Fitness Classes

[mini-natty]

Has anyone here taken fitness classes at their local gym, leisure center, ect.? If so, I would like to hear about your experiences. Are they worth it? Are they tougher than Cathe's w/o's? What classes would you recommend?

I'm pretty excited as my town is getting a wonderful leisure center with 2 full sized skating rinks, 2 Olympic-sized pools, running track, gym and more! I also found out that they will be offering classes at the gym, from step aerobics to kickboxing, yoga, Zumba, cross-fit, pretty much every fitness class imaginable! I would like to try one of these classes, but I am a little hesitant as I have never been. I have no one who is interested in joining me, so I would be doing it alone. I'm just wondering if it would be worth my time. I heard that the classes are not as hard as Cathe's video's.

Advice would be greatly welcomed!

Natasha

 

[fargomom]

I've been a member of about 5 different gyms over the years, starting when I was 18 years old. The only time I ever used the fitness classes, though, was during the years of 2001-2003 and a little bit into 2004. I don't remember the names, but I did a step class (similar to Step Blast in intensity, all cardio) and then I did a body-pump type class (weights with motivating music) and also kickboxing. At the time I thought they were tough. I dropped that gym membership after my first child was born and then found out about Cathe. Needless to say, there was no turning back.

I am a member of a gym again now, but use it ONLY for the cardio equipment. The woman who gave me a tour and signed me up was going on and on about their group fitness classes, how wonderful they are, etc, etc. I just smiled and nodded. I'm just not interested at all after finding Cathe and her DVDs. I go to the gym for certain things like the treadmill and elliptical, but that's it. I'm not saying the classes aren't fun or motivating, I'm sure they are. But for me? I have Cathe.

It is always a good idea to keep yourself motivated and change things up. If you're interested in this new fitness center, look into it! Most places offer a trial membership or even a way to try just the fitness classes. No harm being curious. There are many, many, many wonderful gyms out there. My town recently opened a brand new fitness center, too. Fireplaces, huge walking track, zero depth entry pool, etc. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit interested, but for right now I'm not signing on the dotted line. But for the future? Maybe.

 

[L Sass]

I think these kinds of opportunities - rec centers, gyms, yoga studios, whatever your intererst, are always worth it (if you can swing it financially) if for no other reason than the social interaction alone. We have so much reliance on our cyber connections, that getting out and talking to real life people, meeting new people who may have the same interest as we do is invaluable. You never know who you might meet and what you might be able to learn, or teach. I have all my Cathe's, great equipment in my home, even a spin bike. But I still take spin classes at my local gym, urge my friends to work harder than yesterday, and learn from them. I also train with a trainer, because I constantly learn new things. Watching, talking to, and listening to other people is always worth it IMO. Good luck.

 

[lioness]

I took boot camp classes for a couple of years at a local facility in town. It was a garage gym so we did lots of outdoor stuff (running, circuits, kettlebells, etc) and some Crossfit type workouts. I enjoyed meeting people and I learned so much about working out and was introduced to kettlebells there. Everyone was really friendly but we were too busy working out to do much socializing.

I stopped going mainly because I realized that I could do many of the workouts that they did at home as I had lots of equipment including kettlebells. I added up how much I was spending a year going there and realized it wasn't really cost effective for me. So I took what I learned there and now I do my own boot camp in my backyard year around.

Overall it was a great experience and it pushed me to try other forms of workouts.

 

[NY25]

You gotta try it and see for yourself. What one person love, another person doesn't like at all. It totally depends on the instructor, the class participants, the class itself, etc. I used to love going to the gym for Spinning, Yoga and Kickboxing classes. Other classes rarely interested me. You have to find what works for you and an instructor you actually like. I moved and then joined a new gym and hated everything about that gym, then I found Cathe, and quit the gym!

 

[missyt]

Natasha,

Go and check it out! See if they have a trial membership. Also, make sure you see how long there contract is. Month to Month, 6 months, 1 year, 18 months.....make sure, I got sucked into a contract once, and was so upset when I found out a month and a half later that the gym was crap!!!!

As far as classes go, you would need to try them to see how you like the instructors. We are all use to Cathe...the best instructor. You can take a class by 2 different instructor and absolutley love one and hate the other.

I enjoyed kickboxing and zumba when I was a member of a gym last year. But I found Cathe and now I have no membership because I can get the best workout at home on my own time. 6am, 5 pm, or 10 pm in the comfert of my own home!!!

Best Wishes!!!

 

[wandakusa]

I love group classes and go several times a week. I work harder in a group setting and also enjoy the social interaction. Working in group classes we motivate and encourage each other to work hard. I've done bootcamps, horizontal training classes, gliding disc classes, balance infused strength classes, Piloxing, yoga, and more.

Bootcamp was what changed my life. After attending bootcamps I tried a lot of the classes I listed above.

 

[ebonynicole]

Well I belonged to Bally's gym for about 3 years and liked the fitness classes. I did step classes, bootcamp, can't remember if there was kickboxing but they were fun and I met some really nice people.

Cons: determined I was paying too much per month

Also my purse was stolen from a locked locker there (along with all of my information including my SSN card)

They closed the only branch close to me at the time and becuase I couldn't go to another location it cost me $75 to break the contract.

After that I found Cathe and think going to the gym are done for me but you should give it try and see what you think

 

[mfv3]

I say check it out! I recently quit my gym membership after not going forever because of being addicted to Cathe. I find it so much easier to just head to my basement and workout instead of doing the gym thing. That being said, I did enjoy my membership when I was using it. I was a member of Lifetime Fitness and I loved CERTAIN group fitness classes. Many were in close comparison to Cathe's intensity, but you do have to find the right instructor. Many are a waste of time even with increasing the intensity on your own. Ask around and find out who the best instructors are. They are out there. My favorites classes were...advanced step, FIT (weights and cardio), and The Mixx (a mix of any cardio you can imagine)...but only taken with certain instructors. My husband called me a gym snob, but what can I say....I don't like wasting my time with a lame workout. Every once in awhile I crave going to the gym, but it just wasn't worth the money I was spending so all Cathe it is for me now.