Students at IM East Sports gym use the amenities on Sept. 7, 2022.
Searching for a gym that works for you in the East Lansing area can be tough, as there are plenty of options to choose from.
If you are someone who is looking for that perfect gym, don't worry – The State News has narrowed down some popular places for you to consider.
On-campus options
First, we have the IMs. If you are on campus and looking for something convenient, IM West and East are great options.
IM West is located right across from Spartan Stadium, right where the South and North neighborhoods meet. On weekdays, it is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., while on weekends it is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
IM West coordinator Dujuan Wiley said students should come to West because of how extensive the facility is.
“You're in one of the buildings on campus, so we have study areas," Wiley said. "We also have basketball courts, volleyball courts, badminton courts, we have a swimming pool.
A lot of students not only use our fitness centers, they participate in intramural sports, whether it be flag football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, whatever it may be.”
IM West also offers group exercise classes, such as spin and yoga classes that are included in the membership that comes with your tuition. These are free for students if you show your student ID.
On the other side of campus, IM East is a good option for students who reside in the River Trail and East neighborhoods.
IM East also ideal for students on campus who prefer working out later in the evening, as East is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
The facility offers a gym, basketball courts, an indoor running track and indoor as well as outdoor fields and courts.
Marketing freshman Pieter Veldhuijzen speaks highly of the IM East community.
“I'd say it's non-judgmental,” Veldhuijzen said. “People can do whatever workouts they want and you don't have to be scared you're gonna be judged here.”
Off-campus gyms
Looking outside of campus, there are also plenty of decent options to choose from, starting with Crunch Fitness, which is located on Grand River Avenue about a mile away from campus.
Crunch opens earlier and stays open later than both of the IMs. On most days, it is open from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekends.
The gym offers a variety of equipment besides the standard treadmills and dumbbells. They have punching bags, battle ropes, tires and a ride studio with over 30 Schwinn bikes. It has a full service locker room equipped with a dry sauna and spa.
Senior sales and operations manager Connery Calkins said people should choose Crunch over its competition because of the price point and the sheer size of the gym.
“You can get a membership as low as $9.99 per month,” Calkins said. “The amount of equipment and the size of the facility is around 30,000 square feet. We have tons and tons of equipment where basically you will never not be able to work out.”
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Finally, Powerhouse is located just outside of East neighborhood on Hagadorn Road. This gym has the unique trait of being open 24/7.
According to its website, Powerhouse offers the largest free weight dumbbell area in East Lansing, as well as lots of cardio equipment and spin and group classes.
Human biology junior Arianna Paa likes Powerhouse for several reasons.
“I'm a part of the powerlifting club and a lot of people that are in the club go here. I usually see a lot of familiar faces,” Paa said.“I really like the lighting, it is pretty cool.”
With these options to choose from, there is a good chance that you will find a gym in the area that is right for you.
