Mercy - Fitness Center

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I really liked both facilities and their staff. I LOVED that we could join and pay month to month, however, they changed their policy to an annual membership with a contract. I quit at that time because I only use a gym during the winter when the weather is bad.

I've been a member of Mercy Fitness Center for a little over a year and primarily use the Walnut Lawn location.
Positives:

1. 1) The room where they hold exercise classes is usually empty most evenings and has stability balls, free weights, and other equipment you can use on your own. It's a great room to do stretching after a workout.
2. 2) Free towels!
3. 3) They have all of the basic equipment one needs to get a full workout
4. 4) Clean restrooms and women's locker room
5. 5) The monthly fee is reasonable and discounts are available
6. 6) I'm not paying for a lot of amenities that I don't use
7. 7) There's no initiation fee
8. 8) Indoor track

Negatives:
1) Hours on weekends (The Walnut Lawn location closes at 5:30 on Saturday and 5:00 on Sunday).
2) Some of the equipment seems dated, but I suppose if they brought in state-of-the art equipment they'd have to raise the fees.
Overall, I'm happy with this fitness center. The only reason I might start looking at other gyms is that I'd like later hours on weekends

10/26/13 UPDATE:

Shortly after I submitted this review, Mercy Fitness made some relatively significant changes. Effective 11/1/13 Mercy Fitness will adopt a Medical Fitness Model which basically means it will focus on individual and or group exercise training for people with, or at risk for, chronic or other health conditions or for those individuals requiring specialized care (such as older adults and people with disabilities). Seniors make up about 60% of the membership at Mercy Fitness.

I think the individual and corporate membership fees are still very reasonable and most fitness centers do charge an initiation fee. Mercy Fitness will no longer have free towel service, and they will close earlier--at 9:00 p.m.--on weekdays.

The thing to consider about joining this gym at this point would be whether the Medical Fitness Model fits in with your long-term fitness goals.

I really like that fitness center. The staff are very nice and friendly. They are very good, I don't have any complains.

I have attended two different yoga classes - one with Jodell in Spfd and one in Nixa and have been happy with both classes and instructors. I also like that they do not require a membership fee and/or contract for a year to join, you just pay monthly as you go. I would like to see more after work day classes offered in Nixa other than spinning and also some Saturday morning classes would be great!

Keep in mind this is a gym/fitness center. I can tell you it is one of the cleaner places of it's kind in Springfield. That being said; it's still a gym and if you want to eat off the floor you should probably go somewhere else - but the staff does their best to keep the equipment clean. This is probably one of the most demographically diverse places around; and they cater to people of all ages and fitness levels - with both available equipment and classes that they offer. Ask them about their discounts, because from what I have heard, they have discounts available for just about everyone. Senior Citizens, Military, Teachers, Students, neighbors and others. (the odd thing is that pretty much everybody gets a better discount than Mercy Employees - as a mercy employee, that's kind of upsetting). They have lockers and laundry service available and you can use the pool in the Hammons heart building if you so chose. They recently bought and annexed the church to the east side of the building, but I don't know what they are going to do with it. They have and indoor and outdoor track and pretty much anything you could want in a fitness center. It's a nice place - but they really should give Mercy Employees a better discount!! The best part about it - NO CONTRACT!!! Join now or wait until after January when all the New Year's Resolutionaries have given up.

Excellent facility, always clean, lots of equipment. Excellent trainers all are required to be certified with a degree. Staff knowledgeable and friendly. Plenty of equipment have not ever had to wait for a machine. Been a member for 14 years very happy with this center.