Los Angeles Gym Review of Crunch in West Hollywood

This medium-sized Sunset Strip mega-gym is loaded with options, whether you’re into kickboxing, pole-dancing or yoga, or just like to go solo and use free weights and equipment. It’s not a tiny local club; Crunch has other locations in New York, Miami and the Bay Area. Nor is it a top-tier, ‘snob appeal’ elite Los Angeles gym. It falls somewhere in the healthy middle area, but still of course attracts loads of actors and would-be actors due to its central West Hollywood location (just a stone’s throw away from the Directors Guild).

When I was first a member of this gym, one of its biggest features were the sightings of then-hot couple Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra. The pair has of course since split up and they’re no longer members of Crunch (as far as I know). It’s still the actor/rocker’s gym in many ways but seems to have mellowed out--which is good, if you’re thinking of joining a health club in LA for the right reasons. After all, cache isn’t always enough to get you off your butt and into the gym.

There are still some would-be Scarlet Johanssons and Zac Efrons to give you something to aspire to, so to speak. But Crunch is not as insecurity-inducing as say, ‘perfect ten’ oriented Equinox. You can go in without too much fanfare and harassing and just get your workout done, if that’s how you like to roll.

If on the contrary, you enjoy a sense of community, there are loads--and I mean loads--of classes like Booty Slide, Washboard Abs, Vinyasa Yoga, Afro-Brazilian Dance and Cardio Striptease, that offer a more social experience. There’s even a boxing ring, and kickboxing seems particularly popular year-round.

Crunch is always on the up-and-up when it comes to the latest fitness equipment--from machines that micro-target and isolate certain muscle groups to high-tech workout experiences. In the latter category, their virtual reality route bikes (though not new anymore) always made my cardio time a joy. My favorite included a simulated trip around Mayan ruins in Mexico.

Alas, if you’re not really into classes and trendy exercises, you might want to stick with a small local gym, which will end up saving you a lot of money. But if you’re big on options, love people-watching and can’t get enough of the latest fitness crazes, this is the gym for you.

Crunch is big on entertainment (a perfect fit for LA) so they often have parties and events with free samplers, special offers and a chance to meet and socialize with other members. This is a health club that embraces the old LA concept of ‘gym as lifestyle.’

Find Crunch Fitness gym on this map of West Hollywood

Crunch Fitness

8000 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323-654-4550