Body Shops
It doesn’t matter whether you’re fit or flabby: Exercising is important to everyone’s health, and as long as you’re breathing, it’s not too late to start.
Sure, you could exercise at home, where all you’d need is a floor or sidewalk in front of your house.
But many people like camaraderie when getting into shape. That could be because it’s inspiring to work out beside someone who is well-toned--it gives you something to shoot for. But most likely, it’s because you have the chance to exercise beside someone who is a little more out of shape than you are, and that makes you feel good.
And if you are the heavy breather who’s boosting everyone else’s ego, you can be sure that if you keep it up, someone else will take your place.
Where you rate in physical ability can be a big factor in your comfort zone, which is why it’s a good idea take a good look around before you join a health club.
A 90-pound weakling might be intimidated if every other man at the gym can lift 500 pounds with his pinky. Or an obese woman might not want to work out in an aerobic class with girls who make actress Calista Flockhart look chubby.
“A health club should offer you a minimum of one free week so you can make sure it is a place you will be comfortable in,” said David Hill, owner of Total Woman Health Spa in Ventura.
His club gives a two-week trial membership, he said.
If you don’t get at least one free week--to try it out and look it over--don’t join, he said.
A trial membership is a time to do more than just find out if the facility is clean. Make sure the members and staff are people you can feel comfortable with and the programs fit your workout needs.
Total Woman is offering a special with no initiation fee and dues of $39 a month. Those who make a year’s commitment will get a book with coupons that include beauty products, personal trainer time, a facial and a massage.
The health spa is open weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is for women only and offers some spa services and free child care. Classes include a boot camp led by someone in a military style uniform, Irish dancing, salsa, yoga and Pilates.
At Body Venture West in Simi Valley, women of all ages and sizes come together to get in shape, sales manager Karen Lewis said.
“When choosing a health club, you should pick one close to where you live and one that fits your needs,” Lewis said.
Body Venture offers private training, weights and fitness classes for everyone from beginners to cardio kick boxers.
Baby-sitting costs $1.50 an hour or $1 an hour if you buy a $20 baby-sitting punch card.
“This is a health club designed by women for women,” Lewis said.
Popular with seniors are seven toning tables that help to reduce cellulite and help arthritis sufferers, Lewis said.
The club, which offers a free one-week trial membership, is having a three-month summer special for $99 that does not include the tanning or the toning tables, which cost an additional $15 a month. A toning-only membership is $119 a year. A year’s membership costs $10 for a card, $49 for enrollment and 99 cents a day.
In Ventura, 24-Hour Fitness is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The coed club offers aerobic classes from yoga to cardio kick boxing and a weight room for toning, firming and strengthening. It also has training and nutrition programs.
Day care runs $2 for two hours.
The club offers several memberships. A popular one costs $99 for enrollment and $19 a month with no contract.
“When you go month to month, the health club has to continue to work to earn your business,” general manager Abel Romero said.
It also offers a free one-week trial membership.
Family fitness is also important, and the Conejo Valley YMCA in Thousand Oaks offers an $80 initiation fee and a $56-a-month family fitness program that includes free baby-sitting, exercise equipment, adult fitness classes and two swimming pools.
An individual membership costs $55 for the initiation fee and $34 a month.
With an annual membership, the initiation fee is waived and one month is included free.
The center has a 4-foot-deep hydrotherapy pool that is kept at 92 degrees. A Twinges in the Hinges class for arthritis sufferers is held there.
The YMCA is open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:30 p.m.
Nancy Needham writes a weekly consumer column and can be reached at nancy.needham@reporters.com.