Each city has its own exclusive clubs that you can only get into if you know someone, or if you yourself are someone to know. But this exclusivist mentality has filtered into many gyms across the US and those who wish to open memberships need to undergo a series of interviews in order to be granted access.
These gyms aren’t like the no-frills Planet Fitness whose mission is to “enhance people’s lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment…where anyone…can feel they belong”; instead, these highly exclusive gyms create a non-intimidating environment simply because the chosen few are all similar and therefore, they actually do fit in and “belong”. At the same time, by selecting their members so rigorously, they also curate the gym’s own image.
If you’re interested in joining, you’ll need to meet some strict requirements: medical evaluation, physical therapy, and training assessment. Others may admit you “by referral only”—like a country club.
After undergoing these evaluations, assessments, and networking, prospective members still might not be granted membership if they are not perceived to be inspirational leaders with mindfulness to promote a community…and a paycheck high enough to pay for the gym’s lavish amenities (which can range anywhere from $350 a month to upwards of $2,000 a month) from a job that is deemed worthy.
Whether or not these gyms’ business models are effective or even beneficial to their members, it seems like they are doing well for now. Would you apply?
