There are many gyms in LA with all the state of the art equipments and machines but what is unique about Sports Club/LA are their trainers. They are the best. I joined Sports club six months ago when I was a skinny lean guy but with their guidance I have made huge progress and turned myself into Mr. Muscles. I can’t thank them enough. They give individual attention to each and everyone at the gym, but if you don’t think that you need their guidance they will leave you alone. They provide you with a schedule to follow, what to eat, what not to eat, exercises to perform on a particular day and other things. The place is huge, with plenty of empty space. It’s never too crowded. The only downside is the parking space, but that’s a price you have to pay for being in the heart of Los Angeles. Sports Club also has facilities for playing racket ball and basketball. They also offer discounts on long term membership, so if you are in it for the long run then it’s a plus. Many famous celebrities workout at this gym, so if you are lucky enough, you can also get a chance to workout alongside them. Spend your time working out, don’t waste it flipping through a phone book. Use globalYP.net, online yellow pages.

Building Balanced Bodies’  (of Canton, Ohio at 4150 Fulton Dr) sole owner and employee is Anita, an energetic young woman who’s a talented ballerina. When she needed to build strength, she discovered pilates, studied it, and eventually opened her own studio. She understands that a variety of people are interested in pilates for a variety of reasons. In my case, I simply wanted to increase strength in a number of places that traditional free weights and nautilus equipment couldn’t cover. She offers mat classes and other services, but I am most familiar with her one-on-one training. The sessions take place in her comfy studio, which exists in a building which was once a charming home. It is quiet, dimly lit and there are no intrusions of any kind, allowing the customer to concentrate on particularly difficult exercises. For such a small business, she owns an impressive amount of equipment–balls, chairs, arc barrel and my arch enemy, the reformer. She’ll guide a novice through proper use of the equipment with a firm but motivating hand. This is important because it is a grueling hour, and as relaxing as the atmosphere is, the studio is a place of a certain amount of suffering. Anita understands this, and without her gentle guidance, I very much doubt many people would stick with the demands of pilates. The name of the place is utterly appropriate; one builds one’s body WITH Anita, and she’s the secret behind the studio’s stellar reputation. To find other stellar places and services, try looking on globalYP.net, a local directory available online.