Totum Life Science

I joined in February and have been going 3 – 4 times a week. I absolutely love the boot camp style classes as well as the boxing and TRX classes. You know which ones are the most popular from how fast they fill up during sign-​up time. The location is very convenient and the staff is mostly friendly. The other gym-​goers mostly keep to themselves but are nice enough. I can’t comment on the equipment since I only do the classes.
It is pricey but worth it for a good workout, and I am seeing results! I’ll definitely keep going, even in the summer time, because there’s no way I can motivate myself to do weight training the way these guys can.

Excellent service, very friendly staff and amazing instructors. Do note that most of the people at this gym are very fit and already in shape.

I went to Totum for a week while visiting Toronto. Totally satisfied.
The front desk staff was helpful in setting up my one-​week membership ($ 44). They understood that I was only in town for a week and did not try to sell me on any additional products or training sessions. The whole process took less than 5 minutes.
Totum is not a mega-​gym. You won’t find rows of machines or free weights. However, I did find everything I needed for my workouts (weights and cardio). There are sufficient free weights, two squat racks, a bench, pull-​up machine, etc. I never found myself thinking «Hey, I wish they had this machine.»
I also loved the atmosphere. Clean interior, classy people, and never crowded. Totum definitely avoids some of the pitfalls of larger public gyms.
I’ll definitely use Totum again next time I’m in Toronto.

TOTUM GYM: The gym is very nice, and generally not too busy. I don’t do the classes, but I heard they are great. The machines are new and the gym is very clean. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a smaller boutique gym, someone who focuses on classes and not heavy weight training (not a lot of machines), or someone who is looking for cardio.
ONE WARNING: If you like to work out from 5:30 — 6:30pm, you will not get a machine.
SERVICES: I have used both Massage and Chiropractic within the gym, and recommend that you don’t use it, it’s a waste your money. I have gone a few times, massage is hit or miss and the chiropractor gives you 10 minute appointments, as opposed to the 20 – 30 minutes promised on the website. He is fairly good, but less than half the time is unacceptable. I always feel ripped off when I go to their clinic, and only went back because it is so convenient that it’s next door to my house.
If anyone knows a good massage/​chiro in the downtown core, I would love to hear about it!
Services at Totum=2/5
Totum GYM=5/5!!! –it’s great!

Full disclosure, I’ve never attended a class or worked out in any way at Totum… I’m here to tell you about their physical therapy. After having my left rotator cuff royally effed up at a yoga class elsewhere in the city (thank you Mr. Yogi that put me in that arm bind that my body clearly wasn’t able to do) I needed some serious treatment. A friend recommended his buddy Dr. Waj Hoda at Totum and as my 4 stars indicate, Yay! I’m a fan! Waj is super knowledgeable and thorough. His treatments of deep soft tissue massage and acupuncture are precise and effective. This is not a shee shee foo foo massage. There shall be no nature sounds and flutes playing in the background. He’s digging in with his thumbs and elbows and it hurts so good. You’ll feel right as rain in no time. Appointments are a quick and dirty 20 minutes and will do you a world of good.
As an aside, if I lived or worked in the westend, I’d totally be a member. Place is stacked. Not very often you find a really well-​equipped gym that has stylish décor and doesn’t stink.
Oh, and for those that are driving, I recommend parking on Wellington after 4pm.

I’ve been going to Totum for about 3 years now and I love it! The value for the classes outweigh the higher cost per month. I love the midday yoga, pilates and boxing classes the most as they’re scheduled at a good time. The friday yoga yin is the best, it always leaves body and mind in a peaceful state at the end of the week.
The personal trainers and instructors are very professional and got me to a level I didn’t think possible, and I’m far more aware of my body’s little kinks, something that would have been ignored completely at other gyms. The cleanliness of the gym and friendliness of the staff (as well as other patrons) lends to a very welcoming and positive environment.
The other great thing about Totum is the wealth of staff available for other aspects related to wellness. I’ve used their physio, chiro, massage and acupuncture services so far with great results. I may do more!

The people that work at Totum and the members are friendly but I hate everything else about the gym.
1. This gym is too small for the amount of people in the gym with poor air circulation so it can smell.
2. No water fountain, bottled water dispenser. Waste like 4 paper cups every time.
3. This is not the gym for you if you like to lift free weights. I went Saturday afternoon and they have two benches, one squat rack and one bench press which were all being used so I stood around waiting.
4. They have hard wood floor if if you dont drop your weights extremely lightly, the people doing physio directly below you can come up and complain.
5. What kind of spin teacher doesn’t actually spin with the class?
On the plus side, if you like cable based machines, they have a lot that are rarely used.

