Tenley Sport&Health

First: the price tag. $ 85/​month, plus a $ 50-​something «maintenance fee» once/​year. Contrast with the Gold’s gym a mile away, which is $ 40/​month, or Washington Sports Clubs at $ 70 for their top of the line membership.
Second: there’s 1 squat rack. Don’t go at noon for leg day.
Third: the constant disrepair. Currently, about ¼ of the lockers aren’t available for use, because some sort of leak has created a rank, vile smell that permeates part of the locker room, rendering it uninhabitable for any period of time. This is the second time in two months this has been true. Up until last week, the water fountain in the weights area was broken for 3 or 4 weeks. The HVAC system was completely inoperable for about two weeks earlier this year, which, while excellent for mitigating problem #2, did not make for a pleasant work out. The showers are sporadically operational, and it’s a crapshoot as to whether you get one that functions or not. Usually, the 2^nd shower from the left works ok.
All of this would have been tolerable, and I would have happily continued to pay this absurd rate for the convenience: this club is right across the street from my office. This means I get to go to the gym during my lunch break each day, and if I’m lucky enough that my schedule allows it, I can maybe even manage to workout with one of my work buddies.
I noticed that my friend’s form on his squats looked dangerously bad, and mentioned to him that he should keep an eye on it and try to adjust his weight back more. One of the client service managers, whose job it is to attract new clients, noticed and came out. He walked over to me, and told me «You can’t do that. We have professional trainers here, you can’t be training other people here.»
I was dumbfounded. Here I was, trying to help my friend, and being chastised for it. This CSM was adamant that I could not do that (never mind that it is in his club’s best interests to have their clientele stay in good enough shape to continue using their membership by say… not breaking their own knees?). It wasn’t until I appealed to another CSM, who regularly sees me working out at the gym, that the first CSM let my friend and I continue our workout.
At this point, I can’t wait for my office to get out of this building, so I can end this relationship. Gold’s or WSC are looking more and more appealing.

Did I have to join an $ 84.59/month gym? No.
But by the same token, do certain expectations come with that price tag? Yes.
Speaking of expectations, I’ll echo every review that’s alerted you NOT to base those on S&H’s provided pictures. FALSE ADVERTISING. That sunny, light-​filled cardio room doesn’t exist because this gym is underground – all basement all the time – so there *are* no windows. Aside from the studios, track, and pool, the flooring (even in the locker rooms) is carpet. Also, the TRX equipment that replaces half the machines in that pic? I’ve come here since November & I’ve seen 3 members use it; usually it’s as empty as the creaky swing set in a horror movie.
The above rambling about basements and carpeting actually gets to my main concerns of basic safety and functionality, though: the place is musty and riddled with water damage. I’m blessed to be mostly allergy-​free, but even I get a tickle in my throat when I descend to the mildewy catacombs. I started noticing little things: the recycling bin being used to collect water next to a weight bench directly under a leak, the splotchy brown stains on crooked ceiling panels (where they’re not simply missing) or the industrial fan on the waterlogged carpeting at the entrance to the squash courts. More than once I’ve felt a drop on my head.
Presumably one of the benefits of an indoor track is the ability to use it when it’s raining. If that’s not what you’re looking for, then you’re in luck, because the one here instantly converts to a Slip ‘N Slide when it rains.
Short video:
Long video:
It can be a challenge even to make it into the gym safely from the narrow stairwell from Upton St. when it rains, though; the stairs and landing pool and remain treacherously slick.
As for the machines, I like using ellipticals; the Life Fitness ones are most comfortable and enjoyable for me. I also like using the «Fat Burn» or «Heart Rate» programs on machines which use the sensors to adjust speed & incline according to HR. Could I take my own pulse? Sure, I could. But I’m the a**hole who pays **$ 84.59/month** for a gym, so if I want to use the HR sensors – which are probably pitifully primitive technology – then I think I should be able to use them. If you try to use one of these programs, the machine will pause every several seconds because it thinks no one’s on it, so it’s unusable in that mode. Also, there’s a lot of rust around the joints and the plastic casing loosens as you work out.
Just to be fair, I’ll get on every Life Fitness elliptical in both rooms for a couple of minutes to take a representative sample. The last time I went, sensors were broken on ²⁄₃ machines in the back row; the 3^rd machine simply wasn’t working at all. On the same night, 50% of the locker-​room toilets were out of service, as was a sink and paper-​towel dispenser. Missing or broken sink fixtures, gobs of spit in the water fountain … all minor indignities that occur & add up regularly. I consider the old, rusty machines and major flooding in in-​use workout spaces a much bigger deal.
Also, cut 30 mins. off the posted closing-​time for any day of the week. If it says «10:30 PM,» your last rep is at 10:00 (they don’t tell you this when you sign up, of course, but we consumers never ask the right questions). The top level – where all the weights, machines, and track are – closes 30 mins. before the locker rooms. I know time is needed to clean up after members for the next day, but this time should not be cut out of the hours members pay a *premium* to use. I work a retail job, and we don’t build that frenzied cleanup time into store hours: I regularly stay an hour after the last customer leaves to get it done.
For the record, I don’t blame any employee for enforcing an employer’s policies or shifty business practices, as other reviewers have mentioned. None of this is on them.
This gym doesn’t work for me, though, and I don’t think I should have to pay out the nose for things that don’t work. Frankly, I dread the moment I am directed to Marc or anyone else from membership/​management because I know through other members what a reputation he has for blowing off client concerns at best or outright screwing them over at worst. I’m really looking forward to this conscious uncoupling, let me tell you.
It seems to me that, given such hazardous and shoddy conditions, the $ 25 annual «maintenance fee» we pay on top of our monthly dues is pretty hysterical. I want out. I know I will get what I need from a much cheaper gym, where my expectations will also be set accordingly.

