Astral Fitness and Wellness Center

I was deceived by old Unilocal reviews and Google reviews. I tried this place yesterday and boy was it nothing I thought it would be. So it’s 49.99 /​month ok cool. The machines are rusty, and Ancient!!! I tried sitting on a cycling machine I couldn’t adjust the seat because the knob was missing.
I tried stretching my leg muscles on a chair designed to do that and the safety wrist tie was missing. But surprisingly there were people exercising there and socializing.
Honestly it looked like a prison gym. Meat heads everywhere and the ghetto girls smacking their gum. I wouldn’t pay this place 9.99 a month. It’s clean but the rust on the wall edges and machines over power any cleanliness.
Definitely not a gym for me it’s a grungy place. The only advantage is the parking.

I’ve spent the last three weeks trying to find someone here who can help me set up a corporate membership. The first time I called, I was told that I can’t set up the membership online or over the phone, that I would have to come in to the gym & someone would help me. So I go to the gym and am told that there’s no one there who can help me set it up & that I have to come back later in the week (they also tell me that I need to show up before 5pm because whoever handles this leaves early). So a few days later I go back to the gym (mind you, I had to leave work early in order to get there before 5, which is already enough of a hassle) & am told the same thing: come back again another day. I’ve called several times & left my information with them on three separate occasions, asking to have whoever is in charge of corporate memberships give me a call so I can just get this done. I’ve never heard back. I’m done trying & will find another gym to join.

Free parking… Need I say more! I come for the bootcamp via belin fitness but I intend on joining. The staff are friendly and very helpful. No meat market, folks here are serious about working out.

I don’t usually write reviews, but Astral Fitness deserves every bit of the five stars I’ve given it.
I found this gym through a guy I used to work with, and happy that I did. The entire staff is friendly and professional, the locker rooms & showers are always clean, and I have never had to wait to use any of the weights or cardio machines, even at their busiest times. What I think I enjoy the most though is the seriousness and friendliness of the other members that I have not encountered at other gyms. If I’m lifting something wrong, I’ve been shown how to do it correctly. If I need a spot at the end of a set, I never need to ask, someone always steps up to help. My only request would be that the rowing machine were more up to date, or had different resistant levels.
When I recommend this gym, I often say it will either scare the shit out of you and you’ll never return, or it will motivate you to become a better version of you. Although I haven’t been there in a while (I’m more of an outdoor workout (running, swimming, whitewater rafting and kayaking, hiking, biking, etc.) kind of guy during the summer months), Astral Fitness motivates me to stay in shape, and at 46, that’s super important to me. I only wish I had stumbled across this gem earlier.
One very important highlight that I need to mention– one day I was speaking to a member of staff about how I had recently become a vegan, but was having a hard time finding plant based products to supplement my workouts. To my utter surprise, shock, whatever you want to call it, the next time I saw him, he told me he had spoken to his supplier and now had vegan protein cookies available. That kind of caring and attention rarely happens and I can honestly say, I don’t ever see myself looking for another gym. Thanks guys, you’re the BEST!

Hallelujah for Astral Fitness! After going to Planet Fitness for six months, I finally had enough of crappy equipment, idiots sleeping on machines, and awful music blaring from every corner. If you are a person who is actually serious about working out, Astral Fitness can’t be beat. Barbells. Boxes. Medicine balls. Old-​school plate-​loaded machines. A ROW MACHINE! Not to mention tons of cardio equipment, two nice private rooms for stretching, super-​clean locker rooms, and the nicest staff and members I’ve ever come across. Like, shockingly friendly and happy to be there working/​exercising.
If you pay for a year up front it comes to something like $ 32/​month. I will gladly shell out twenty extra bucks over Planet Shitness to get in productive workouts that I actually enjoy. My only regret is that I didn’t find Astral Fitness sooner!

It’s a really great gym and the staff is super nice — although it’s true that the machines are a little bit dated, they all work fine and because it never EVER gets crowded, I never wait to use one. My only complaints are minor — the wood floor in the men’s sauna is starting to fall apart (with exposed nails). And the tacky slideshow on the 15 year old computer and the jazz music as you’re walking in really has to go. lol. Generally people are pleasant (not at all ghetto) and rerack their plates and dumbbells which is a nice change from Planet Fitness, my previous gym. There’s definitely more of a «meathead» attitude here though, so if can’t handle copious grunting and guys letting massive barbells fall after a clean and jerk (it took me a little bit to get used to this), this may not be the place for you.
TL;DR: Pros: nice staff, never crowded, good variety of machines and dumbbells. Cons: dated, meathead attitude. Overall: easily the best gym in the area. You won’t regret joining.

I’m happy I found this gym. The staff is very professional. Tons of free weights and old school machines that work well. They hand out towels, so there’s no excuse to leave equipment sweaty. There’s a free parking lot which is awesome in The Bronx. The locker room is always clean. And best of all, it’s never too crowded, even after work on a weekday. My only wish is for a stair master… the one with the actual steps that rotate. That’s great cardio and awesome for the glutes. But besides that, I’m totally happy.

I love this gym, I always feel welcomed and like I’m part of a family, all the workers are helpful and courteous, I will always recommend this gym

I’ve been to my fair share of gyms and I am actually finally finding a gym that’s not too crowded, fairly priced, and has the space to workout.
I was so happy that I found the stair stepper machine I’ve been looking for forever. Lots of mirrors. Tons of free weights and a nice private room in the back. The equipment is a little dated but I don’t care as long as I can get my workout done without hurting myself. The women’s locker room is nice also with the sauna so I didn’t hesitate after paying for a day pass to sign up. The staff is friendly and the people that actually go there are nice too. I got confused with a machine because I’m shorter and someone helped me out by showing me how to adjust it. Nonetheless it’s not intimidating and they give you towels & parking passes.
The one thing I think would be great is if they extended their hours a little more. I’m usually a night owl with the gym because I work ridiculous hours and don’t like to be caught up in the rush but nonetheless I’m a happy camper.

