So, you have decided you want to be a powerlifter and do your first meeting. As such, you are now looking into gyms that support this fantastic step in your journey to max strength. Although commercial gyms are very nice and big, as you will soon learn if you have not already, they are not great environments for powerlifting. This is true, especially if you are looking to take the sport seriously and go as far as possible in it.
We strongly recommend a more specialized facility, like our home-based at Forge Performance and Fitness in Mississauga. This is a big reason why Primal Performance Coaching chose Forge as their home base. It is a gym that supports community and strength, which are two things we love.
Commercial gyms often do not allow chalk and have subpar bars and plates, as well as racks and benches that may not be safe or solid enough for your training. To be honest, the list can go on and would be an extensive one. Unfortunately, there is also the attitude towards lifters in many commercial gyms where you will most likely be approached and told to lift less or that you are too loud when lowering heavy weights.
Compared to specialized gyms, you will find very few competitive lifters at these gyms, so there will be much fewer people to learn from or even talk about your next meet. It takes away the opportunity to form friendships and training partnerships with fellow lifters that you would otherwise find in a Mississauga powerlifting gym.
What a great powerlifting gym should have
There is much said in powerlifting on what a gym should or should not have if it is to be a powerlifting gym, so let us lay it out for you.
A powerlifting gym must have:
• High-quality POWER BARS from Rogue, Eleiko or a similar quality brand
• Steel plates, not just bumper plates
• Solid power racks
• At least one competition bench
This is the bare minimum of what this great gym should have if you are looking to compete.
Competition plates and a combo rack are necessary because when you are ready to compete, you have practiced the equipment you will be competing on.
A great powerlifting gym should also allow chalk and have good music. Music is subjective, as we all have different tastes. However, it will likely not be what is frequently played at commercial gyms.
It should also house a few good coaches and a few lifters that are already competing. A great part about going to a powerlifting gym is meeting like-minded people that are as passionate about lifting heavy things and putting them down as you are. It should also have staff that understand powerlifting, but also have rules in place to ensure that the gym operates smoothly and effectively.
If you are looking to maximize your progress as a lifter, this gym also needs some of the following key machines:
- Leg curl
- GHR (Glute Ham Raise)
- Rev hyper
- Lat pulldown
- Cable row
- Belt squat
- SSB (Safety Squat Bars)
- Trap bar
- Swiss bar
- Bands and chains
If the gym you find has all this, sign up and get started. To us, you have just found a gem of a gym, and you are going to love it there!
Difference between a commercial gym and a powerlifting gym
It is a fact that a commercial gym will be much harder to powerlift in compared to a great powerlifting gym.
A commercial gym is designed for general usage and not to encourage over usage (i.e., very heavy lifting).
A commercial gym will have:
- • A ton of machines and cardio equipment and very few power racks.
A commercial gym will not have:
• Competition plates or a combo rack.
• A proper bench press set up.
• High quality barbells and plates.
That is not to say you cannot powerlift at a commercial gym, but you will have a much better experience in a powerlifting gym and achieve better results in one. They are worth the extra $20-$30 a month you will pay to go to one of these gyms if you are looking to powerlift or maximize your strength.
Powerlifting specific gym equipment
As mentioned above, there are several powerlifting specific equipment pieces you want to look for when signing up at a gym with powerlifting as your goal.
1) High-quality barbells
2) Competition quality racks and plates
3) Speciality bars in the form of the safety squat bar, Swiss bar and trap bar
4) Belt squat
5) GHR
6) Rev Hyper
These key pieces many gyms will not have, and if you are a powerlifter, do not settle on a gym that does not have what you will need to succeed and thrive in the sport.
The top 3 powerlifting gyms in the Mississauga/Brampton area
1) Forge Performance and Fitness
2) Fortis West
3) Torque Barbell club
All the gyms listed have all the equipment on the list and more and have their own unique twist on what a powerlifting gym should be. We highly recommend Forge Performance and Fitness to anyone looking to powerlift.