Upon entering the doors to World Class at Laugar, the enormity of it all will immediately leave you spellbound. In your head, Also Sprach
Zarathustra (theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey) plays and then off into the distance you suddenly see hundreds of treadmillers running in
unison. “This is only the first floor,” explains the co-owner, Disa Jonsdottir.
What a first floor it is (!) with 250 cardio machines and 200 weight machines, this palace of a workout studio is one of the largest
in Europe. Constructed in 2004, the entire facility measures up to 7,600 square meters (30,000 if you include the pools)
There are 4–5,000 daily exercisers in the sprawling three-floorfacility, which boasts 18,000 members in total (nearly 10% of the
entire population of the country). The features are seemingly endless with a smoothie bar, copious saunas, and a top-of-the-line beauty salon replete with facials and pedicures. “Even men are using this as they’re becoming more conscious of their appearance,” Jonsdottir says. Nearby there is a massage therapy centre that has expertise in hot stone massages, Swedish massages and even chocolate massages!
The saunas are breathtakingly detailed with a luxurious relaxation room. The spa inside could only be described as a mini-Blue Lagoon. One room away is a bar that will offer you anything your heart desires.
The silver-medal winning handball team worked out at the facility two weeks before heading to Beijing. “They can be considered a true
‘World Class’ team,” Jonsdottir joked. Anyone who ever questioned Olympic chances should have seen the World Class gym and there would’ve been no doubts.
Also included in the sprawling fitness emporium is an elaborate kid’s gym called Shokk – aimed at an 8-15 demographic – with weights
and other equipment. “Kids these days need to do it,” Jonsdottir says. “They’re sitting behind a computer all day and their parents are
driving them to school. They need specific training.”
Before you go, you should make sure your bank account can handle it as a day pass is an overwhelming $55 US dollars. Despite the costs,
when asked via email whether the weakened Iceland economy has decreased turnout, the owner answers a succinct, “No.”
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