Big fancy gym

Last week I joined a big fancy gym (BFG).

The kind that’s four stories, has a full size basketball court, an outdoor pool, a spa-like locker room with Kiehl’s products, four different workout classrooms, and most importantly, always available cold eucalyptus infused towels to wipe off that post workout sweat.

Welcome to Equinox. Yes, it’s expensive.

I debated for a long time what direction I wanted to take my “workout experience.”

The last place I worked out was a boutique pilates studio. I loved that there could be no more than 12 people there at any give time due to equipment and space, which meant no overcrowding. It also meant having to sign up waaaaay in advance for classes, and a strict cancellation policy (both a good and bad thing-keeps you motivated to go). But that place was very, VERY expensive.

The place I went prior to that was 24 hour fitness. A decent gym with a very good rate, but I didn’t really enjoy the classes they offered, and I’m not much of a machine/weight user so I barely ever went.

Before I joined big BFG I had gotten a lot of pressure to try Crossfit. Perhaps it’s a bit of a rebellious streak I have in me, but I kind of hate being told what to do. LOL! (Can I get a “GO GIRL!?” no? OK never mind)

So here’s what I wanted. I wanted someplace I could go which offered multiple class options many times during the day. And class options that also included yoga, pilates, and maybe even dance, which were classes I was paying extra by going to different studios. I was willing to shell out a little bit more money if it would get me to go.

So last Monday I used my 3-day pass my friend Beth gave me to give the gym a try.

The first class I wanted to try was Tabata. I thought it was going to be a little too easy-breezy at first, until about rep 5 and 6 of circuit 1 when I realized it was A LOT harder than it looked. I loved the workout though and what I liked even more is it felt more like athletic training and not a choreographed routine where you felt silly the first time around because you didn’t know what you were doing.

One thing I have to admit about BFG is that the first couple days of using it I felt really intimidated. I hate that “first day of kindergarten” feeling and felt like I stuck out like sore thumb as the “new girl.”

I have to admit I’m a little scarred about new gyms because a long time ago when I was living in Seattle someone gave me a free pass to their gym. I wanted to use the pool and when I got out I must have been slightly disoriented (that’s the story I’m sticking to) because I ended up walking into the men’s locker room on accident. Despite being completely mortified I calmly walked out and of course never went back to that gym again in my life.* And I believe the restraining order the gym had against me has since lifted.

Anyway, day two I tried a class called Whipped that my friends raved about. So I showed up wearing my stiletto boots, skimpy black outfit and fishnet stockings ready for class, only to find out the class was called Whipped because of the heavy ropes used in class. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.**

I quickly went and changed into “appropriate workout attire” and went back to class. Whipped has workout stations which focus on cardio, strength, and plyometrics (yay!) which I LOVED. Another great class!

I skipped Wednesday to play beach volleyball, and went back on Thursday expecting to take Tabata again. But then I ran into Beth who was going to take a class called Tread & Shred, which is a running class all done on a treadmill. Although I’m not really that excited about machines, I did the class anyway, plus it was a good way to catch up with Beth who was doing the LA Marathon that Sunday.

I managed to keep up pretty well. When we got to sprints it felt a little weird because I’m used to doing sprints on sand. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it, but I imagined my sometimes klutzy self somehow tripping and face-planting onto a moving treadmill. I’m not going to say I loved the class, but I’m still trying to keep an open mind.

I didn’t make it back until Sunday during LA’s hurricane-like weather. I had gone with a couple of friends to support Beth in the run and seeing those poor runners completely soaked in the rain gave me motivation to at least try and do a little something at the gym. So I jumped on the elliptical for 30 minutes for a “lite” workout.

Then I took full advantage of the quieter Sunday crowd and enjoyed the eucalyptus infused steam room for awhile. My plan was to try their hour long meditation class, but honestly of all the classes, sitting still for one hour would probably be the most challenging for me, so I skipped it.

Monday morning I did another ass-kicking Tabata class and later went to Empowering Yoga class. What’s nice about this particular gym is that they have the yoga room far away from the action so it’s like a stand alone yoga studio and it’s designed like a yoga studio. All zen and shit.

Beth and her friend Lydia (who also ran the LA marathon) were there and I’m shocked they could even walk let alone workout. I really liked that class because it was challenging enough, but not too hard. I tend to not like yoga being a workout but more of a calming, stretchy experience. OMMMM

So do I think this BFG is worth the price? For now, hell yes! I’ve always been a regular exerciser and this past week I’ve been SO SORE, which means my body is being challenged, and that’s a good thing! As long as this place somehow motivates me to go, whether it be the fancy towels or cleverly named classes, as long as I’m not doing something crazy like going into debt to go there than it’s worth the investment.

*True story (except for the restraining order part)
**Not a true story (except I did actually go to class)