The main room at the Bodytech gym in Premium Plaza
For better or worse, Medellin is a city divided by economic classes (or stratas). Nowhere is that more apparent than at the gym.
Bodytech gym is a chain of high-end gyms located throughout Colombia’s major cities. They have the largest presence in Bogota, followed by Medellin. Within Medellin, there are currently 9 locations, half of which can be found in or around Poblado.
I first wrote about joining Bodytech gym in February 2009 after hearing reports from other backpackers at the hostel. I checked out the Vizcaya location, and bought a one week membership to start.
Soon after, I moved to Envigado and joined Dynamo gym, as it was only a few blocks away from my apartment, and much cheaper. While this gym was smaller, it was super friendly (perhaps due to the lack of space) and one of the trainers helped me regularly, at no extra charge.
Fast forward to 2010, and I’m back in Medellin, this time living for a month in Belen Malibu, which gave me easy access to Bodytech in Laureles. I signed up for a 6-month membership, which was valid at whichever location I used.
And that was important, because a month later, I’d moved to Ciudad del Rio, making the Bodytech gym at Premium Plaza shopping center the nearest one to me.
Every other day or two, I’d leave Ciudad del Rio and walk through Barrio Colombia to get to the mall. I liked the walk because it took me through a major nightlife area, and I could keep an eye on all the new discotecas being built. At last count, there were over a dozen within a few square blocks.
Bodytech is on the third floor of the Premium Plaza mall, and offers scenic views looking westward across the city toward Cerro Nutibarra, and Laureles.
The location within a mall makes it easy to run other errands on the same trip. After using the gym, I’ll usually stop in Carrefour to pick up groceries, for example.
Last week, I re-joined Bodytech at Premium Plaza. This year, I bought a 3-month membership, costing 540,000 pesos ($306). That equates to $100 per month, or double what I’d paid for access to a comparable Washington Sports Club in northern Virginia.
Despite the cost, which I still find to be too high, the gym does have a massive amount of modern equipment. Treadmills have HD televisions, and there’s a solid mix of free weights and machines. Membership also includes access to group classes, such as spinning, aerobics, and yoga.
The aerobics classes are popular with the women. Guys, you won’t want to miss the moment those classes let out.
Arguably the biggest benefit to joining Bodytech, besides the facilities and pretty girls (which, let’s face it, you’ll find at any gym in this city), is that you’ll be working out with Colombians in the upper economic levels. If you’re looking for friends in high places, or networking opportunities, this would be a good place to start.
One of the downsides I’ve found with Bodytech, versus the Dinamo gym I used in Envigado, is that it’s not the most social place. At least not for me, and not compared to a smaller gym where you’re in closer confines with people.
What do you think, are Bodytech gyms worth the high price?
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The economic level of the people is the PRIMARY benefit to BodyTech, and could be stated in the lead. I could write a book on classism and snobbery in Latin America, but suffice to say that people with money generally don't go to middle or lower class gyms. So BodyTech is their go-to resource.
Also noteworthy, if this should be the definitive web article on BodyTech in English, is that the BodyTechs in Chapinero and North Bogota are widely known as see-and-be-seen spots for gays. It's widely known among expat gringos in Bogota that BodyTech is for gays.
I toured the one at 64 and Septima once, and noticed the smallest plates are 10 pounds. 2.5 is preferable for incremental increases, but 5 is industry standard. And 10? For places void of serious strength trainers or powerlifters.
Finally, I know a guy who was KICKED OUT of BodyTech for doing what gringos would consider macho exercises. But the straw that broke the camel's back were handstand pushups against the wall.
I'm going to have to double check the smallest plates at Premium Plaza, but I'm fairly certain I've used at least 5, if not 2.5 in the past.
Great report, I was thinking about joining one for a month while in Medellin, primarily interested in the one in Vizcaya. From your experience, have you found that all the BodyTech gyms are the same as size, layout, equipment, programs offered, sheer facilities?
I'm sure I am a kittle spoiled here in Vancouver, but pay a hundred bucks a month, at the YMCA, for the men's plus * membership. Brand new facility(2yo) 5 floors of everything you can imagine, including swimming, basketball squash, top floor is a nutrition centre, where they have a full on kitchen, and classes on nutrition, and with the pool, the have whirlpool and steam room. Plus* Membershp gives you a private whirlpool and steam room in the men's Plus* private locker, and of course free towel service and toiletries for shaving and grooming, private lounge are with computer and flat screen, it's really like a private spa. And super clean facilities . They have over 30 different programs that are included with membership , weight training, boot camps, several types of yoga, core programs, squash spinning,basketball, muscle pump, the list goes on, for small extra fee, karate, & Tai Kwon Do.
Just wondering what the Vizcaya location has to offer. Do they have a program similar to boot camps? A lounge area to socialize in after a workout? What are shower facilities like? Steam or sauna or whirlpool? What is the Vizcaya area like? Restaurants or cafe's near by? Thanks again for your post and giving me an inside look at body tech in Medellin.
Hi Marty, while Bodytech does offer some kinds of sports medicine support, and apparently spa services at one ore more of their Bogota locations, you won't find anything like your facilities in Vancouver.
