CKO Hackensack

This is a general comment about CKO in general.
Its a really good workout but Im not sure its worth the high monthly rate they charge. Also YOU WILL BE SORE THE NEXT DAY. NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO EVERYDAY

I love this gym, though I’m not currently a member as I moved away. BUT — I’m thinking about rejoining and just making the effort when I can.
The place is spotless. It is a low-​key gym without a lot of classes other than the kickboxing. I like the place for weight-​lifting with cardio warmup on treadmills, etc. The hours work for me, the staff is pleasant and helpful, and as I said, it is very clean. Free parking in back, too.

CKO Hackensack is part of the CKO NY/​NJ chain whose other locations you can find at
I’ve only been to CKO Hackensack so all my comments here apply to them.
This place gives a freakin’ great workout. I am tremendously out of shape and got pretty bored of the «Bally’s elliptical until you drop» routine. It took a while to muster the courage for the trial class. Their big thing is that they use real heavy bags and this makes for a harder workout. Indeed, the gym floor has a bazillion (or maybe 30?) long heavy bags suspended from the ceiling and they do, in fact, make for a killer workout. Contact them and let’m know which class you plan to show up for, and arrive 10 minutes early. They’ll fit you with gloves and show you the moves you’ll use in class. At this point, you will look and feel like a special-​ed power ranger… and this is ok.
The hour class varies by instructor, some of them are very kick and punch technique-​y and will run drills and combos to work on that. Other instructors are demons sent from cardio hell and the technique of what you’re doing is nowhere near as important as just flailing non-​stop until everything burns. Either way if you haven’t worked out in a while… well, tomorrow’s gonna hurt.
The class generally includes a little jogging or jump rope, painful variations of crunches, push-​ups and squats, various kick/​punch combos on heavy bags, jumping jacks and other cardio and pre/​post stretching. Each instructor tends to have a different style and pace. As a result, you’re never really bored and always pretty challenged.
Participants range from crazy fit to «just barely made it off the couch today» (me!) and a good mix of men and women in each class. Class size goes from 5 – 15 peopl on average.
Back to being out of shape, there are often times I can’t do part or all of a particular exercise. The instructors are AWESOME and being able to suggest a replacement to help you work towards being able to do the real thing. Seriously, you can ask for help at any time, and they’re accommodating and encouraging. I’ve never been made to feel bad or left out for huffing and puffing around at my own pace.
Oh! CKO Hackensack is hidden in the back of the bottom floor of a tiny gym that I think is called Body and Soul. There’s no signage for it on the street. — A side note for others trying to find it.