I tried working out at the swankiest gym chain to see if it's worth the money

Equinox

Equinox is arguably the swankiest gym chain in America. 

Members pay $200 to $300 initiation fees and $160 to $250 monthly rates. They rave about the gym's amenities, which include classes taught by former Olympians and spa treatments.

While I’m content with my measly $15 a month gym, I still wondered about what it’s like to be a member of Equinox.

How tough are the classes? Do only beautiful people exercise there?

While I can’t afford its lavish prices in the long-term, I tried Equinox for a week through a friend's guest pass. Here’s what I found out.

Equinox is a nationwide luxury gym.

Equinox Facebook

There are 33 locations in New York, and I was able to tackle five of them. Each location has benefits — some have pools and hot tubs, while others have steam rooms and saunas. My personal attraction and motivation to try Equinox was for the pool. I haven't been able to get in a pool since I moved to Manhattan! 

Signing up for classes isn't as competitive as I expected it to be.

Marina Nazario/Business Insider

I always feel like there's a rush to sign up for a fitness class before spots run out, but that wasn't the case at Equinox. Members use an app to check in, book a class, schedule training, and search for clubs.

Some gyms allow you to sign up 26 hours in advance online, while others offer walk-in only classes. When I signed in for my class at the gym, I was given a number so that employees can keep tabs on who's in the class. No sneaking in here!

The gym itself offers elite equipment for cardio, strength training, and stretching.

Marina Nazario/Business Insider

The screens of the cardio equipment offer every kind of distraction that you might need while running. I had never seen or used anything like it. 

I could go on Facebook, read the news, watch TV, or listen to podcasts all while attempting to run at 6.5 mph. It made my half-hour cardio session fly by. 

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