Thursday, October 20, 2011

Buck the Gym

Pay 70 bucks a month for a gym membership? Unless you go every day, and even twice a day with an optional swim/sauna wind down to your workout - unless you're a gym rat and want to pay like one, who can defend this expense? It seems more like you're paying for a status symbol and bragging rights rather than something useful.

NY Sports Club, one of the most popular gyms in New York, costs $69.99 per month for a "Core," or basic membership to one club location. And you get soaked an additional $7.50 if you go to any other clubs around the city. Other gyms may cost more or less, but the premise is the same.

This is robbery, pure and simple. If you want to work out, take a run and do some push-ups. Running around New York lets you see some of the cooler sights in the city. For those who aren't runners, have joint issues, or may just be starting out in the whole exercise thing, try out a work-out video that you can do in your own home. P-90X is a great routine, and you can stream the whole thing for free here

For anyone new to P-90X, the "X" stands for Extreme, and they're not kidding. But it's all resistance and aerobic training - nothing high impact, and the beauty is that you can do as little or as much as you want.

If you really need to go hit the weights and show how buff you are, NYC Parks and Rec has gym memberships available at sites all around the city. And its only $8.30 a month, or $100 a year. A bit better than the $840 it costs for an NY Sports Club membership every year. 

So, if you're in the mood to bust a sweat, don't be the asshole that pays $70+ to go and pump some iron once a week. NY Sports Club might give you a sweet tote bag, but just remember how much you paid for it.   

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