gets.

There's also a toilet, a water dispenser, and a staircase leading up to the main gym area on this floor.

Gym Area is spacious, divided into zones for cardio, free weights, and machines, which are grouped by body part – legs, arms, and chest: The mirrors in the cardio area are a bit wonky, though.

In the middle, there's a bar with drinks and sports nutrition, and a relaxation zone with tables, a bathroom, and a water cooler – which is actually really cool, kinda like an Instagram-printing machine!

There are plenty of spaces, and the machines are laid out nicely. Near the leg machines, there's a boxing ring enclosed with a net. From the gym, there are two more staircases leading up to the fifth floor – the spin class and MMA area. They're basically just a floor above, separated only by a railing, so the gym feels really spacious and airy, thanks to the high ceiling.

Throughout the club, there's ventilation and plenty of windows, which keeps the air fresh.

Now, let's head to the pool and sauna! As usual, you enter through the showers. I mean, it's a given, right?

The showers are tiled in gray, and each one has gel/shampoo, a shelf for your stuff, and a hook.

I was really impressed by the 25-meter pool with five lanes. The timer and temperature display at the top caught my eye. What struck me was how much warmer the water was compared to other pools I've been to, and the crystal-clear blue color was a nice touch. Plus, you don't get that harsh chlorine smell here.

The pool hosts both group sessions for kids and personal training sessions, so you might find yourself jostling for space on two lanes with everyone else. I've been there, and it can get a bit crowded. There's always a staff member on duty, keeping an eye on things. And don't even think about showing up without a swim cap – it's mandatory.

There are two steam rooms: a hammam and a Russian-style one. Both are spacious, well-lit, and spotless. You'll find shower stalls and a cold-water bucket nearby, along with hooks for your towel. I haven't seen it get too busy in there, and the temperatures are just right.

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The interior of the club is a real showstopper – it's got that industrial-chic loft vibe that I'm really into.

I think they've killed two birds with one stone here - the unpainted ceiling sections, brickwork, and exposed metal don't scream 'lazy contractors' or 'budget cuts', but rather add to the industrial aesthetic. all of fitness kustodieva The staircases and railings are made of thick metal, and it's either black, grey, or brick-red. Even the bathroom lighting fits the vibe: soft, muted tones. Yeah, it's like those makeup store mirrors - you won't find any flaws here: In fact, they've got everything you need, no unpleasant odors, and some soothing background music to boot.

I've got to give a shout-out to the convenient class schedule on their website

I think the mobile version of this app doesn't lag at all - it instantly opens up a tab with today's schedule. You can choose a specific direction or trainer, and it's clear what's free and what's not. Plus, some classes require registration, which is actually a great touch to avoid any last-minute equipment or space issues.

Total

I'm really impressed with this fitness club - I genuinely look forward to going there. Each time I visit, I take a fresh look at the interior, try out different group classes, and even work out on my own. And, of course, I love hitting the pool. It's so nice to be able to track my progress and get a rush of endorphins from exercising.

If I haven't convinced you yet, you can always take a tour and see it for yourself.

Good workouts to you! ?