Posh pools and famous fitness
In the early 1990s a wealth of gyms and fitness clubs popped up all over Warsaw, but by the end of the decade the fitness bubble had burst and many of the gyms went bankrupt. There followed a period of stagnation, until the invisible hand of the market rearranged the plot and wrote a completely new script. Leisure and wellness centers arrived in Warsaw and changed the map of the market.
Three-tier supply
There are dozens of local gyms in Warsaw. They occupy the lowest level of the fitness hierarchy. Above them are fitness clubs and sports centers that have attracted business customers for several years. At the top of the pile, the exclusive wellness centers are proving more and more popular with those who can afford them. The top tier of the market is already packed, and a new player is about to set up shop in Warsaw's Hilton hotel. Some existing clubs are awaiting the opening day with more than a hint of trepidation.
"Not that we are afraid, our club is among the most exclusive in the city, but the new facility might mean a migration of customers and so it is something of a threat," confesses Agata Żarczyńska, manager of Club Oasis Fitness & Spa. "However, we constantly watch the market and should anything major happen, we will be ready to react."
The social status scene
Wellness centers do their utmost to satisfy their customers' needs, which is fully understandable considering the caliber of their clientele. One club hosts Poland's Prime Minister. Others are frequently visited by the elite of the Polish banking sector, and all of them serve as hideouts for movie, music and TV celebrities. In order to cater to every conceivable whim, gyms must regularly come up with new offers, stop their premises from getting overcrowded, and ensure guests get the best equipment and highest possible quality of service.
"Recently we have developed and implemented a special program for pregnant women, or those who are planning pregnancy," say Barbara Trala, a coordinator at the Riverview Wellness Centre. "It's an exclusive business program called Active Nine Months an d everyone is invited to participate. In addition to a weekly training session we provide yoga and an aquatic program and other amenities."