I’ve been going to Totum for almost a year now I think, and it’s been great for seriously getting into weight lifting without having to navigate through clusters of bros and other gym jerks. Everyone is generally nice, respectful of space, and you know, no one is ever doing bicep curls in the squat rack.
I still haven’t convinced myself to go on a repeat visit to any of the 6am classes, but they exist for those pre-​work workout fiends. I’m just too much of a night owl. I’m also lazy.
Classes to chose from include yoga classes, Pilates, boxing, kettle bell workouts, spinning, crossfit, and a whole bunch of others. Lots of elliptical machines, 5 – 6 treadmills, and bikes. They also have a decent variety of weight machines, free weights, and other equipment to play with.
There is one personal trainer that without fail will change the music station from some amazing techno/​dub/​remix (you know, perfect workout music) to some weird classic rock/​easy listening/​crud, so word of advice — bring some headphones if you’re going in the middle of the day. The weekend hours are not as convenient (they close at 6ish), but I do like that they’re open later than most gyms on Fridays.
One other thing I like is that they have other sport related services available on site. In addition to personal trainers, there are chiropractors, RMTs, a holistic nutritionist, and an ND. It’s nice to have the option of just going in, working out, seeing an RMT, or someone else, and going home.
It’s clean, friendly, and welcoming. There is a free week trial, and I’d totally recommend you try it out. But only if you’re awesome.
Worst/​best thing — it’s right next to Soma Chocolate.

Big fan of Totum.
Like other reviewers, I was hooked after the one-​week free trial.
Very clean establishment. Staff are always helpful. Although the weekend hours (they close at 6pm on saturdays) are not so convenient, their AM hours work very well for me. Big bonus for their 7am cycling classes.
Most of all, I love the clientele. Most of the member I have interacted with are health conscious, mature, and adventurous people that have encouraged and motivated me.
And, if you need a treat after a rigorous workout, Soma is just next door.

I just moved to Toronto and tried a few gyms before actually exercising my «try one free week» at Totum… and that’s all it took to convince me.
First, I live very close and get to go on foot, which is awesome.
Second, the place is filled with people who actually think of «fitness»…not developping biceps the size of watermelons (not that there’s anything wrong with that, just not the type of ambience I wish to train in).
Third, the staff is amazingly friendly and competent. Whether it be the staff at the main entrance, the class trainers or the personal trainers, they are all great
Fourth, the locker rooms are kept clean and plenty of showers to freshen up after the workout. It’s also great having everything on site such as soap, gel, towels, etc.
Lastly, the crowd is pretty respectful of your space yet friendly if you reach out to them (which can happen when you’re new to a city and looking for cool people to connect with… lol!).

Went here for about a year after trying a one-​month groupon. It is by far the most attentive, boutique-​like gym I’ve ever been to. The classes and instructors are TOP NOTCH. Better than anywhere else. Super friendly, will remember your name, and playfully jeer you if they notice you’ve been missing classes.
The gym itself is pretty small, but I soon realized that this is the kind of place you come to take classes, not run on a treadmill anyways. Everything from Muay Thai, Traditional Boxing, kettlebells, Spinning, Yoga, Circuit Training, etc, all taught by experts in those sports.
Theres a few things that keep me from giving this gym 5 stars:
— The Price: $ 100+ a month is just a little too steep for me.
— The Clientele: While the instructors are AMAZING people, I generally found clientele to be stuck up. Even after going there for a year, I never felt like I fit in there, which is weird, because I’m very athletic (I’m a boxer), so I usually feel at home in gyms… But everyone just seemed so serious… in the change room, in the classes, in the weight area (especially the corporate, after-​work types) — it was like no one could crack a smile, and in a class atmosphere, if everyone is too uptight to screw up, make noise, laugh, and learn, it really detracts from the experience. Its just weird…
— The Size: (as mentioned before), on the days when you just feel like working out alone, theres not much room to do that.
Overall, if they offered a lower-​priced package, I’d go back in a heartbeat for the instructors alone. But for now, I’m just going back to my Muay Thai gym, where people have fun while getting ripped and kicking eachother’s asses, lol.

This is my second five-​stars review in a row, but it’s totally deserved.
I am exercising regularly since the high school, and am obviously picky about the gyms. Everything is important for me — professional level of the trainers, quality of the classes, equipment, facilities…
Totum has never disappointed me in more than two years. The place is clean and cared about, with excellent «machinery» inside. Staff knows me and my wife by name, they are cheerful, positive and fun people.
Professional level of «my» chiropractor (Rachel Assayag) and personal trainer (Andrew Steinfeld) is exceptional, and boxing classes by Antonio Lopez are always super-​fun — can only recommend them wholeheartedly!
Important point: Not only those guys are great people, they are also a certified professionals — which is not a common trend across the gyms in Ontario. And this is another great value of Totum — people who work with your body here, really know what they are doing.
Another important thing: Totum is an actual «sportsman’s gym», not just one of those threadmill-​packed «social clubs». No doubt they have all the threadmills you may need, but the classes, sport medicine services and personal training at Totum are a pro-​level thing. As such, Totum is not cheap by any means, but every dollar I spend there is worth it.
So if you are serious about being fit, Totum is probably THE only first-​class choice here in Toronto. At least I have not seen anything getting even close to it. Good job guys — keep it running! :-)

This used to be my gym and perhaps some day when my hectic work schedule chills out, it will be again. At one of my jobs, a gym membership at Totum was part of the job benefit package (doesn’t get much better than that — except perhaps dental). The staff gave me a gym orientation, showing me around all the equipment (including giving me advice on what kind of workout I should do to reach my goals), and explained the benefits of the other services they offer (like massages, yay!).
I quickly realized that working out in the wee hours of the morning before work is where it’s at. I recommend signing up for the 6 am and 7 am classes. Attendance is (or at any rate used to be) minimal which means you get a lot of one-​on-​one attention from the trainers. Several times this meant I got a free personal training session. Chill out afterwards in the steam room to get rid of all those pesky toxins out of your system and then use the outstanding change-​rooms to get ready for work. They even have extra toiletries in case you forgot anything at home.
Definitely worth the extra money for a membership!

