FAQs

Joining

  • The starting point is a free 30-minute consult with an exercise physiologist. It's a conversation about what you're training for, what's worked and what hasn't, and whether ZAR is the right room for the work. There's no obligation to join afterwards.

  • We don't publish a price. Until we understand what you're training for and what your week realistically allows, any number we quote would be a guess.

  • Yes. No fee, no obligation, no upsell built into the booking. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so.

  • Membership at ZAR isn't offered to everyone. The starting point is a free 30-minute consult. A conversation about what you're training for and whether ZAR is the right room for the work. If we believe we can deliver the result you're after, we'll extend a complimentary two-week trial. The trial is how we confirm what we suspected in the consult: that the programming fits your week, that the room fits you, and that we work well together.

    We filter for fit because too many gyms sign everyone up regardless of whether they can actually deliver. The result is members who don't progress, programming that doesn't fit, and in some cases, training that does more harm than good. That's not the game we're in.

    It's also why we back our membership with a money-back guarantee. If we said we could deliver, and we didn't, you don't pay.

  • No. We work with experienced lifters and complete beginners. The programming meets you where you are, your starting position is built into your block from day one.

The café

  • No. The café is open to everyone. Walk in, order, sit down.

  • ST. Ali organic blend, brewed by Predrag.

  • Yes. Dine in coffee is included in our all-inclusive memberships

The questions we're asked most often are answered straight. If yours isn't here, the consult is where it belongs. Bring it with you.

Training & programming

  • Every programme at ZAR is built by an exercise physiologist. Strength is programmed in blocks and progressed week to week.

    Conditioning sits alongside lifting, not in opposition to it. Class sizes are capped. There are no sessions designed to produce a feeling; every class has a clear training purpose.

  • An exercise physiologist (EP) is a university-trained clinician. Four years of physiology, biomechanics, and clinical reasoning, registered with ESSA.

    EPs understand how the body adapts to load. The practical difference shows up in your programming: every movement has a reason, and every session has a job.

  • Capped, so the coach can actually see the room. The exact number varies by session type, but you won't be one of forty.

  • For most members: three strength sessions is our gold standard. Many of our members also add a conditioning session, Reformer Pilates, or one EP Stretch. Five sessions, programmed to work together. The volume and intensity inside each one are dictated by where you are in the current block.

  • Both. Most members do a mix. Programmed classes through the week, and open-floor access on Sunday by booking.

The team

  • The EP team builds and supervises every programme on the floor. Coaches delivering sessions either hold an exercise science qualification or work under the direct supervision of an EP.

    Every coach attends fortnightly internal programming reviews.

  • Yes. Some members prefer to train with a particular coach for their strength sessions, and we'll accommodate where possible.

Practicalities

  • 7/8 Leopold Street, Newstead. Five minutes from Fortitude Valley, ten from the CBD.

  • Monday to Friday: 5:30 am - 8:00 pm. Saturday: 5:30 am - 1:00 pm.

    Sunday: gym access by appointment.

  • Just yourself. We'll cover what we need to in the conversation. If you've been training and have any programming, training history, or specialist notes, bring them. Useful, not required.

Specific situations

  • Yes. The EPs will adjust your programming accordingly. Load, exercise selection, and session structure all change as you progress.

    Discuss it in your consult so we can build the right structure from the start.

  • Most ZAR members are training around something. Bring the relevant medical history and any imaging, scan results, or notes from your referring practitioner to your consult. We work with physiotherapists and clinicians regularly and will coordinate with yours if needed.

  • Yes. ZAR is built around members who travel for work. Pause your membership as often as you need to; there's no annual limit. Each pause runs for a minimum of 14 days, and activation is a text message.

    While you're away, the programming continues. When we know you're going to be on the road, we forecast it into your block ahead of time and build in the relevant work. Equipment-free sessions, or programming tailored to the gym you'll be using. The training doesn't stop just because the room does.

  • Item description

  • No. We work with experienced lifters and complete beginners. The programming meets you where you are, your starting position is built into your block from day one.

  • Yes. We work with clients across Australia and overseas. Remote programming sits outside our standard membership, so the starting point is a conversation rather than a booking. Email us or reach out on Instagram and we'll take it from there.