Curves

I really like curves! I would absolutely recommend Zumba because it’s such a blast to do and it never feels like people are judging you. Laurie and Melanie are great business owners that really know how to run a successful business and deliver great customer service!

Melanie and Laurie, the owners are so sweet! The facility is always nice and clean, and Zumba with Rumi (spelling?) is so much fun, you don’t even realize you’re burning calories. I just love the atmosphere here, and I don’t feel judged like I did at Chuze. 5 stars all around.

I went into Curves on July 23, 2015 to cancel membership and gave my 30 day notice on that day. I got my statement from my bank and it showed an autopay to Curves on 90 615 for %68. The membership fee is $ 34/​month so I assumed the charge was for August and September. I called and spoke to an employee who asked me a minimum of 5 to 6 times if I had my contract which I answered each time she asked. I said that I gave my 30-​day notice on 72 315 so my membership should have ended on August 23, 2015. In trying to count how many days I had given my notice, the employee was telling me there were 28 days in July and that is how she was calculating my notice. 28 days in July? Really?
She finally said she couldn’t resolve the problem and that I would have to speak to one of the owners. I left my name and number and one of the owners called me the next day and told me to get paperwork to show them. So I went back AGAIN and brought my contract and spoke directly to Laurie Ghannam, one of the owners. I showed them my autopay credit card statements and bank statement which clearly showed the transactions. They told me that their records did not charge me in September, but they DID charge me as my paperwork clearly showed. They told me the problem was with my bank. They kept telling me that they couldn’t tell from bank statement that the $ 68 was to Curves. I showed them my autopay statements and bank statements that said autopay.
Laurie Ghannam, one of the owners, was argumentative, just kept repeating the same thing over and over again to me, not even listening to what I was saying. I was so disgusted with there attitude and knowledge base about customer service that I grabbed my paperwork and stormed out of there. I called and left a message when I got about the terrible customer service I experienced. The next day the owner called and left me a message repeating the same thing to me that she did in the store: still not resolving my issue.
TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! The customer is definitely not top priority here!!!
My daughter called for me the next day to get the owner’s name and the employee that answered the phone argued with her about why she was asking for the owner’s name. It took about 4 times of her asking the employee (Dara or Darla???) for the owner’s name for her to finally give it up. RIDICULOUS place. They should be out of business!
NIGHTMARE customer service!!! AWFUL Place!!! DO NOT GO!!!

Not a gym! Staff has no credentials in sports training. They were very eager to sign me up until he figured out that I knew what I was talking about and then literally they hung up on me.

I bought a coupon on Groupon for a reduced rate. I showed up to see the location and how to use my coupon. The first thing I heard was, we are closing in a few minutes (this was at lunch time) and were not opening again until 3pm. Well hello, nice to meet you too, yes I would LOVE to workout in such a «warm» «inviting» gym. (said me in my head)
I know my current weight does not depict that I workout, but I do know my way around a gym, and this place is good for an older woman who is intimidated by working out in a high energy gym that has men around, and that is the ONLY woman who should walk through these doors Also you shouldn’t have a job and be able to go to them during their limited hours. The other thing is you should be comfortable talking to someone who is clueless
My coupon had expired, so this woman told me that I can’t use it. I looked at her and said, actually in California it’s against the law to NOT honor the face value of my coupon. Which means you are required to use my $ 35 towards a membership (month, etc) if I choose to enroll here. She looks at me and says, «I don’t know about that, I will have to ask the owner» Well dear business owner, you should educate your employees about laws that can and have effected your business.
This place is not a good fit for a woman who has previous experience with physical fitness. This would be a good starting ground for someone who is very self conscientious about their body and has no gym experience. The equipment is very VERY basic, and would bore most of us in a matter of days.

I tried this place out back in March because I received a free month from my work. I was really excited to try this location because it was so close to home, I could jog to this location, work out, and jog home… Perfect work out! Well… The only thing I was pleased with was Jennifer one of the staff members, she was very nice and set up my consultation appointment and showed me how to use the machines. That place to me is a rip off! First off the machines SUCK. They told me the more you push on the machine the more they push back at you meaning they a resistance machines. I could use most of those machines with my pinky. Out of the 20 or so machines they have there I liked one, I felt like that was the only one I would be able to get any type of work out on. I told her that and she said they just replaced the resistance in the machines in the beginning of the year so they were new. Then you have to pay to take a Zumba class each time on top of your monthly fee. The ladies did look like they were having fun while taking it but who wants to pay all that money for an okay work out, not me! Anyways, I only used the machines one time and I never came back. I could get a better work out on my own… Don’t waste your time.

Love it! The ladies are so nice and friendly!