I’m a GoodLife member, and have been for years and years.
Switching to another gym was pretty much out of the question, as I had a very regimented routine I pretty much ‘enjoyed’ at Goodlife, and I’m very independent, so the lack of experienced trainers, etc is something I cared less about.
Ya don’t mess with a girls’ schedule & routine!
But I was curious, and when I saw the 30 day pass pop up on GroupOn pop up, it was my opportunity to check this place out …
While the monthly membership is significantly more than what you’d pay at a chain-​facility, you’re getting completely different caliber of (clearly) highly educated staff, classes that you’ll actually continue to attend week after week, just so you can see yourself improve.
It’s only a bonus the trainers actually work out themselves! (unlike the ‘fluffy’ looking staff at most GL’s)
I’m not exactly the typical gym-​goer; I’m not there just to go through the motions. I’m not a cardio bunny. I want a challenge, I want someone to show me something new. In fact, I didn’t realized how stagnant my own workouts had gotten — I’d been doing my own training, or I’d hire an online coach that specializes in what I was doing at that point in time. I’d always been providing for myself .
UNTIL i attended a ‘group’ class at Totum.
I usually don’t even bother with classes, as I never found them challenging or enjoyed them …
It was amazing. I had felt muscles I’d been working for years, but the variety kicked my ass. And I was hooked from week 1.
I’m down 2.5″ on my waist, and it’s been 3 weeks of steady Bells & Balls classes, and a crap load of other classes that are guaranteed to get you into the best shape of your life if you’re willing to put your heart and soul into it.
I also love that the other members of this facility really do love working out, and pushing themselves … which is a drastic change from a mediocre facility with a million machines, and personal trainers who are barely ‘certified’ under CanFit Pro.
The staff at Totum are a different caliber: They’re Kinesoloigists’, they’re Physiotherapists… They’ve completed Iron Mans’, triathlon’s, they can talk to you about Paleo and Ketogenic dieting … and they practice what they preach. they’re legit. They’re the real deal.
I am in love with this place.
I have to admit.
Ps. The staff here is pretty freakin’ amazing. And I can be a bit of a ‘difficult member’ — but I love these guys!

After my issues with Fitness One I was reluctant to join another gym but after being given an offer, I couldn’t refuse from the BF, I decided to give it a go. The first thing I noticed is how wonderful everyone is at this gym. Very personable, down-​to-​earth and just generally positive people. I also love that they won’t take your CC but rather request you pay each month via debit or cheque. They also let you pay month –to-​month which is a bonus as you won’t be committed to 1 year contract.
The classes are incredible and I am yet to have a less than fabulous experience in them. I also love the variety of classes they have to offer from Yoga, to Spin to Boxing to Pilates etc. They are offered at different times of the day and even a beginner can feel at ease participating.
I also love the rain showers and the steam room. I couldn’t be more excited to have a gym that is respectful and hip.
Definitely worth checking out. They will give you 1 week free to try it.

I went through a blitz where I tried tons of gyms around TO and it was always Totum that I wanted to come back to. I joined on a monthly corp rate and it was worth every penny. I’d usually go at 2PM or around 7PM and there was never any problem getting on a machine for my warm-​ups. They’ve got little TVs in front of the elliptical machines, if you want to zone out, or you can hit the treadmill and watch the flow of people down on King below.
What I like most is that the place always feels clean and serene. The interior is long and narrow which offers some privacy. Music is never overbearing either.
(Diesel Fitness, which used to be around the corner always felt like a nightclub, the place planned out so eyes were drawn to bouncing bums or perfect pecs while music blared and people tried to chat you up. Totum isn’t like that at all.)
Winding down after workouts with a steam and then a shower rainforest-​style completes the experience. I always feel strong, soothed and focused after my time at Totum.
Only pitfall really (besides the lack of pool) is that staff, while they try to make the effort aren’t always good at the follow through. I’d booked a free consultation when I started to set up a training program but was told I should visit their chiropractor (at about $ 110) to discuss my chronic knee and back injuries. I went to another trainer after that who said she’d help but got too busy. I also tried reaching the membership director a few times about extending my membership but never got an email back. Waiting to see if they bill me anyway. (Had to cancel ’cause I’m relocating.)
In other areas their customer service is stellar. There are weekly seminars by experts in nutrition and fitness. I took one and learned a ton about balance techniques. The gym sends out monthly newsletters to get people engaged — they do seem to care about their members — and they’re conscientious about the environment, encouraging everyone to stop buying plastic bottles and bring their own refillable.