Now That’s a Killer Aerobics Class
Beware. The Gym Rat is snooping around Southern California, looking at the best and worst in health clubs. And he isn’t just any rat. He’s been teaching for more than four years at various clubs in the area. He is a member of the International Dance Exercise Assn. and is certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Assn. of America.
*
How many times have you heard that beauty’s only skin deep--that it’s not what’s on the outside that counts but what’s on the inside?
That holds true for L.A. Fitness’ Westminster location. Because when you zoom past it on the 405, you’ll see a building that’s fairly nondescript. In fact, it would just blend into the rest of the buildings were it not for the sign flapping in the breeze. But once you get inside, you tend to get a different impression.
It isn’t that the machines are newer or shinier, because they aren’t. But the people, especially the aerobics people, make all the difference.
Judy Y. Chan is the aerobics coordinator at the chain’s Westminster and Fountain Valley facilities. She teaches six classes at Westminster and one in Fountain Valley per week. If you can take only one of her classes, absolutely, positively don’t miss her 8:30 a.m. circuit class on Wednesday, which she teaches only at Westminster. It’s a killer--and I felt great afterward.
The hourlong class takes you through nine stations in the aerobics room, where you alternate between one-minute bursts of cardiovascular and muscle-building routines. For instance, at one point we rode a stationary bicycle for one minute, hopped off and did a minute’s worth of military presses, then jumped rope for a minute and went on to crunches for a minute. Get the idea of the pace of Judy’s class?
And just when you think you’re getting into the swing of things, she blows her whistle and makes you do 50--yes, 50--push-ups. And then you have to drag your body off the floor and run around the room, weaving through 12 boxing bags (six on each side of the room). Then you start the circuit all over again. She finishes up with about 15 minutes of kick boxing. (By the way, did you know that Billy Blanks, of Tae-Bo fame, used to teach kick boxing to L.A. Fitness instructors?)
Judy knew immediately that my friend and I were not regulars. After the warmup, she directed two people to help us navigate the room. My partner in the circuit was Laura, an aerobics instructor at the gym--she could not have been nicer or more helpful. The whole time, Judy, with her mellow voice, encouraged us and scolded us to maintain proper body alignment. So when I wasn’t doing triceps dips to her specifications, she came over and corrected me immediately.
L.A. Fitness offers 34 aerobics classes, including six power pacing classes (a.k.a. indoor cycling). Unlike at many other gyms, the cycling classes here are free.
And now for you statistics aficionados, here are some Gym Rat essentials:
The gym is about 36,000 square feet. L.A. Fitness took the building over in 1991. In its past life, the building was called Kings Racquet Club, so as you can imagine, there are racquetball courts, 11 of ‘em. There is also a half-court basketball court.
Cybex machines are the only weight machines you’ll see here, and the dumbbells are made by Cybex too. The weight plates, though, are from Ivanko. There is a 20-minute limit on the (take your choice) 12 StarStep stair climbers, 12 Cybex recumbent bicycles, six Cybex bicycles and 10 StarTrac treadmills. There are two cardiovascular rooms, one with three televisions. You’d better hope they’re all on the same channel,or you’ll have a tough time hearing.
*
If you know of a gym or health club you think the Gym Rat should scope out, fax to (213) 237-4712 or e-mail: health@latimes.com.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
The Rat Trap
On a rating of one to four rats, four being best, here is how the Gym Rat rates L.A. Fitness in Westminster:
* Parking: Plentiful, but shhhhhh!!! The gym is nestled in a residential development, and signs ask you to be quiet when you park in the lot so you don’t disturb the neighbors. ***
* Locker rooms: We were not impressed. My friend said the door handle on the women’s locker room was coming off, and there was a broken board in the sauna. She also said the showers and toilets were OK, but not great. The men’s locker room was OK too, but it had an unappealing smell. *
* Juice bar: It doesn’t open until 10 a.m., but you can get bottled water, fruit drinks, smoothies, rice bowls, bagels, muffins and sandwiches. ***
L.A. Fitness, 14731 Golden West St., Westminster; (714) 373-4460. A day pass is $10. As with most chains, no one at the gym would say what a year’s membership costs because there are various specials. Club hours are 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You can bring the children because there is a Kids Club that opens every day at 8:30 a.m. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.