The Summit

OK. You will not be bumping into others here and everyone showers. End of story…

The Summit is a small but efficient downtown gym. The gym and locker rooms are clean, they keep the temperature comfortable and the equipment is in good shape. They have a jar of cucumber water, nice touch! I go for mostly cardio (treadmill & bike) and I’ve never had to wait to use machines. My gym friend does weight stuff and most of the machines max out below 400 lbs, so if that’s something that’s important to you, there you go. The staff is friendly, but not particularly outgoing, which is fine with me. It’s pretty affordable, and you can get a couple or family membership (pro tip: you don’t need to be a couple or family, but it all gets charged to one credit card, so make sure you trust the people on your membership!) and they are month-​to-​month, so you can cancel at any time.
They have a bunch of other stuff I’ve never used (saunas, boxing area, classes, etc), so I can’t speak to how good those things are.

The Summit is a 5 star fitness facility located in Lawrence, Kansas. They focus on while body health. Ranging from personal training, to massage therapy, and even detoxification. Memberships begin at $ 37.99 monthly. Some of the other perks include customized workout plans, and their full size boxing arena. My favorite part is they are open from 5 AM until 11 PM. You can always find a great time to get a workout in at The Summit.
Last summer I got the chance to train with their exclusive training facility. Need I say that it was just as great as The Summit. Now I use a workout custom to my needs, designed by the Next Level owner (who has over 15 years experience in the industry).
Need a massage? The Summit is your key to recovery! I recommend sitting in the infrared sauna for about 5 minutes prior to your massage. This allows for your muscles to loosen up and get ready for the massage. During your massage, they play relaxing music, to put you in the zone. Them for the next hour you let all your stress relieve.
Did you forget your towel, or shampoo after a workout? Forget about it! The Summit has full service locker rooms that fully stock all the following: shampoo, conditioner, body & sweet towels, toothbrush, mouthwash, floss, & toothpaste, and q-​tips. All provided in their full service locker rooms.
Seriously though if you want luxury, then you want The Summit

I decided to try The Summit, a modern facility in a relatively new building just five blocks from our new Lawrence home (it is actually over 150 years old and a historic home) due to its proximity and a four-​month «Fall» special for $ 150. Not a fantastic bargain ($ 37.50 per month — I paid less at the Kansas City YMCA which is much nicer, larger, and with many more fitness options). The facility seemed clean and the staff appeared to be friendly and helpful, or so it seemed, so I signed-​up for the special (with no initiation fee) with the understanding that I would pay $ 41.00 per month if I decide to continue.
I liked the facility for the most part, documenting my experiences along the way on Unilocal,Foursquare, Facebook, and Twitter. Here are a few:
Having studied diet and exercise extensively over the years for my own benefit and that of my clients (I am a licensed professional counselor specializing in mindfulness-​based cognitive behavioral therapy — CBT), I understand the importance of a combination of aerobic activity (running, elliptical, etc.), resistance training (weightlifting), and flexibility (stretching). I normally use the elliptical machines because they are easy on my knees and back, stretching and meditating afterward to complete my workout.
I had been stretching and meditating most days at The Summit because they had a wonderful thick red mat that was comfortable enough to meet my needs. Because of my disabilities, I find it painful and difficult to use the «Aeromats» (small, individual foam mats) most gyms provide for stretching because they do not provide enough padding, causing discomfort while I lay or sit on the ground.
When I went to stretch the other day, I noticed that the red mat was gone and replaced with mats similar to the Aeromats I dislike so much, so I asked Tanner (an employee) why my favorite mat was removed. He was very kind and helpful, explaining that the mat was worn on the bottom and had been taken away. He explained just yesterday that there was a similar red mat to the one I had been using in the «training» area of the facility and told me that his boss had said that I could use it to stretch if I chose to. I thanked him for his concern and kindness and went about my workout.
After completing my elliptical workout, I noticed that the training area was nearly empty and the red mat was not being used, so I entered to finish my workout with a good stretch and a few minutes of relaxation. As I moved to the mat to sit-​down, I noticed one of the trainers (there were more trainers than «trainees»), a blondish 30-​something woman with several tattoos on one of her arms, hovering around the area, stalking me like a security guard on a shoplifter. No sooner did I sit-​down did she approach me stating, «Who are you working with today». I told her «nobody» and she told me that I was «not allowed in the area, it’s for personal training customers only». I told her that the owner had said that I could use the area to stretch, as Tanner had told me just a couple hours before, noticing one of the owners standing behind her like a back-​up cop waiting to pounce on a criminal. She said, «Oh, you mean him» and I stated I did not know who, but that Tanner had told me just hours before that I had permission. Before I get the words out of my mouth, both she and the co-​owner said «this area is for paying personal training customers only» (well excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me!) and at that I got up and left the area as ordered!
I believe in treating all with dignity and respect and as a business owner myself, particularly customers. The Summit apparently does not hold the same values. I found it extremely embarrassing to be stalked and thrown out of a facility I pay $ 40 per month to use and in such an unprofessional manner. I have suffered many indignities at the hands of rude, self-​centered people over the years, but never have I experienced such rude, unprofessional, and humiliating behavior in a place of business as I did at The Summit last night.
Now I feel anxious and stressed just thinking about returning to The Summit this afternoon, not knowing how I will be treated. I am considering asking for a refund of my remaining fees, but there are few fitness options in this college town of nearly 100,000 other than Genesis, The Summit, and the University of Kansas (KU — where I can use their «world-​class» facilities for just $ 20 per month), so I think I will wait until my trial period expires to find a suitable alternative.
My disabilities, including a great deal of pain, and mood are eased by exercise and a clean, safe facility is very important to me. Except for the filthy air intakes (see photo), The Summit is very clean, but I DO NOT FEEL SAFE any longer. It pains me that one of my respites, a safe haven in which I can de-​stress and take care of a body ravaged by time and combat, the gym, is now a place that causes me stress.