There are some terrific pool facilities near Estadio (the soccer stadium), but they're not associated with any gyms, to my knowledge.
The Bodytech gyms due feature saunas, I believe, but I never use them so I can't comment on how nice they are. I don't even change my clothes or shower there, I just go back to the apartment.
The Vizcaya location is the one I visited 4 years ago, and remember the least, but having been to three now, I'd say they're all comparable in terms of facilities, space, and equipment.
One thing I forgot to mention about Premium Plaza is that you've got great views across the western part of the city, including Pueblito Paisa. The Laureles location had no views.
Thanks for the feedback Dave,.. appreciated, I seen this on the web, wonder if you have ever checked it out,.. it's in Laureles... http://www.gimnasioelmolino.com/site/
Nope, never been there.
100$ a month is crazy, you're essentially paying to see the girls. If you can make that work for you, cool. I'm not a powerlifter, but to be kicking people out of gyms for the stuff they do is a bit nuts. If you don't want people to use chalk or throw weights, put up signs, then if they do it, kick em out sure. Doesn't sound like the guy was doing that.
I assume you paid $100 a month because 3-months is the short term membership but like a full year would be more like $60 a month (which is high, but acceptable if you get classes and all that). I pay about $40 a month and that's 24/7 at any club worldwide of which there are like 2500. Unfortunately none in Colombia.
If you're serious about working out then it won't matter what the gym looks like inside, just so long as it has the gear you need. There's an outdoor gym just outside Estadio that's just flat metal with crappy bars and concrete flower pot molds on the ends of em. I've seen some jacked dudes working out hard with those pots.
I went to Orus (next to CC Obelisco) it was a bit outdated as far as the heavy weight room goes, but the other one was pretty nice. I found it a bit expensive on a day-to-day single entry basis but (I think it was like $10,000 COP) the hours on the place kinda sucked though, I think they closed some parts if not all of the gym during the day for the mid-day siesta which seems ridiculous when people can leave work but they can't hit the gym.
I'm rambling a bit but I think ultimately it comes down to the fact the gym culture isn't the same in Colombia, people are in generally way better shape to begin with and don't need them so the people who want to be a member are willing to pay more for the fancy stuff and they are the ones with all the money anyway so kudos to Bodytech for marketing to a clientele who are accepting of high prices.
Good point toward the end, Brett, about the difference in gym culture. Here, I get the impression (especially by the way the girl's dress), that it's about being seen.
At the same time, I've been using gyms here since 2009, and some of the girls put in a lot of time and hard work in those group classes, and even lifting weights.
I agree about the size of the gym not mattering. If I were still in Envigado, I'd be going to the little Dinamo gym over Bodytech or Forma.
You should check out ALPHA Fitness & Lifestyle in Parque Lleras. A lot of foreigners have told us that they love our gym culture. For people that want to workout and connect to people.
Although I have seen 5 lb plates they definitely don't have 2.5 (at mine) and they only have one squat rack and two benches. To reiterate Bretts point, in my opinion you really are just paying to look at the girls. Fortunately I got this month for free as a gift from a friend...
It is crazy expensive! Bodytech. My novia and I just joined the one in Cartagena for 3 months. Personally, I find the Bodytech in Cartagena to be more of a social metting place....place to be SEEN, than a REAL GYM. The first time we went their, my novia spoke to 9 of her friends....loco
Hello there.
Can I just ask, of that cost you stated, how much was joining cost?
Hi, I don't understand your question. It cost $306 for a 3-month membership.
Hello my name is kelvin . I am a professional natural bodybuilder. I don't compete anymore. I would like to find a good gym in Medellion end of February and the first week of match. Any advice? Also how is the personal training business in Medellion ?
Hi Dave, cheers for the quick reply.
What I mean is when they break down the cost, was there an extra "admin" fee on top of you monthly.
Pet peeve if mine. Funny how it is always negotiable.
No, to my knowledge there wasn't an extra admin fee, but I didn't get into the details with them.
I paid 160.000 COP Admin Fee. It is a one time fee on the 3 and 6 month membership. You do not have to pay the admin fee on the 12 month membership. My novia and I joined the Cartagena Bodytech. It could be different in Medellin.
Oh! The admin fee was 160.000 COP for each membership, as my novia and I joined together, we paid 320.000 COP in Admin fees.
Actually, now that you mention it, I remember paying an admin fee the first time I bought a 6-month membership to Bodytech in 2010. I was told it's a one time payment, and I think they may have given me a 50% discount.
Thank you Dave and Nico, really is much appreciated.
Looks like I am going to have to haggle hard and suck up. At least it is only one time.
In line with prices I pay in the uk. Vancouverites have got it spoiled rotten.
".....it took me through a major night-life area, and I could keep an eye on all the new discotecas being built. At last count, there were over a dozen within a few square blocks."
Woah> 10 discotecas!!
And you say it so innocuously like it's the most normal thing in the world. Talk about doing nothing to dispel the idea of how Paisa's love to party.
Quite the opposite, for a city that doesn't have a lot of tourist attractions, the nightlife is one of Medellin's biggest draws.