A club for every fitness need

When it comes to choosing a gym, most people let proximity be their guide. The club that’s closest to home or work is usually the one they’ll pick. That may not be the best idea, because all gyms are not created equal and they have have different features, quirks and clienteles. Some are small but specialize in great classes, while others have warehouse-size rooms filled with equipment. Before you lock yourself into a contract, here is an insiders’ guide to some area gyms and their characteristics, based on our observations and the opinions of some local gym rats.

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Trendy workout for the easily bored

Crunch in L.A. is legendary for its roster of classes that put a unique, trendy spin on your workout. This is the gym that gave the world Cardio Striptease (complete with props like chairs and stripper poles), Ruff Yoga (yoga with your dog), and Dodge Ball (a la the movie). Even if you don’t care to join in, you can watch the action through floor-to-ceiling glass walls: “Seeing a class like Afro-Brazilian dance is a hoot,” says television producer Danny Rose. “It’s really great to watch, and having that visual stimulation breaks up the monotony of working out.”

* Crunch, 8000 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 654-4550, www.crunch.com.

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A spot for the low-key crowd

Trend-chasers who have to have the latest designer everything don’t stop at clothes -- the need for label recognition also extends to health clubs. For them there are the Sports Club/LAs and the Equinoxes, or private training gyms like Workout Warehouse in West Hollywood. But for the lower-key crowd there is Bodies in Motion in West L.A. Jorge Luna, an L.A.-based fitness instructor, describes the Westside location as having the benefits of places such as Equinox and Sports Club/LA, but “without the hype” -- and at less cost. The club features a rock-climbing wall, a boxing ring and a grappling studio -- fully padded -- for wrestling and martial arts. It also boasts a 1,000-gallon shark tank, something those premium clubs definitely lack.

* Bodies in Motion, 12100 Olympic Blvd., West Los Angeles; (310) 836-8000, www.bodiesinmotion.com.

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Gym in a mall for multi-taskers

You can’t beat the location of the 24 Hour Fitness at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Besides the mall, the complex boasts a Burke Williams spa, Ticketmaster, Image Hair Studio, plus a movie theater and restaurants. But the best thing, according to gym aficionado Danny Rose, is Wally’s Automotive Detailing. “I’m a multitasker,” he says, “so when I’m at the gym I can also get my car washed. It saves a lot of time. If they could just add doggy day care, I’d be set.”

* 24 Hour Fitness, 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; (818) 728-6777, www.24hourfitness.com.

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Sweat, sunsets and SigAlerts

South Orange County commuters, rejoice. Now there’s a way to work out and keep an eye on traffic without having to listen to AM radio updates on your CD player or stay glued to the TV news. The Sports Club/LA-Orange County in Irvine is a stone’s throw from the 405 Freeway and is designed with copious windows so members can keep an eye out for SigAlert situations and spectator slowing before they hit the road. If that show gets boring, there are other, more attractive views, such as the pool and various perspectives of Irvine. The rooftop jogging track offers spectacular views of the sunset -- if nature cooperates, of course.

* The Sports Club/LA-Orange County, 1980 Main St., Irvine; (949) 975-8400, www.thesportsclubla.com.

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The gym where they know your name

Big gyms can be impersonal, as in not knowing who the heck you are until you scan your membership card and the guy behind the desk gives you the falsely peppy “Hi ... Dave!” Chances are that won’t happen at the small, independently owned Body Builders Gym in Silver Lake, where owners Erik Flowers and Jackie Joniec are on a first-name basis with most of the members. Joniec is something of a mother hen who worries when regulars suddenly take a hiatus. She also cooks the food for the annual Christmas party.

* Body Builders Gym, 2516 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 668-0802, www.bodybuildersgym.com.

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You can leave your iPod at home

Groove Fitness in Hollywood offers live DJs spinning house music in all of its permutations, from hip-hop to breaks and progressive. Many of them (some are also producers) are favorites on the club scene, such as Rebecca Sin, Cody Lee and Jesse Brooks. Owner Brian Zola describes the selection as having “a nice, groovy beat, one you can work out to without getting a headache. The music gets you excited and motivated.” It’s open 24 hours and offers a selection of fitness classes.

* Groove Fitness, 1626 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 960-0660, www.groovefitness.com.

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A back-to-basics approach to fitness

Barry’s Bootcamp is no place for wimps. The tough drop-and-give-me-20 workout is a badge of honor among those who do this tour of duty. It’s a favorite of celebs such as Sandra Bullock and Katie Holmes, not to mention Hollywood execs working off some aggression. New recruits have been known to toss their cookies during the strenuous workouts. Should that happen to you, don’t fret: You won’t be drummed out; you’ll just get a nice Barry’s Bootcamp T-shirt.

* Barry’s Bootcamp, 1106 N. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 104, West Hollywood, (310) 360-6262; and 14622 Ventura Blvd., Suite 201, Sherman Oaks, (818) 784-6262, www.barrysbootcamp.com.

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A small club for the Spinning set

Most large gyms have group cycling classes, but for serious indoor cyclists -- those with the right shoes and everything else -- it’s all about the instructor. These folks prefer smaller, specialized gyms to race their stationary bikes in, like Revolution Fitness in Santa Monica. Call ahead to reserve a spot because many classes sell out. Popular instructors offer diverse styles and music, from Stephanie (positive, nurturing) to John (party atmosphere), Cari (intense, with eclectic music), Riley (a draw for die-hard cyclists) and Gary K. (a tough-love coach).

* Revolution Fitness, 1211 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; (310) 393-6399, www.revolutionfitness.net.

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Side by side with serious bodybuilders

Gold’s Gym in Venice has long had a well-earned reputation for being ground zero for serious amateur and pro bodybuilders. Bulging biceps and perfect pecs are in abundance in this large, multi-room gym, where animalistic grunts punctuate the pop music coming through the speakers. Sure, regular people with undefined physiques work out here too. But if you’re easily intimidated by hulking guys lifting hundreds of pounds, skip this location. Gold’s Hollywood has a subdued but friendly crowd in the morning. The downtown L.A. location draws a young, attractive finance/law crowd that in the evenings likes to get social, i.e., rendezvous aren’t uncommon.

* Gold’s Gym, 360 Hampton Drive, Venice, (310) 392-6004; 1016 Cole Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 462-7012; 735 S. Figueroa St., Suite 100, Los Angeles, (213) 688-1441, www.goldsgym.com.

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Clean freaks rejoice; this place sparkles

Equinox Pasadena is an upscale gym that offers the latest equipment and highly qualified instructors. It’s also very clean, from the free weights to the aerobic studio to the cardio equipment. And that, many gym rats will tell you, isn’t always the case, even at some of the better clubs. According to general manager Caryn Schoff, a cleaning crew is on duty whenever the gym is open, wiping down cardio machines, exercise bikes and aerobics room floors and checking locker rooms. After all, having to look at dirt, dust and someone else’s sweat caked on a treadmill doesn’t exactly make for a stress-free workout.

* Equinox Pasadena, 260 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; (626) 685-4800, www.equinoxfitness.com.