Sauna, running track, booty room: Townsville’s best gym revealed
From state of the art equipment to ice baths and barrel saunas, Townsville’s most popular gym will soon unveil its next stage of levelling-up. SEE WHO MADE THE TOP 10 >>
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A $3m renovation, state of the art facilities and strong focus on recovery and wellness.
Strand Fitness has expanded and strengthened during their takeover of the Townsville gym industry.
The gym was named Townsville’s best in a recent poll, securing 33 per cent of the vote.
They were ahead of One Million Strong and F45 in the city.
Dean Bodle, owner of the Strand Fitness group, visited Townsville on a holiday from Melbourne in the early 2000s and decided to make the move after falling in love with the weather and community.
After discovering that the gyms were not up to date like they were in Melbourne he set out to build his dream gym with all the newest bells and whistles.
In 2022 he opened up his third Strand Fitness gym in Townsville after spending $3m in three years on the renovation and equipment.
“We’re really not just a gym, we’re a health and wellness and recovery centre now,” Mr Bodle said.
“We wanted to develop world class facilities with brand new and top of the line equipment, and make it look fresh and new.”
The most recent gym to open, Strand Fitness Central, is close to Mr Bodle’s heart as he reminisces on his first role as the first personal trainer in the same building when it was the Beach House back in 2007.
“My general manager now for Strand Fitness was my manager at that gym,” he said.
“It was a bit of a sentimental thing to come back and buy it 16 years later and set-up my dream gym for the customers of Townsville.”
The central gym is still receiving upgrades with a new 100 metre running track set to open in October alongside an outdoor weights area and Canadian barrel sauna.
The gym is also receiving an extra 150 solar panels to add to their already existing 300 solar panels that run the gym’s electricity entirely off the grid during the day.
Even with the splurge in upgrades across the gyms, it’s the staff and members that Mr Bodle attributed the win to.
“We have a great culture here,” he said.
“I just want to thank our amazing members for voting and our amazing staff.”
Townsville’s Best Gym: Top 10
1. Strand Fitness
2. One Million Strong
3. F45 Training
4. First Base Gym
5. Crossfit Townsville
6. Optimal Body Fitness for Women
7. Hammer Athletic
8. World Gym Townsville
Tied 9 & 10. Genesis Health and Fitness
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Originally published as Sauna, running track, booty room: Townsville’s best gym revealed
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