From: allen@tessi.com (Allen Warren)
Subject: Re: health clubs
Organization: Test Systems Strategies, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 00:13:54 GMT

jessica@wrs.com (Jessica Hart) writes:

>In article <1992Nov17.101223.25773@newstand.syr.edu> mprisco@lynx.cat.syr.edu writes:
>>
>>Here are the facilites: 2 kinds of bike, stairmasters, rowing 
>>machine, treadmills, free weights, weight machines (Cybex),
>>lap pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steamroom (all facilites are
>>cooed, except the locker rooms, of course!).
>>married memberships cost $415 for 3 months and $1250 for a
>>year. 

>That is pretty expensive, all right! That is about $3 per day! Assuming
>you go every 2 or 3 days, it's really $6 - 9 per visit.

>For that kind of price, do they give classes? Yoga? Aerobic workouts?
>The club I belonged to had a belly dance instructor, even! If you find
>group activities help you, that might be an important part of the club.

>Also, beware! Many health clubs go out of business. It's good that you saw
>only a few people working out (the worst part of clubs is having to
>wait for your machine), but that could also mean they are under-enrolled.
>In my experience, health club people are worse than car salesman or any other
>high-pressure sales you care to mention. Don't go into the room with them
>alone unless you have very high resistance! And try not to pay all the money
>up front. Pay a little each month! That way, if they do go under, you are
>not out a big chunk of cash!

>That said, I think clubs are great for some people. They do NOT exercise unless
>they have some organized, separate space devoted just to exercise. If that
>describes you, if you have rusting exercise equipment mouldering in your
>attic, then it would be worth any price! This is your health, after all. By all
>means try the free 3 days and see how you like it!

>As for me, I just stick with my aerobic videotapes at home. I am the opposite --
>if I have to leave the house to exercise, forget it! Driving to the club seems
>like such a waste of time. Also, tapes are cheaper!

Me and the missus belong to a great health club chain in the Portland, OR area:
Nautilus Plus Aerobics Fitness Centers.  They have 5 coed clubs, one women's-only
club, and are opening up a new club in another area soon.  Since I travel alot,
I get to see many parts of the country and many clubs.  Also, since I've lived
in different states in the last 10 years, I've also belonged to different clubs
and I must admit that the Nautilus Plus clubs (not affiliated with any of the
24-hour Nautilus clubs in CA) are excellent.

We joined in '89 (no initiation fee because of a deal with my company) and will
pay $27.00/month for as long as we belong.  They have StairMasters galore, along
with recumbent bikes, treadmills, StairClimbers, complete freeweight area, Nautilus
equipment (natch!) which is constantly being upgraded and added onto with the 
latest, LifeCycles, LifeStep, equipment (can't remember the brand name) which is
run by air compressors, and a new set of equipment which produced constant pressure
on extension and retraction during the workout phase.  Add in sauna, whirlpool and
a huge aerobics room and I have to say I haven't seen anything as good around.

allen
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet