by Michelle Boudin
New health clubs in Charlotte take fitness beyond cardio and strength training, with plunge pools, saunas, light therapy and more. From an all-in-one luxury gym to a new twist on date night, there’s a little something for everyone when it comes to self-care.
A LUXE LIFESTYLE HUB
Addy Hakim couldn’t find the luxury fitness experience she was looking for in Charlotte — so she built it.
The Health Club is an 18,000-square-foot boutique, all-in-one fitness club “for the healthy hustler,” Hakim says.
“This has been a lifelong passion. I’m from Charlotte, I was super in love with the luxury fitness space, worked at fitness studios around town and started my own personal-training brand. My father and I have always been obsessed with the gym world, and we wanted to bring an elevated fitness space to Charlotte.”
Located in Oakhurst, The Health Club offers group exercise classes, a full open gym, dry sauna, steam room and co-ed, in-ground cold-plunge pools and hot tubs.
Apparently, Hakim wasn’t the only one looking for an upscale, one-stop-shop fitness and wellness experience. Open less than a year, The Health Club already has a waitlist topping 1,000 people.
“I think if Equinox came, they would have a waitlist, too,” says Hakim, referring to the luxury, amenity-rich fitness chain based in New York.
Charlotteans have been craving an elevated workout option, Hakim says. She believes another part of The Health Club’s appeal is the all-in-one concept: You can take a class, work out in the gym then take advantage of a hot tub or cold plunge without leaving the building.
“When you look at it from a holistic view, having everything in one place, you’re saving money and time. The convenience for a busy person is why it’s trending so much. There’s just a lot of buzz right now.”
Memberships start at $259/month; day passes are $75. 4000 Monroe Road, Building 5, Suite 150, thehealthclubclt.com
REST + RECOVER
Katie Fox used to mock her mother-in-law’s use of LED -light therapy, but it ended up leading to the idea for south Charlotte’s newest wellness studio.
“She started seeing the benefits, and [my husband and I] could see it as well. It really sparked a wellness journey for us.”
Red-light therapy is one of seven offerings at Pause, a Los Angeles-based wellness chain that just debuted a 3,000-square-foot-space at the Arboretum. Fox and her husband Keith are the owners. Pause also offers cryotherapy chambers, private contrast-therapy rooms with cold plunges and hot tubs, compression therapy, and two float rooms. A nurse is also on staff to administer IV vitamin and NAD+ infusions.
“We really cater to each person and how different modalities can work for each person,” Fox says.
Feel like you’re floating in the Dead Sea in a sensory-deprivation tank filled with Epsom-salt water. Or brave sub-zero temps — from -130 to -160 degrees — in the cryochamber, a treatment sometimes used in sports therapy and to alleviate chronic pain caused by arthritis and other conditions.
“We always have someone cheering you on, and we give you headphones, so you can have your favorite song to get you through the three-and-a-half minutes,” Fox says.
Fox compares the LED chamber to an old-school tanning bed, but instead of UV rays that trigger melanin production, each 10-minute session is designed to help boost collagen, reduce inflammation or ease joint and muscle pain.
The staff works with guests to figure out the best treatment, whether it’s for wellness or recovery. The Arboretum is the first Pause location in the Carolinas.
Prices vary by treatment option. 7915 Providence Road, Suite 305, pausestudio.com
SAUNA AS SOCIAL SPACE
Viktor Poznyur grew up in what he calls a “let’s go sauna” community.
“I first tried the cold plunge as a teenager,” says the Ukraine native. “Outside of America, these facilities have been around for thousands of years. In eastern Europe, our ancestors have been doing saunas for years. In Japan, it’s a cultural norm — there are bath houses on every corner.”
Poznyur and his business partner, Danny Russo, wanted to bring the concept to Charlotte. Last fall, they opened Bath House CLT but changed the name after some confusion with a New York chain. Now known as Sunday Hot Springs, the 4,000-square-foot space in Wesley Heights accommodates up to 20 guests at a time to enjoy the saunas, cold plunge, eucalyptus steam room, pool and hot tub. Poznyur says the clientele is a mix of athletes seeking help with recovery and people just dipping their toe in the wellness world. About 80% of clients are trying it for the first time.
“We want to provide an alternative for the public — instead of going to bars on a Friday night, you can come here for more of a date-night vibe or with a group of friends.” Sunday Hot Springs also has a kombucha bar and lounge. Sessions last two hours. “One round usually takes 30-45 minutes, so you can do all the rituals twice,” Poznyur says.
Memberships start at $179/month; a two-hour session is $60 Tues.–Thurs., $70 Fri.–Sun. 420 W. Palmer St., sundayhotsprings.com SP
