Reykjavik for the Gym Addict

Reykjavik for the Gym Addict

If you're staying in Reykjavik and craving your regular workout, you do not have to look any further. Just check out this list of my favourite gyms, yoga studios and cross fit boxes in the capital of Iceland.

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Nína Þorkelsdóttir

4. January 2017

 

1. World Class

People training at the World Class Gym, Reykjavik.

World Class is Iceland’s largest and best known gym chain. Most of the World Class gyms are quite big and you should be able to find most of the equipment you need for your usual routine.

If you are into weight lifting, you’ll find lots of different weights, dumbbells, benches and equipment. Weight lifting, CrossFit and fitness is extremely popular in Iceland, with both males and females. If you are a guy, don’t get upset if you see women lift heavier weights than you at gyms in Iceland. That’s completely normal.

For those who are for instance interested in yoga, spinning and tabata, World Class offers classes at all of its gyms, everyday. Some of the classes you need to pay for but most of them are free if you pay the entrance fee to the gym.

Some of the classes are more popular than others. Hot yoga classes are usually crowded and it is necessary to sign up for them on the World Class website. This also applies to some other classes, check out more info on the website.

If you visit World Class Seltjarnarnes or World Class Laugar you get a free entrance to the swimming pools that are next to the gyms. So if you are planning on going to the swimming pool anyway, it’s totally worth the money to go to the gym first and then reward yourself with a nice soak in the pool.

Locations:

There are 11 World Class gyms in the Reykjavik area (and one in Selfoss):

Fylkisvegur 6, 110 Reykjavik

Austurberg 3, 111 Reykjavik

Fossaleynir 1, 112 Reykjavik

Dalshraun 1, 220 Hafnarfjordur

Menntavegur 1, 101 Reykjavik

Kringlan 1, 103 Reykjavik

Sundlaugavegur 30a, 105 Reykjavik

Lækjarhlid 1a, 270 Mosfellsbær

Suðurströnd 8, 170 Seltjarnarnes

Hagasmari 1, 201 Kopavogur

Ögurhvarf 1, 203 Kopavogur

Price:

Single entrance: 2,100 isk.

Single entrance with spa: 5,490 isk.

One week’s pass: 6,290 isk

One week’s pass with spa: 22,390 isk.

2. Mjölnir

Gunnar Nelson in a fight.

Mjölnir is the name of Thor’s hammer in old norse mythology.

The gym’s main focus are martial arts, such as MMA, Brazilian jiu jitsu, box and kickbox. For those who don’t like punching and kicking, there is program called Víkingaþrek, which translates to Viking Workout.

At Mjölnir, there is also a good facility for working out on one’s own, where you can find proper equipment for stretching and weight lifting. There is no equipment for cardio work out, though.

The Mjölnir gym has gained popularity in recent years, perhaps thanks to the success of one of its trainers, pro MMA fighter Gunnar Nelson.

Location: Seljavegur 2, 101 Reykjavík (will move to Öskjuhlíð in January 2017)

Price:

Single entrance: 2,000 isk.

One week: 8,000 isk.

3. Sólir yoga studio

Orange yoga mats at a yoga studio.

Sólir opened in 2016. Although it is one of Reykjavik’s newest yoga studios it is already one of the most prominent ones.

The studio offers several different yoga classes, including ashtanga, kundalini, hot yoga and pilates. There are also meditation classes at Sólir.

The standard of the facilities at Sólir is quite high, everything is brand new and the interior is stylish. There is a small cafeteria at the studio where you can buy smoothies and healthy snacks.

Location: Fiskislóð 53–55, 101 Reykjavik

Price:

Single entrance: 2,200 isk.

Week’s pass: 3,900 isk.

Month’s pass: 12,900 isk.

4. CrossFit Reykjavik

People doing cross fit.

CrossFit has been insanely popular in Iceland for the past years. For those who aren’t familiar with CrossFit, it is a sport that focuses on the body’s overall strength, endurance, flexibility and balance.

On CrossFit Reykjavik’s website it says that “The CrossFit system is designed to be suitable for anyone, independent of age and physical abilities.”

Iceland has some great CrossFit athletes, Annie Mist Þórisdóttir won the International CrossFit Games in 2011 and 2012 and Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir won in 2015 and 2016.

CrossFit Reykjavik offers classes every day, including endurance-cycling, WOD, olympic weight lifting and power yoga.

Location:
Faxafen 12, 108 Reykjavik

Price:
A week’s entrance is 6,500 isk.

The price for various courses ranges from 12,000 isk to 24,500 isk.