Hi. I live near Avenida Paulista and Brigadeiro in Sao Paulo. I am going with a student visa, therefore I believe I will be registering for RNE.

1. What do you know about the gyms in Sao Paulo?
2. Is it possible for me to get a membership despite the fact I'll only be here for six months and don't have a bank account?
3. Do you have any personal recommendations?
4. On average, how much do memberships cost?
5. Will SESC be a good alternative? The one on Avenida Paulista is closed for renovation so I would like one near by... or else I'll find excuses not to go.

Thanks!

Gyms are on general very expensive in that region.
Expect about R$100-150 + medical exam and another test that will set you back another R$100-150.

Generally they want your CPF, RG, comprovante de residençia and 2 x 3x4 fotos.

Monthly, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months are the usual deals.
Monthly can cost you R$200-250.
Sign a 6 months deal and pay cash every month.

Originally posted by jwu004 Hi. I live near Avenida Paulista and Brigadeiro in Sao Paulo. I am going with a student visa, therefore I believe I will be registering for RNE. Thanks!

> 1. What do you know about the gyms in Sao Paulo?

i've worked out purchasing day passes at many of the higher end gyms in Sao Paulo and there are some really nice ones that are comparable with their equipment and facilities to high end clubs like the Sports Club/LA and Club Sports chains in the US.

> 2. Is it possible for me to get a membership despite the fact I'll only be here for six months and don't have a bank account?

Yes, you shouldn't have a problem if you arrange to pay each month in advance - in the worst case you can pre-pay the 6 months in advance and should be able to negotiate a discount with the pre-payment.

>3. Do you have any personal recommendations?

the best gyms i have been to in SP are:

The Reebok Sports club
http://new.reebokclub.com.br/

and the Pele club at:
http://www.peleclub.com.br/unidades/itaim

but these are not within walking distance from where you are and will be relatively expensive compared to other gyms that are still nice but a step below these high end clubs.

For a nice gym closer to where you are I would recommend Bio Ritmo as they have modern equipment, offer a lot of classes and have pretty good locker rooms: bio ritmo

>4. On average, how much do memberships cost?

The range varies as in your area there are several basic academias that have decent equipment if you are looking for a place to just get in and do a work out and aren't particular on the specific types and brands of equipment.   These basic gyms typically don't have great facilities or amenities so you probably will want to get out quickly after your workout and shower at home. But these could be OK depending on your needs and especially if you aren't looking for a wide variety of classes.

If you want a place that has modern equipment, offers a variety of classes and also has good locker room facilities expect to pay at least Rs 200 per month.

>5. Will SESC be a good alternative? The one on Avenida Paulista is closed for renovation so I would like one near by... or else I'll find excuses not to go.

don't know about SESC ... if you are looking for a place nearby just go around to all the places within walking distance. Most of them will let you work out for free for a day to evaluate the gym so you can try a couple of them out and then decide which one fits your needs and budget.

Edited by floripasurfer - 07 July 2012 at 12:56

...forgot to tell you I've been coming to SP for 18 months now visiting my partner, so it's been quite an on-going process this whole 'gym' saga. 

I go to the Nivel A that Ksaudades mentioned in Paraiso, just 10 mins walk from Brigadeiro. All brand new equipment (opened 7 months ago), and I'm paying 110 per month on a long term deal. I think 6 months you can do for r$125-150 per month until they reach their target membership