Work is getting tougher—at least that’s the case at one New York City gym that describes itself as a “private members’ club” complete with a strict vetting process and high membership prices to boot.
Founded by entrepreneur Aqib Mamoon, Ghost has a nightclub-like feel, with promotional photos showcasing the all-black interiors and mood lighting.
Annual membership costs $6,000—or $3,300 if paid up front—and to get into the “club,” prospective members are required to fill out an application form with their social media listings listed along with their job title. If they pass this stage, there will be an in-person meeting and an internal mobility review.
One gym-goer—who gained access to Ghost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, by taking a yoga class with a Class Pass—described the locker room as “like a quiet nightclub.”
Founded by entrepreneur Aqib Mamoon, Ghost has a nightclub-like feel, with promotional images showcasing the all-black interiors and mood lighting.
Annual membership costs $6,000 — or $3,300 if paid up front — and to get into the “club,” prospective members are asked to fill out an application form listing their social media handles.
One gym enthusiast said the studio space “really transports you to another place.”
Ghost memberships include full access to the club and amenities, two personal training sessions per month, and unlimited Pilates and Yoga sessions.
They also gave the Himalayan salt wall in the sauna a thumbs up with the “beautiful towels”.
Another reviewer described the fitness center as “a truly amazing space”.
“The workout space and locker rooms may be some of the nicest places I’ve ever been to in New York,” they added.
And one fitness enthusiast said of the studio space, “(It) really transports you to another place.”
Although the ingenious design got the seal of approval from several reviewers, one person who visited the gym said it was pretty cool—particularly when it came to the locker rooms, which they noted are marked with chromosomes, rather than the traditional “male” and ” feminine”.
They explained: ‘The bathrooms and showers were lovely but they marked the locker rooms with chromosomes which was a bio-test which I didn’t study. (I) got into the wrong.
One from the inside A journalist who tried out the workout space made the same observation, writing, “Ghost has a row of gender-neutral restrooms, and then there are the chic locker rooms, which challenged my public school education.”
Instead of “men” and “women,” the locker room signs read “XX” and “XY,” which nearly fell apart because I couldn’t remember the symbols that identified the chromosomes.
Another Yelp reviewer complained that the gym seemed so exclusive that they didn’t even respond to his membership attempts.
He said he’d walked by the “cool” spot a few times, and then when he received an ad via Instagram, he decided to apply.
However, “despite filling out their online form twice to try and schedule a tour to record, and actually dropping back in person to leave my contact details, I haven’t heard from them in nearly two weeks.”
Gym memberships are currently capped at about 200, Mamoun told DailyMail.com, so there are no waiting lists for workout stations.
“The workout space and locker rooms might be some of the nicest places I’ve ever been to in New York,” said one reviewer.
On the membership page there is a detailed code of conduct with the prohibition of “excessive obfuscation”
One gym-goer — who gained access to Ghost by taking a yoga class with a Class Pass — described the locker room as “like a quiet nightclub.”
If prospective members pass the initial application stage, there will be an in-person meeting and internal mobility review
He added, “So, I’d hate to make prejudices, but a gym that doesn’t seem interested in responding to potential new members, despite running a paid marketing campaign to promote itself, is a bit baffling.”
Memberships to Ghost include full access to the club and facilities, two personal training sessions per month, and unlimited Pilates and Yoga sessions.
On the Membership page there is a detailed Code of Conduct.
On the subject of “excessive noise,” it states: “Members shall refrain from slamming or dropping weights, and respect others at all times.
“Members should also refrain from snoring, yelling or shouting of any kind while training in our facility, please be mindful of others in the venue.”
There is also a section on “being kind”.
The website notes: ‘Ghost is dedicated to building a community of forward-thinking individuals, and encourages you to build relationships with fellow members and staff. Please use kindness with every interaction.
In order to facilitate spatial harmony, we ask that you modify your cell phone use while in the facility, and instead take time to engage your peers.
Gym memberships are currently limited to about 200 members, Mamoun told DailyMail.com, so there were no waiting lists for workout stations or overcrowded classes.