This gym has gone downhill in the last few months. Since 2015 started, it is not as clean, towels are not always available, there is more wait time for machines and the locker rooms have become less sanitary. Things in general are not being maintained well. It seems like there used to be more staff. The gym is slowly falling apart because it is older. Sport & Health isn’t the cheapest gym around, so, I’d think they’d be in top of keeping things in working order. Also, there is no free parking near the Tenley location. Be prepared, with a lot of change! I have to pay $ 2 to the parking meeter every visit and I go Three times/​week. That adds $ 24 to my already high monthly membership fee. I like WSC much better and will re-​join when my current sport & health contract ends in July, unless they can get their act together.

I joined this gym about 6 months ago. At first it was fantastic, but then things started going downhill. The management changed and equipment started disappearing. The locker room smells so terrible that it triggers my gag reflex every time I try and use the bathroom. It seems they stopped shampooing the carpeting in the main locker room because it has changed color and smell awful. The trainers have approached me and my girlfriend more than once with very odd condescending comments. «Where did you learn how to squat? Magazines?» Keep in mind that I myself am a personal trainer. The gym is also primarily older folks, which is fine, but I have been scolded by a few of the members for doing more than one set on a machine. So all I can say is unless you live in mclean gardens and get your hefty discount AVOID THIS PLACE.
P. S. There isn’t a basketball court and none of these pictures are of the actual location.

There is a horrible yoga in that if a customer is 5 mins late, the older yoga lady instructor jumps up and gets in your face to demand that you cant come in. there was no sign on the door or any notice anywhere about a «10 minute grace period».
The business lady responds stating that yoga is supposed to be peaceful and calm when the instructor is loud and rude?
If the club has a policy, they should post it on the schedule and on the door — not make up rules on the fly. The club is unprofessional at best.

This is a 5-​star rating for Oleksii, the Aquatics Director at Tenley. He goes the extra mile for maintaining the pool and keeping on top of things. He’s also a great swim coach and instructor, having been on the Ukrainian National Swim Team and really knows swimming. If you are looking for swimming lessons or help with improving your style, Oleksii’s the guy to see.

