Looking for a new gym to join can be tricky. For one, there are so many factors. Does the gym have the proper equipment for the workouts you like? Is the commute manageable? Is it within your budget? Well, lucky for you, if you’re a Dallas, TX resident or are visiting, we have a complete guide to gyms in the area.
To help you choose a gym to join or upgrade to, we’ve organized this guide by workout type. So whether you want to train like a Ninja warrior, lift like a bodybuilder, or hit the basketball court like Jordan, you’ll find the perfect Dallas gym for you.
Dallas Area Gyms: Every Part of the City
The cool thing about gyms nowadays is there's more than just cardio and weight lifting gyms. Especially in Dallas, Texas, it's 1.3 million residents are offered dozens of types of gyms.
If you live in the center of the city, we recommend Paradigm Gym. This downtown gym is described as an athlete’s dream because it’s in tiptop shape, just like you will be working out here. Paradigm has HIIT classes, Bootcamps, Cardio burst classes, and more on along with its state-of-the-art cardio and weightlifting equipment.
Members adore that the I Love Juice Bar in Lakewood is right down the street for post-workout fuel. This is super convenient since eating after a nice workout is crucial for building muscle, increasing energy levels, and replenishing electrolytes.
If you’re on the north side of Dallas and looking for a new gym, we love SWEAT. This Dallas gym strikes the perfect balance between cardio and weight training too so all your bases will be covered. Another gym we recommend is called Trophy Fitness and it's located uptown.
This highly rated fitness center is a smaller trainer gym with all the standard equipment plus sleds, TRX equipment, turf, and more! TRX equipment is for suspension training, and it's quickly become a favorite for gym goers who want to tone up and gain core strength.
One of the best parts about this spot is that there isn’t a gym bro vibe. Unfortunately, many people struggle to find a gym that doesn't feel intimidating so it's nice to hear Trophy Fitness is easy-going.
Balance and Strength at Climbing Gyms
Indoor rock climbing is great exercise for your cardiovascular health, coordination, flexibility, and muscle strength.
Plus, it's keeps you mentally focused, which relieves stress. So if you're the kid who was always climbing trees, or if you want to improve your upper body strength then a climbing gym is your best bet. You can get your Spiderman on at the two highest-rated bouldering gyms in downtown Dallas, SPARK and Oso Climbing Gyms.
Boxing Gyms: Punch Bags for All
Boxing is an effective, empowering cardio workout, and we love it! And don’t worry if you’ve never boxed before because we all have to start somewhere. Especially since boxing has only recently become a popular form of exercise.
Boxing gyms like Maple Avenue Boxing and Fitness are very welcoming to newbies. They also have fair pricing, excellent teachers, and boot camps that prepare you for the ring if you’re into that kind of thing.
Work your Core at CrossFit Gyms
If you’re in downtown Dallas and CrossFit is your workout of choice, you’ve hit the jackpot because there are tons of CrossFit gyms packed in the area.
To name a few, there’s CrossFit 214 and CrossFit Dallas Central.
Many CrossFit enthusiasts claim it’s easy to get hooked on this type of fitness because it’s nice on your wallet and makes you feel like a part of a community. It’s good to see that Dallas caught onto the CrossFit trend and offers plenty of gyms for its residents who are interested.
Work Your Technique at Basketball Gyms
On our list of fitness gyms, basketball gyms in Dallas are surprisingly the scarcest of the bunch.
That's because basketball courts are typically found in recreation centers or big gyms, like Cedar Hill Recreation Center. They have huge courts that are perfect for a game of pickup or practicing shooting. Another fantastic option is the Addison Athletic Club.
If you’re an Addison resident, then you only have to pay a one-time $10 fee for access to the club. Here they offer beautiful basketball courts, TRX equipment, squash courts, swimming pools, and so much more.
MMA Gyms: Become a Fighting Machine
The cool thing about MMA gyms is they have so much to offer that you’ll have trouble deciding which class to take.
Since MMA encapsulates boxing, wrestling, Muy Thai, karate, and more, you can find a variety of classes for each martial arts discipline. For example, at Octagon MMA, they offer self-defense classes, kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
If you’re looking for a MMA gym that provides a close-knit community and challenging classes, then check out Mohler MMA and Mezger Martial Arts. Mezger offers six-week transformation challenges periodically, which are great for boosting your fitness game!
UFC Gyms for MMA
Some cities offer gyms specifically for UFC, which is the institution that organizes MMA fights. However, in Dallas, you will primarily find UFC training within MMA gyms.
As mentioned in the MMA section of this guide, Octagon MMA is an excellent option that offers UFC training along with other types of mixed martial arts.
Next Generation MMA is a superb gym for those interested in UFC because Chris Brennan is an instructor there. Brennan was a former UFC fighter who now coaches UFC, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and more at Next Generation MMA.
American Ninja Warrior Gyms
Perhaps the most intense and niche gym on the list, American ninja gyms are training centers filled with obstacle courses to help you improve your agility, stamina, strength, and coordination.
If you consider yourself an obstacle warrior, then you need to go to the appropriately named ninja warrior gym called Obstacle Warrior. It’s located slightly north of downtown, and it’s a great place for all ages. The challenge spaces are arranged by age group, so you can bring the kids and get them tired out too.
Texas Powerlifting Gyms
Are you interested in becoming a bodybuilder? Or are you just a big fan of protein and throwing weights around? Well, then we recommend joining a powerlifting gym. A powerlifting gym will give you a hardcore workout with every type of equipment you could imagine, from a buffalo bar to deadlift platforms to tires.
One of the main things that sets powerlifting gyms apart from your run of the mill gym is that every member's goal is to build muscle.
Meanwhile, in basic cardio and weight lifting gyms, everyone's fitness goal varies. We recommend checking out Destination Dallas because it's powerlifting gym filled with knowledgeable members.
Parent with Kids? Find Gyms with Childcare
Getting in your workout as a parent shouldn’t be impossible, but oftentimes it feels like that. Thankfully, there are gyms that provide childcare, which are a solution to keeping both you and the kids taken care of.
Located in West Plano, FIT4MOM meshes childcare with working out because they incorporate your child and their stroller into the workout! They have stroller strides and body back workouts, which are great for strength and endurance training.
This gym is perfect for moms to be and parents of children under the ages of five. Another option is MVEMENT, a futuristic looking gym that provides childcare and killer workouts. MVEMENT has a bougie feel, but the price is budget-friendly so it's the best of both worlds.
There you have it. Every type of gym in Dallas imaginable covered by City Lifestyle. Hopefully, now all Dallas workout fanatics will find their dream gym!