I left Genesis due to the cold, impersonal nature of the gym. Since Genesis took over from LAC, the place has gone downhill. Currently, in the men’s locker room, the wet sauna and Jacuzzi do not work and the dry sauna won’t get hot enough to break a sweat. While LAC might not have been the classiest place in town, the staff and trainers at the old gym were always friendly and accommodating. I was appalled at how Genesis treated the LAC workers and eventually was able to seemingly push most of them out by offering less than inadequate contracts. Unfortunately, the best trainers in town left the gym, and Genesis now employs far inferior trainers and cold, impersonal front desk personnel. They all look good in their preppy Genesis polo shirts, so I guess that’s what counts. Unfortunate!
So today I decided to take a look at Summit. I would encourage everyone who belongs to Genesis to drop your membership and come check out the Summit. It is clean, well-​equipped, impressively organized, and, above all, EVERYONE there, without exception, was friendly and engaging. They really want to make you feel welcome.
I was very impressed with the kick-​boxing ring they have set up in the basement. In the men’s locker room, there are free razors, shaving cream, dental floss, and q-​tips. Towel service is available as well. This was my first visit, and it felt as if I was back in the old LAC with the friendly greetings and cordial demeanors. They used my name to greet me and when visiting with me — — something that does not happen at Genesis, but used to happen all the time at LAC. If Genesis wants to resurface itself, it will take more than blueprints of «plans to come.» It will take getting Phil, Nate, Wayne, Keri, and all the other excellent staff members and trainers back on board. These folks, and a whole host of others who left when Genesis took over, are very much missed. They were, in a word, EXCELLENT.
I’m hoping that my new home at The Summit will continue to be a warm and welcoming place. I am very impressed, and I would encourage all my LAC friends to join me there. It will be great!

Limited and can only workout at certain times during the day unless you pay extra.

The Summit has to be the nicest, cleanest and most comfortable place that I have ever had the pleasure of setting foot in. The fact that I didn’t see any Out Of Order signs might have been the most persuading factor. The staff is genuinely friendly and happy to help everyone. I strongly recommend giving them a look if your are gym shopping!