The holiday season almost always causes us to forget about a healthy diet and lifestyle; however, thinking ahead, it is worthwhile to remember Nr1 Fitness, because beginning next year, “we’ll definitely start doing sports regularly”. Contrary to common belief, a good gym does not necessarily have sky-high fees, and a great example for that is Budapest’s freshly launched Nr1 Fitness, which recently opened with a mission to make sports more attractive and available for everyone. We were curious about this conceptual fitness center, so we put on our training suit and popped by Nr1 Fitness.
Nr1 Fitness – found near Oktogon – was launched by two Norwegian guys, Ivar Braatveit and Henrik Thorsnes, who realized that there are not many affordable, easily accessible, and at the same time neat and modern gyms around downtown Budapest. Hence, they opened one where the equipment and the staff are professional, and the atmosphere is encouraging and laid-back. The have also phrased their mission, which is "making quality fitness affordable for everyone, while putting a smile on people’s faces".
We love this concept, and the fitness center is easy to find; on the windows of an office building on Aradi Street, orange signs indicate that we’re at the right place. One of the biggest advantages of this location is that there is a huge garage available, moreover, the gym is open 24/7, so we can even drop by for some muscle-building anytime, and the management told us that some members even prefer late-night workouts. Even if the possibility of some midnight exercise might not be the biggest motivation, everyone can definitely benefit from the non-stop opening hours, which is unique in downtown Budapest.
When entering the gym, beginners can also enjoy a crash course to learn how to use the various machines; this is how we were tutored by a personal trainer upon our visit (the first full-time session with a personal trainer costs 2,500 forints), who gave as a tour around the gym, which is not too big, but is full of brand-new equipment. We can find all necessary fitness facilities here, such as the treadmill, paddling machine, pull-up bars, TRX, and various weights. Even if we’re still getting acquainted with these machines, we can always ask for a personal training plan that presents basic forms of exercise.
While working out at Nr1 Fitness, we can listen to pleasant music that plays in the background, gaze out of the huge glass windows, or get motivation from the inspiring quotes written on the walls; thus, we can build muscles and burn fat amid a truly encouraging, friendly, and young atmosphere. The aim is to make absolutely everyone – regardless of gender, age, or fitness level – feel truly comfortable at this fitness center. It seems that this place already gained a lot of popularity, and when we visited we overheard cheerful chatting and English conversation. Later we learned that there are actually over 40 nationalities among the members (including a lot of students), so we can oficially call the gym an international meeting point.
On the whole, the atmosphere is truly encouraging, the team is professional, the machines are modern, and they are starting the New Year with a deal: The first 100 members to sign up in January get unlitmited monthly membership from 6,999 forints per month. Moreover, the quickest ones might even get a bag as a gift.Passes can be purchased online, and each new member gets an entry code, which enables them to wander around freely at Nr1 Fitness. You can learn more about the prices and discounts here.
