RAW Condition Gym

I changed my previous gym for Raw condition gym and I don’t regret. I just feel very comfortable and relaxed here, everyone is minding their own business, the amount of good machines is crazy, there is plenty of space and though busy hours are still busy hours here, it is still very manageable. There are two floors, on the first floor there is a gym: cardio area and a huge free weights area, on the second floor there is a spinning studio and one more studio with equipment for boxing. This gym reminds me of my first gym ever when poshness wasn’t a thing yet and people genuinely came to sweat.

Don’t be fooled by the meatheady exterior — Raw is a really solid gym. I broke up with my posh hotel gym for Raw, and I’m seriously glad I did.
Upon first glance the weights section is admittedly intimidating, but for the most part people keep to themselves and you never have to wait for equipment or machines. Plus, it’s seriously affordable. I think I paid € 299 for 6 months.
If you’re like me and fear a serious body building setup, I’d say avoid the majority of the ground floor. Around the perimeter is like 15 cardio machines that get the job done, and they have a nice selection of kettle bells along the mirrors though. There is a studio upstairs that has a great selection of classes (though I’ll admit I still haven’t been to one) and there’s also a spin studio if you’re into that sort of thing. You’re free to use either space if there’s not a class on, and it’s a personal fave since it has more lady-​friendly barbells, mats and space to stretch.
All in all, I really like Raw and would definitely recommend.

Big fan of this gym — especially as paying for the year upfront works out at half what i was paying in London.
While there is a spin studio (6 classes a week) a boxing/​MMA area and a few standard cardio stations this placing is primarily about weigh lifting. It’s incredibly well stocked with at least two of just about everything you’d need. It also doesn’t seem to get as as busy as most commercial gyms i’ve used, meaning you rarely, if ever, have to wait for something.
Bar a couple of examples, most users are far more considerate than previous gyms i’ve used and you’re not constantly hassled by PTs (looking at you Gymbox and Fitness First).
There are also a few guys who bodybuild & power lift competitivly and they run classes from time to time if you want to take your workouts/​diet to the next level (i like my food and beer too much though)
The changing rooms are pretty basic which doesn’t bother me as i live just round the corner, but i could imagine that being an issue for some peope.

I’ve always enjoyed being active and whilst the gym was never my first choice for it, I always went to keep fit when the football season was over. As time goes on, I find myself enjoying it more — the challenge of pushing yourself further and beating yoour best is a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be. About 15 months ago, a friend of mine who had never been to a gym decided to make a change. About a year ago he joined Raw and the transformation is nothing short of astounding. He’s fitter, leaner and has had to change his wardrobe completely as his clothes have long since become too big for him.
And so on St Patrick’s Day, I used the free pass he had been given to join him at Raw.
It’s not a Hollywood gym. Theres no glitz and glamour here. But it is a proper gym with many machines and many weights with which you can strengthen and tone every muscle imaginable. There are also lots of machines for cardio workouts.
It basically has everything. And I’ve decided to join.
I can’t give it any higher praise.

Went down today for the first time. This place is immense. A proper gym is a rare and beautiful thing. I am most definitely a fan.
There’s nothing spectacular here, it’s just honest and well thought out. Most gyms are designed to attract members, not serve them. They have vast ranks of ‘cardio’ machinery, with a few token weights and a swiss ball thrown in the corner. Although this looks impressive, most of it is pretty useless when it comes to getting a real workout. And that’s often reflected by the size of what I refer to as the ‘dormant clientele’, you know that 60−90% of gym memberships that go unused for months at a time?
Raw is different. The ‘cardio’ equipment takes up less than a fifth of the floor space. The rest is devoted to all variety of heavy things. Heavy things are fun to lift. And there’s literally no end of choices from standard free weights, to smith machines, to tractor tyres and heavy ropes. There’s even a sprint track if you really feel like making yourself suffer (viper bands, shudder).
There’s some really nice, practical, touches to this gym as well. Things like mirrors. There are mirrors everywhere, so you can check your back is straight, for example. Or that you’re elbows and knees are going in the right direction when you’re too tired and shaky to trust your balance alone.
The free weights are all in one place-​how wonderfully logical!
The smith machines have their own weight stacks-​an absolute life saver. Certain other gyms would have you hauling forty kg across the room, lifting it a few times and then hauling it back. No, this is not good for me, it’s a pain in the hole.
And have you ever forgotten your gym pass, or worse, put it in your kit bag before your kit? And then had to spend twenty minutes at the turnstile groping around, pulling half your stuff out, and generally looking like a muppet trying to find it? Well fear no more, friend, for here they take fingerprints! Seriously, they’ve a little machine that scans your index finger. It’s so handy, I never leave the house without my fingers. No doubt it also adds to security.
In summary, I like it. Possibly a little too much.