Do not be fooled that the membership terms were explained upfront. The manager lied in answering a direct question about membership terms. Comments back on Unilocal are only trying to «save face». They were so rude and condescending on the phone, funny how that tone doesn’t come through when it’s available for public view.

Since joining this gym, they have been overcharging every month and we’ve been unable to get them to fix it.
Emails and phone calls go unanswered. The manager Marc promises to fix the account and refund the charges, but each month it is the same.
If you join here, be sure to check your credit card or bank statement each month.

First, the photos aren’t this club as mentioned. If they were it would be hands down 5 stars.
I joined this gym 2 weeks ago so I don’t have similar issues to other people but I can tell you coming from WSC its so much better. Th men’s locker room is outdated but extremely useful. From the lockers to the lounge to ironing board to whirlpool and body wash and conditioner always filled, great amenities. Then there’s the gym. I love the separation of weights to TRX to cardio. You never see a person busting their ass on a level 10 treadmill while trying to throw up your weights.
Then there’s the staff. Everyone is great. They give you 2 free training sessions. The first to analyze your goals and abilities then the second to show you what a personal training session would be if paid. Coming from a person who kind of does whatever at a gym, just having structure and guidance for free makes all the difference.
I will update as the months go on, but right now this is one of the better gyms for the money ($ 69 without initiation special) you can get in this area.

The gym is huge, so if you are looking for space you have it. The staff is also very friendly. My biggest complaints are that for ~$ 100/​month the gym should be in better condition. You will often find broken spin bikes, a wet carpet in the locker room, missing curtains or water knobs in the showers, and a hot tub that is out of order. They also fill the water tank through a hose attached to the city water line (I don’t think it is a drinking safe hose).
If you are in the area, and cannot get somewhere else, it is a gym so you will be fine. If you have options, I would take advantage of them. Also, the basketball court they show is not in this building, it is actually up the street at the gym closer to the metro. This is about a 15 minute walk from the metro.

The club has deteriorated in the last two years. Broken showers, torn and thirty carpets and lack of good variety of classes. The best instructors last only a few months and then leave. It is a pity because this club was one of the best in the area.
Also the management does not care about customers concerns.

I over heard two trainers make fun of a client. I find it very distasteful and rude

I’ve been with the gym for about 6 months now, so I think I have a good experience to comment on. One of the first things is that the people are great. The instructors are great, especially Jen on Sat morning yoga, and Debbie with Step. the front desk always greets you and says goodnight. There are plenty of machines and the weight room is large. They have a variety of classes. There is a pool if you like that. They also provide towels.
Why the low rating– the cost vs value. It is very expensive. And the machines are very old. They are starting to replace the machines, but are replacing the newest ones! There are 6 tvs to watch and they have wifi that sometimes works. The yoga mats are starting to look a little warn. They also took up a lot of the machine space for this TRX thing that I don’t see anyone using. Overall, for the price I expect a higher quality, as they also charge an annual maintenance fee. It is an older clientele and so is geared towards them. They close the floor at 10pm on weekdays and earlier on the weekends, so sometimes I feel rushed if I want to work out.
It is right across the street from my house, so the convenience is really what made me join. I’m not sure if I’d renew my membership though. The pictures in the profile are not of this gym, maybe it is another of their branches.

