NEW YORK -- In its April issue, Health magazine rated New York-based Equinox Fitness Clubs No. 1 in a survey of the healthiest fitness clubs in the United States.

The magazine asked a panel of expert trainers and nutritionists to determine the ranking of the clubs. The criteria included facilities and staffing, equipment and classes, green practices and nutrition.

Using the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association’s annual listing of the largest gyms and health clubs worldwide, the magazine assembled a list of U.S. clubs with more than 25 locations spread over at least three states, excluding those offering only personal or single-sport training.

The top 10 clubs, according to the survey, are:

1. Equinox
2. Life Time Fitness
3. Urban Active
4. Crunch
5. Town Sports International
6. 24 Hour Fitness
7. Gold’s Gym
8. Lifestyle Family Fitness
9. Curves
10. Lady of America

The panel gave Equinox 14 perfect 10s in its evaluation. Among the Equinox features that caught the panel’s attention were the club’s range of equipment, the range of specialization among its staff, and mind-body classes, such as Buddha Camp, which incorporates Pilates, yoga and Tai Chi. The panel also liked Equinox’s PowerNAP+ class that includes a nap at the end of the class.

The magazine gave a nod to The Sports Club/LA at the end of the list, noting that it did not have enough locations to make the top 10.

The experts used in the survey were Christine Avanti, certified nutritionist; Jen Boulden, co-founder of the daily-tip service www.idealbite.com; Cedric X. Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise (ACE); Kim Lyons, celebrity trainer; Kristin McGee, certified ACE personal trainer; and Harley Pasternak, celebrity trainer.

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