I joined this gym a couple of months ago and I’m delighted with the place. It has an excellent atmosphere out on the floor, everybody’s there to work hard and it really rubs off. There’s very little standing around and chatting here… be warned… this is a gym, not a leisure centre!
The staff are knowledgable and helpful and it rarely gets too busy. There’s a lot of great old-​school equipment around that you don’t see too often like olympic rings, chains, a huge tyre and plyometric platforms. They also stock a good selection of protein/​creatine supplements from NutritionX and 1 or 2 other brands.
There’s a popular boot camp type class on at 6pm most days that usually has a good turn out among other classes like spinning, yoga and pilates. While it’s a great place for serious fitness enthusiasts, there are a few beginners around too who are given just as much respect as any other client of the gym.
The only drawback in my opinion is the slightly limited cardio section. There are 6 treadmills and 2 cross trainers as well as the spinning studio upstairs (and 2 climbers I think). These are sufficient during most of the daytime hours but if you’re going in straight after work you might have to wait for a free machine.
Otherwise, this is a phenomenal place to get into shape and I’d recommend it to anyone.
P. S. The sauna is a nice touch too after a good session.

RAW Gym is a well equipped friendly gym. Not your usual ‘gerbil on treadmill’ type (although you can if you like) but a mix of bootcamp, spinning, weights, mma, boxercise etc. The staff who are all look professional in their uniforms and are more than happy to answer questions or give advise. The clientèle are mostly serious fitness addicts although there is plenty of room for noobs so dont be put off by this.
I did the Kettlebells there for over a year which is on a Tue and Thurs. If ye wanna get fit for Christmas or even afterwards to loose the pud arse/​belly it is well worth a go.

RAW. RAW. RAW. Say it aloud and it will make you sound like a roaring toned lion. Yes RAW is rather butch.
You have no idea the efforts I have gone to, to find a gym near where I live, I was about to give up and resign my beer filled arse to the bar stool for eternity until I saw RAW.
As Steinunn noted, it is very hidden away hence it alluding me for long. I was a tad frazzled yesterday when I nervously entered the shrine to butchness so frazzled in fact that I decided to do some shopping beforehand…
I bought a loaf of bread and loo roll. I also forgot my shopping bag so I walked in clasping my brown bread and toilet paper like my baby only to be greeted by a huge hulk of a man. I felt rather silly and self-​conscious, I’m usually good with the protocol of gyms, that is I know you should wear sporty clothes but I was just browsing with bread and bog roll. I started to fear that he thought I had bowel issues.
Grand big gym with lots of machines. Opted for the 3 month membership (€ 199) in case I turn into the huge hulk of a man.

The first time I set foot inside Raw, I thought it was a quiet little coffee-​shop. The reason I confused a gym for an afternoon hide-​out was the man with the flyer outside who dragged me inside with the promise of a free espresso. And an espresso I got plus a grand tour of the premises.
To find the gym you need to walk inside the South Richmond Street entrance, go through the room with the coffee machine until you find a door that takes you to a dark alley where you’ll find another door, the one that opens the actual gym. Yeah I know, it’s pretty strange. But just wait until you finally get inside!
Raw is a macho place filled with macho men, stretching their sweaty bodies and flexing their muscles. I can imagine that fitness competitors have a membership here for life. Watching the heavy-​built weight-​lifters oozing testosterone in every corner, I couldn’t help thinking about the Village People video as I felt myself shrink to the floor.
For a girl, this wouldn’t bee my gym of choice, at least not until I get much more fit. Maybe I should try their Boot Camp class, if the trainers are anything like those who pay for the work-​out, I’ll loose the Christmas kilos in no-​time (I’ll report back in a month, if I survive).
So, if you wanna be a macho, macho man, make sure to get a membership. Hey! Hey! Hey! I