I’ve been going to Curves for years now, and for me it has more pluses than minuses. At the end of the day when I’m tired, it’s a lot easier to face going to exercise when you know it’s going to be 30 minutes and you’re done. It’s not as challenging as lifting weights or tough cardio classes but you can push yourself and get a pretty darn good workout.
What I like best about it is the atmosphere. It’s all women so there isn’t all the chest-​beating, posing, and primping that goes along with coed gyms. Yes, most of us are «older» but that typically ranges from 40s to 80s and occasionally a younger one shows up (but she is dragged to a closet and eaten by the old ones so we never see her again). Just kidding. Watching too much True Blood. But what in god’s name is wrong with older women? Most of us actually have a brain, have been places and done things, are good conversationalists, and don’t smell of stale violets. And best of all you don’t have to feel self-​conscious about your bulges and jiggles because we’ve got ‘em too.
Gail is one of the instructors at Curves La Mesa, and Gail is what makes that club feel like home. She knows all the guests and greets each of us by name as we come in. She chats with all of us about what’s going on in our lives and tells funny stories about happenings in her life. She reads trivia questions periodically throughout the day, and it’s a pleasant distraction. She is the catalyst that keeps the conversations going, along with a varying cast of mostly engaging and witty members.
My biggest gripe is about the hours of operation — for all Curves locations, not just this one. I understand these are small clubs with fewer members than a gym that can afford to stay open 24 hours. I imagine most people can find time to get in there before or after work. But they close early on Fridays, so for me that means no M-​W-​F workout schedule which is what I’d prefer. On Saturdays they are only open until noon, and they are closed on Sundays. I work on Saturdays so I can’t do M-​W-​S either.
Not only are they closed on holidays, they are often closed the days before and/​or after, or close at noon the day before. So the 4 days that I could get in there are frequently reduced to 3 or 2.
I find I have to supplement with other forms of exercise since I can’t get my M-​W-​F schedule to work. Still I find it worth going, and easy to confront even on the days when I really, really don’t feel like it. I can endure just about anything for 30 minutes. And I always feel better for having gone.

I feel a little odd writing a review for Curves, because I find it to be a personal matter. It all depends what you’re looking for in a gym. So this is my view:
I have a 24 hr fitness membership, but never use it. So when Curves had a $ 14 month trial on thedailysave site, I decided to give it a go. I don’t mean to push 24 Hr, but it’s my only experience to compare it to.
First off, the location is very private & secluded. It’s in a small run-​down shopping center that’s not busy. So you won’t have a lot of people watching you if you’re worried about that. There is ample parking.
Melanie was awesome & very personable. During my entire month, I was extra comfortable if she was working that day. The others were nice, too, but job-​nice, mostly. She remembered people, asked them how they were, and even worked out with them. She said hello & goodbye like she meant it, not like it was her job.
I loved the workout at first. But as the month went by, it was harder to motivate myself. It’s designed to be 2 laps, 30 minutes. But sometimes after 30 mins I’d feel like I could do/​needed more, but I’d done what I was supposed to. You can go longer if you want to, but I felt like it was time to go. The older guests like a quieter, slower pace. And older women do make up the bulk at this location as it’s right next to a retirement home. They skip machines, they leave without finishing the workout, they turn down the radio & they like the old, slow songs. I like the old stuff, too, but not while I’m working out. I completely understand & I know it’s what they need. Many are just here for the socialization. But, you really have to have the motivation within yourself. I’d be working to a fast pace, only to have an elderly woman come in & throw off my groove. I’m a little ashamed in the middle of all the hot, hard, sweating bodies at 24, but there’s something motivating about them.
I don’t always use the machines at 24 — they’re kinda intimidating and the big muscle men seem to be annoyed to share & they have to reset it, so it’s nice to use machines in a comfortable setting & have them built in to the routine. But some of them are awkward, and some of them I couldn’t get enough resistance. You have to work the machines in a pretty fast pace to get any. I’d prefer a constant weight, and a slow, purposeful movement. Curves is a cardio workout & is all how much you put into it. You can go as fast or slow as you like – Great for the days you’re not feeling it, but I was missing that push to work a little harder. There’s something motivating about a treadmill you’re going to fall off of if you don’t keep moving, and seeing those little numbers telling you how you’re doing. Or being in a class with others pushing themselves so you have to, too.
The stepper machine was broken the entire month. It wouldn’t read anyone. It’s supposed to read your heartrate, and adjusts the next 3 machines if you’re using the smart cards. However, if it’s broken, it’s adjusting the machines incorrectly. The smart cards do help to motivate some, but I also felt they were adding to an already clunky workout & not accurate. Getting my time in at the station is hard enough, but now I have to swipe too? And remember to bring it? The repetitive lady saying «change stations» was surprisingly easy to ignore, almost too easy sometimes, and I’d find myself missing her cue. The place is small, and even 10 people can jam the flow. They will advise you to the least busy times to come.
At $ 30/​month, plus signup fees, it’s as expensive if not more so, than the 24 Hr. At 24 Hr, they have showers, pool, hot tub, steam room, a myriad of equipment to keep the routine new, classes, sport courts… all included in the price. Not to mention extra amenities you can pay for. You can also bring your kid to daycare. At Curves, you get one room, and the same machines over & over & over.
Curves has women. Truly this is their greatest asset. It’s a comfortable place to be. I felt like I could go and get a good workout in peace. People started to know me, talk to me, and I started to know them. It was a great place to start the day & get a little chat in with other women. They were hilarious & I have some really good memories. You don’t have to talk — a great many would come in and just work out and leave without a word. It was close to my kid’s school, so I could just zip there after drop off. I DID start going to the gym daily and got some sort of exercise in, even if it wasn’t the level I was looking for.
So in the end I weighed my options, and decided since I have my 24 membership, I’d be silly to join another gym and not use it either, because at the end of the month, I had quit going to Curves. It wasn’t motivating and I felt like I was wasting my time.
I decided Curves wasn’t quite right for me; it’s not what I am looking for in a gym. But it truly is a personal matter — I met many women that loved it and had been going for years. Which is why I still give it 4 st