John Reed Fitness: A Gym Experience Like No Other
By Jenna SemenovaJohn Reed Fitness is one of the hottest gyms in Dallas filled with, but not limited to, trainers, influencers, and athletes. Surrounded by the pros, what is the experience like for the average gym goer?
The standard Tuesday morning doesn't usually start with a DJ playing music so loud that the beat matches your heart rate. But on the corner of Berkshire and Westchester, in Preston Hollow, this is the case all day, everyday. Here lies John Reed Fitness, a traditional gym turned night club turned playhouse.
My Valentine’s Day began at 8 am walking through the doors where, like Narnia, I crossed the threshold and entered a world much different than the one right outside it. This ordinary door, in all its greatness, transported me to a sort of utopia where morale stays high, muscles grow big and everyone looks perfect.
Taking in 30,000 square feet of space provides an ongoing sensory experience. Red and orange lights illuminate the dark space showcasing the walking path from the cardio room to the free weights and all the spaces in between. In the dim light, I assess the avant-garde decor strategically positioned providing me a unique viewing experience from every angle. I look left and in the corner I see a mannequin doll, no shorter than six feet, covered in rhinestones. Sixteen black fans stacked four at a time surround the bedazzled figure. Weird, but kind of cool. I turn right and scattered across the cement wall separating the functional room from the free weights are gold painted skulls placed on small wooden planks. Cool, but kind of weird.
Moving into the free weight section I walk past a sea of men in their thin tank tops that overly expose their pecs. Where are all the women? I scan the room and find three. I then head towards the Smith machine nestled conveniently away from the crowd. The barbell placed between two steel rails rests in a dimly lit corner, allowing me the peace to start my squats while still being able to peoplewatch.
My corner serves as a perfect viewing place for influencers in the wild–they look so majestic flexing in front of their phones set up on their tripods. Please refrain from using flash so as to not scare or harm them.
On my last set of squats, I see in my peripheral a man with muscles only comparable to Michaelangelo’s David. He stands there shirtless pacing back and forth between the cable machine and his camera, constantly fixing the angle.
Was I in the recording?
I shuffle towards the group fitness room. Closing the door and entering an empty and spacious room covered in mirrors seems like the safest space to protect myself from any more unwanted cameos. This shall serve as my safe haven for the rest of my workout.
I scroll through my text messages, eagerly searching through the clutter to find the podcast episode my roommate sent me. I grab two dumbbells and a mat and lose myself in the episode.
Thirty more minutes go by before the next disruption. “This is John Reed radio,'' the speaker blares over the voice of Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. “There’s a lot of bad words… Like reallyyy bad. We warned you.”
Given the choice between learning about what foods are most beneficial for my gut health and the Spanish rapping of Bad Bunny, I choose the latter and take out my headphones.
It’s 9:45 am now. I have 15 minutes until the yogis file in for their morning workout. I need to leave but I don’t want to leave.
Through the chaos of the music, the tripods, and the overall sensory experience, this part of my morning serves as my escape. I chose to cross the threshold to this world before the hours of lectures, the unnecessary homework, and the folder of saved job applications consume my mental load for the rest of the day.
Image from https://us.johnreed.fitness/clubs/dallas-tx/