2ND UPDATE June 2015: i dont really know what to say anymore about this place. i find myself rarely setting foot there these days. not just because of lazy summer vibes, but mainly because it grosses me out just to be there.
everything i said initially was true, it was a welcome change from the ²⁴⁄₇ jam-​packed atmosphere of columbia heights WSC. i was happy for a quieter gym, and though it was a bit dated when i joined, i liked it enough to encourage my best friend to join so we could all work out together.
in my original review, i mentioned that the locker rooms smelled weird. well, its gone from *weird* to *making me gag and feel concerned for my respiratory health*. seriously, its disgusting. i wont even go into the details of what it smells like in there. before wandering into this chamber of horrors, i thought no humans could smell worse than teenage boys. wrong.
a lot of the cardio equipment has fallen into disrepair in the year ive spent at this gym. heartrate monitors work on less than half of them. and they are grimy. i know most gyms have a policy where everyone should wipe down the equipment after theyve used it. i agree with this policy, but surely it wouldnt hurt to have the staff give the machines a good wipe down every so often? there is one stairmaster machine in particular that is disgusting. you can see layers of sweat drips all the way down it.
perhaps the most frustrating issue here is that every interaction ive had with management has been awful. last year i had an issue where i was billed for an extra month of personal training past what i had initially signed up for. getting this resolved was a major headache. communication from the general manager was non-​existent: he never replied to my emails and eventually i had to figure out for myself that rather than refund me the money (which was what i had requested), he applied a credit to my membership account. he couldnt take a moment out of his time to keep me informed of how he was planning to take care of this erroneous $ 250 charge.
more recently, i responded to a survey i received via email and i was very honest about my concerns with this gym: cardio machines that dont work, moldy smelly carpet, leaks in the ceiling, water dripping onto the indoor track, basically letting them know that the gym is in a decrepit state (in case they hadn’t noticed). soon after, i got a reply from the manager saying that he was disappointed to read my answers and would call me so we could discuss why i am no longer happy at this gym. i never received that call. it seems like no one cares.
on the other hand, most of the regular staff here are really friendly. the front desk staff are always friendly, and i really liked both of the personal trainers i worked with at this gym. the trainers were the best part of this experience, in fact. i felt challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone, but always in a good way. i made a lot of progress.
now that my contract is up, im seriously thinking about going somewhere else. two of my best friends are members here, and im sad to consider leaving them behind, but for the $ 85 a month id be happier to go somewhere clean and well-​maintained where the management staff are actually helpful… if such a place exists.
à suivre…
***
UPDATE November 2014: as the manager mentioned in her comment to my review, they replaced the A/​C mid-​summer and i havent had any issue since then. was able to finish out the summer without heat stroke :-). and aside from that, it continues to be enjoyable. friendly staff, friendly trainers, and its never jam-​packed at any time of day. i also tried out a few of their pilates classes, both mat and reformer pilates and thoroughly enjoyed both. the teachers are great. i continue to recommend this gym to anyone who inquires about it.
***
i switched over here recently from the columbia heights WSC, and so far im quite pleased with my decision.
the good:
–my trainer. i signed up for personal training here, and i really like my trainer. he challenges me and pushes me to my limits, but does so gently and is very encouraging.
–lots of available machines. the gym isnt empty, but it isnt crowded. its the perfect amount of people.
–the décor. i know some folks think its dated… well, it is definitely dated. green marble, green carpeting, and wood accents. but i love it. it feels like late 80s luxury with a waspy vibe, like the kind of gym that steff from pretty in pink would have gone to.
–the crowd is mellow, which i really like. everyone comes here to mind their own business and work out. its not a show-​off gym.
the not-​so-​good:
–the womens locker room. i stepped in there for a hot second during my tour (before joining) and i havent been back in there since. it smells moldy and weird. it really smells like it needs to be renovated.

Luxury at an affordable rate.
From towel service, to friendly staff, to an indoor pool, 2 racquetball courts, and experienced and caring personal trainers this is by far my favorite sport & health.
If you live in Washington, D.C. And are considering joining a gym/​health club/​sports club, look no further than Tenley Sport & Health.
And if you’re bummed out about the lack of tennis courts, it’s not a problem! By joining Tenley Sport & Health, you automatically apply to be a member of all the clubs. This includes the bethesda sport & health which is right off of Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. They also have tennis courts. However, the staff and distance from the city doesn’t compare.