I currently go to this gym. I haven’t had any issues since i began. The staff was really attentive, even anticipating some of my questions and answering them before i could ask. The gym seldom gets crowded to the point where you have to wait for a machine or locker. And i like that’s it has an old fashion iron gym style. I’m not a huge fan of those bright colored, free pizza giving, trendy gyms. The only thing stopping me from giving it a 5 star rating, is that they could use a couple more machines. Maybe another one, or two ab machines specifically. But i understand that there are space constraints, with the other events that sometimes take place.

best value gym I’ve been too. never overcrowded. people are friendly but are there to workout. good freeweights and welll maintained machines. towel service, showers, sauna and tanning. theres not too many females there but the dudes are polite and mind there own business so I wouldn’t think a girl should feel uncomfortable

I fully agree with Chris. Let me start out by saying this place is NOT clean at all. They have one non-​official sized ring which is a very awkward rectangle shape and doesn’t allow for proper foot work during sparring. There’s 3 heavy bags but only one is actually good. They just RECENTLY put in one speed bag (yes, for the longest time they were a «boxing gym» without even a speed bag) and like Chris said you have to exit the entire building and walk back in to even use the bathroom. It’s ridiculous. There’s only ever two trainers I’ve seen on a regular basis; Shadow and Joe (the owner). Shadow is good but watching Joe do padwork is hilarious; he doesn’t know anything about boxing. I’ve also heard the female boxers complain about him being a creep. The gym is basically DEAD on the weekends and if you want people to work out with you have to go during the week. The place is so small though, on a week day if its crowded more than 2 – 3 people can’t even jump rope at the same time. Their site says «championship boxing» but they have zero champions or even serious competing boxers. The price is pretty reasonable but overall the place is a dump and I can’t even call it a boxing gym; it’s basically a small room with unofficial sized worn equipment. Do yourself a favor and go to a real gym.

Never crowded. Good machines. No crazy roid ragers. And when you do the math. There upfront pricing is really cheap.

A very good gym in a central location near 1 train with a friendly informative & professional atmosphere. Also very clean! …they have a large variety of disciplines to choose from & participate in… i’ve been to many NYC gyms & people here have been nothing but cordial… the the Astral Boxing Club & Coaches/​Trainers are experienced & enthusiastic! an amazing view of the nyc/​bronx skyline! Well Worth a look and a try… i for one am happy i found this gem!

Best gym in the area!
Doesn’t get too crowded and there’s plenty of equipment for working out every body part or doing cardio. So, perfect for going in, doing a quick workout, and then leaving.
They offer classes.
They have a protein drink bar.
Perfect gym for your weightlifting needs, or if you’re just a cardio nut.
Review edit: they do need to get their men’s bathroom faucets fixed though

I joined Astra back in 2003 and I quickly got into shape… nice gym, especially in the evening. Equipment was old but it wasn’t crowded like that Bally’s dump over on 231^st Street… then by 2006 I stopped going and tried to work out at home. Now, five years and fifteen more pounds later, I’m ready to go back. I will be joining as my new years resolution… guess what, that was my resolution for 2011… oops!

This is probably the best gym in the area at its price range. So unless you are looking for a pricey and upscale sports/​tennis club this is an excellent option. It’s not a huge gym, but it’s never crowded and you rarely have to wait for the machine you want. Compared to other Bronx gyms (even chains) this place is pretty quiet, calm, and clean. The number one complaint I’ve heard about Bronx gyms is that they’re, you guessed it, ghetto, but luckily this isn’t a problem at Astral. The staff is great and the members range from young professionals and the before/​after work crowds to older people (in great shape I might add).
This isn’t the kind of gym you go to in order to meet a lot of people and be social, everyone minds their own business and focuses on their workout. The towel service is a definite plus, but last I saw the saunas were shut down. The sports drink bar area isn’t always fully stocked and it’s a little overpriced, but if you forget to bring something it’s always there. If you aren’t a fan of kids you should avoid the after school hours as there are usually a bunch of kids taking martial arts. That can get a little annoying, but in the Bronx between 3pm and 5pm on Weekdays you can’t really avoid them.
Overall I’d say Astral Fitness is a pretty good find in the Bronx given that I used to drive out to Westchester for a decent gym.

This is the best gym in the area has a little bit of everything and never over crowed. The gym is very clean and the other members are willing to help each other. There is tanning, sauna, shake bar and they have some programs for kids too.

this place has kind of junky equipment, but it is clean, not ghetto and friendly… no scene… lots of bodybuilder type guys… i like it so far

it’s really more of a 3.5−3.75 range but I’d rather round up for this one.
It’s not ghetto like Planet Fitness or Bally’s. The men typically leave you alone except when they try to show you how to use the machine correctly, but it’s not annoying… yet.
There are always machines (except that I haven’t been back this month which I’m sure is the peak month what with resolutions and all.) And the locker rooms are clean.
When I first walked into this gym I notice they have a bar, and I thought: «Oh wow! A bar! Now I’ll really come and work out so I can get drunk afterwards and go home.!!» I was really excited until I gave it a good look and noticed that it had like energy drinks and stuff like that… gross.
And they have this machine that’s specifically for the neck! I tried to use it not b/​c I wanted to have a big neck but b/​c… well… it’s a friggin’ machine that works out the neck! I was in awe of it’s randomness!