What a REAL gym looks like...

This article is simply for my own sanity. I am going crazy because I am sick and tired of commercial gyms. Too many people buy a gym membership and walk into a commercial fitness gym for the first time and scratch their heads as to what they should do. They look around and conclude that the only thing they know how to do is walk...so they jump on the treadmill and walk for the next 15min. Then they get bored and never comeback.
I personally believe that REAL training facilities are lacking in this part of the world and especially where I live. There are too many commercial gyms and not enough TRAINING facilities. The main difference is that every piece of equipment in a training facility has a purpose and it gets used. Commercial gyms just get as much crap together and then market it as a "gym". Some of the garbage equipment I have seen at commercial gyms makes me wonder what the hell is going on. If you are an athlete and your gym does not at least have a power rack and glute ham raise then it's time to find a new gym.
However, the majority of people will never need the use of training facility. They have no real goals and are content working out and this especially applies to bodybuilders. A bodybuilder has no need for an Olympic lifting platform or bumper weights...that being said, i don't particularly care for bodybuilding to begin with.
BUT if you are a competitive athlete and want to know what a REAL training facility looks like, then feast your eyes on these places...

(Warning: drooling may ensue)

The most amazing thing that I see is that amazing training facilities that you see in HIGH SCHOOLS!! You read right folks...Training facilities in schools are better than any commercial gym. For example...

(click to enlarge all pictures)

Ferris High School - Spokane Washington

West Vally High School - Yakima Washington

Colgate College - Hamilton New York

Canadian Sports Centre - Calgary Alberta

Those are just a few Fitness facilities to give you an idea of what it takes. My actual favortie facility that I have seen is called Total Performance Sports located in Everett Massachusetts. This place, for me, is perfect. It combines all the equipement a strength coach requires along with and monolift squat rack, strongman training equipement, mats for BJJ and even a small ring! Me likey!!!

And finally, when you have no budget at all and you can buy whatever you want and money is not an issue, this is what a training facility looks like...

American Naval Academy Sports and Conditioning Facility

Note: Pretty much every government funded facility in the united states is ridiculously amazing (ie. Army, Navy and Air Force)

Another kingpin in the training world is Atheltes Performance located in Arizona. This facility was voted #1 training facility in the world. If you want to see why, click on the link
http://www.athletesperformance.com/

I hope this gives you all a good idea of what types of facilities are out there. So next time you walk into you commercial gym..remember to shake your head.