The bottom line is that you can get more value and convenience for a lower price, throughout the DMV, at other gyms. I started off looking on Groupon for a new gym, and ended up liking it enough to sign up (with a few incentives thrown in, of course). As far as I’m concerned, after a few months of membership, this place is just an average gym with above average activities. The cleanliness is sub-​par and the bathroom was often missing basic amenities like toilet paper and tissues. In the women’s locker rooms, the grout in the showers as well as the tiles in the ceiling look old and a little creepy. That being said, they have a pool, sauna, steam room, squash rooms, spinning rooms, etc. TONS of awesome exercise activities. I still never felt like I was getting all the value out of what I was paying, so I decided to end my membership.
I prefer Gold’s (much cheaper with almost none of the same amenities) or Washington Sports Club (a little cheaper with all of the same amenities, and much newer & cleaner).

I don’t have much to compare this too since I’ve never been to any sport clubs other than the really large and fancy gyms at my undergrad and grad schools, but that said I like S&H.
The staff really is nice and strike me as being just as friendly now as they were when I was thinking about signing up. Someone talked about inflexibility with prices and contracts, and this seems to be more or less a fact. Other than ending up paying a bit more than I want to though, that hasn’t been a problem for me. (Make sure you know the gym has what you want before signing up though). I’ve worked with two of the trainers, and they’ve both been great. The other trainers seem to be great too, from what little I’ve seen.
The gym has a ton of machines, there’s always one of whatever available, and the weights are well kept. The whole place is fairly clean, and it’s nice to have free towels available in the lockers. They’re often even hot out of the dryer too. That part doesn’t actually matter, but I like it.
I feel like some of the people praising how «clean» the gym is are overstating things though. There’s a lot of water damage on some ceiling tiles and some quite noticeable areas of the carpet. The women’s locker had a huge pipe burst awhile back. The upstairs clocks aren’t well synchronized with each other (or with reality, in some cases). … but all in all those are pretty minor complaints. The gym as a whole is definitely well maintained and clean though, these minor gripes aside. I do wish they’d fix the mildewy bits of carpet and tile, but those are just small areas in a pretty large space, and neither cause any problems.
The pool is nice to have. I guess. I planned on using it when I signed up, but to date actually haven’t. It’s a bit on the smaller side, often crowded, and frequently hosts water-​aerobics classes. If you want to swim specifically though, and have the flexibility to time your trip to off-​hours, you can definitely still get the pool mostly to yourself.
The place is underground, but it actually feels like it’s not too me, which is kind of neat, because of the way some sidewalk-​level (i think?) windows let light in around the track. It also feels like you’re going up to it if you come up from the parking lot downstairs. Yeah. The parking lot is another great amenity. It isn’t free, but it’s only two dollars if you remember to get your ticket validated at the gym. I’m lazy as death and can honestly say I’d probably have stopped going to the gym by now, if I wasn’t able to drive to it and park, even though it’s not a huge walk away. So that alone has been great for me.
Bottom line — I think it’s a great gym with great people, that’s a touch on the expensive side and is well maintained but not as completely pristine as some people seem to imply. I’m totally happy here, but I can imagine a better gym being out there somewhere, especially if you’re just after certain things like a /​really/​nice indoor track or a /​really/​nice pool. So I’ll go with four stars.

Really great gym! Friendly staff, clean facilities, and lots of space. Plenty of cardio equipment, weights (free and machines), indoor track, squash courts, pool, and lots of classes. Personal trainers know what they are doing and will tailor their approach to meet your goals. There are all sorts of little perks too, from the bathing suit dryer to the heavy bag tucked away in the cycling room.
The only thing I would change is to have more classes around 7 and later when people are out of work and have reached S&H, but the gym is frequented by an older crowd, so I suppose the fact 80% or so of the classes are pre-5:00 is understandable.
My membership was $ 89/​mth., with $ 42 to add a dependent. Seems like a lot, but its well worth it.

This is an awesome gym. I have been coming here for many years and I love it. The staff is really nice. The pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and all the other stuff is great. I love to come here every day to exercise and to relax.

I called in to inquire about the membership rates. I was told they can only talk about rates in person. I do not want to waste time coming to the gym if it is not a price range I am willign to pay.
If the gym cannot provide pricing on the phone then there is something fishy going on there.