Bay State Gym

Absolutely great place to work your body. No distractions, it’s just you and the equipment getting down to business. The staff are delightful and mind their own business. They are not constantly badgering you to «upgrade» or do anything other than what you are comfortable doing.

This is the best gym I have ever been to. I cannot say enough about my experiences here. It is a no frills gym. No televisions, no tanning and no classes. The price reflects that. Bay State Gym’s success boils down to having well maintained equipment, a lot of space to workout and extremely friendly staff and clientele.
The equipment at BSG is definitely not the newest stuff out there. There are no crazy cardio machines or strength machines with crazy cables, etc. The equipment they have is useful, proven and extremely well maintained.
There is a lot of space to workout. That is a huge deal if you are use to working out in cramped and uncomfortable gyms. Even when there are a lot of people, it does not feel too crowded.
While it caters to more experienced lifters, I would say it is welcoming to everyone regardless of age, sex, or experience. The staff is very nice, not overbearing and really let you go about doing your own thing. They will recognize you and say hello and actually have real conversations with you. The other people who workout there tend to be friendly and helpful. There are very few people with headphones in, which is great when you need a spot or help with anything. Generally, you do not even need to ask, because people will offer their help before you get a chance. They do it in a completely non condescending way.
This is hands-​down the best gym I have ever been to, if only I still lived close enough to use it regularly.

I love this place! Support local business!!!

The Bay State Gym in Worcester is a training facility whose focus is powerlifting, bodybuilding, and strength competitions. As a hardcore gym, it’s the best I’ve been to.
I feel the need to qualify this review before posting it fully. Bay State Gym is NOT a fitness center or ultra-​modern gym with tv’s on the stationary bikes, the latest cardio gear, and varied fitness classes scheduled every day. It’s focus is solely on heavy strength training and the equipment and gym reflect this. For many people, this will turn them off and that’s understandable.
The gym is located in a non-​descript building in Worcester near the Auburn town line. The gym has off-​street parking down the road about a block. I’ve never had an issue finding a space.
The staff is friendly and very hands-​off. When I went to check the gym out before joining, the woman at the counter gave me a brochure, pointed out the basic layout of the gym, then let me wander around on my own before coming back to ask any questions. I found I prefer this to a tour of the facility, as it lets me spend the time I want exploring the different equipment and layout.
Price is very reasonable, reflecting the lack of tv’s and other amenities many other gyms offer. I paid $ 300 for a year up-​front and they had a few deals for 3 and 6 month memberships. They do not offer a contract with monthly debit from your credit card or checking account. It’s pay by cash or check only.
The gym itself has different room for each body part (i.e. legs, arms, chest, back, etc), a cardio room, a powerlifting platform with appropriate equipment, an excellent abdominal and stretching room, a boxing area with multiple bags, and a small strength competition area. All equipment is well-​kept, clean, and functional. Dumbell weights range from 5 pounds to 250 pounds, and there is absolutely no shortage of plate weight throughout the gym.
One of the better aspects of the gym is the other members. Everyone I’ve seen at this gym is quiet, focused on their workout, and respectful of everyone around them. Everyone puts their weights away and cleans down the equipment they use. There are no loudmouths, no fake tanned idiots preening in the mirrors, and no morons dropping dumbells on the gound and expecting someone else to clean up after them.
The locker room is a bit old but functional and relatively clean. The complaint I’d have here is that many of the lockers are broken and the latch does not work. This isn’t a big deal.
As a no nonsense gym whose focus is on self-​motivated strength training, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place than the Bay State Gym.