should I join a gym?

[Libellula]

Here's the deal, i live in an apartment complex that offers me a fitness room with two treadmills, a bike, and an ellipcial, it also has two weight machines: one for arms, one for legs.

it's pretty sweet for a runner like me, but I miss the weight training I did in the gym at college.

Well, we just had some advertisements shoved in our doors at the complex offering a gym membership to the local gym. there's a 20 dollar initiation fee and then it's 39.95 a month for a single, junior membership. They have aerobics and pilates and yoga classes, a cardio room, a cardio room with a movie screen in it, a cardio room with televisions attached to the devices, a climbing wall, free weights, weight machines, and a lap pool. and they're offering you 100 dollars of free personal training just for joining.

I'm trying to decide if it is something I should fit into my budget. It's less than a five minute drive from my home (not safe to walk on the main road or i would), and I used the gym at school on a three or four time weekly basis.

are 15-20 sessions at a gym worth the cost? What questions should I ask should I choose to go check it out tomorrow? What should I look for? Shy away from? Should I join a gym or just buy some free weights?

[*AHIMSA*]

It sounds like a good deal, if you would use it. :)

For me, it's worth it for my gym membership because I take the yoga and Pilates classes weekly. I like the aqua aerobics too and enjoy the steam and jacuzzi. For the cost of 2 or 3 classes elsewhere, I get an entire monthly membership. I use it 6 days a week on average, both for classes and cardio/weights, so it's a steal for me.

Here's a potentially cheaper option if weights are all you really miss: Is there a community college nearby? Here, for $10, one can use the gym at the community college for an entire semester (a 0.5 unit class) and work out with weights and all the cardio equipment.

[Libellula]

i would use it :) for classes, weights, cardio equipment, etc.

[*AHIMSA*]

Then do it!

The classes are such a great way to spend an hour or so. Seriously, it is so good to feel the ache in my abs from Pilates the day after, makes me know I'm on the right track. I love the yoga too. Helps with anxiety and I sleep better too.

I look at it this way...there's gotta be something you are spending $$$ on, like a coffee treat or something, right? So, using that example, for 6-8 trips to the coffee cart/Starbucks, you can have an entire month of classes and workouts!

[Libellula]

i do go to starbucks about 6 times a month LOL. I am going to look into it when I get paid on friday, and maybe go for a visit tomorrow and see what they have to say.

[Mskedi]

If you think you'd go regularly, then it'd be worth it.

If it ends up you never go, a $20 isn't too bad of an investment to try it out.

[Libellula]

i actually found a better deaL; the local rec center offers a one-year membership for fifteen dollars. you have to pay for classes, but fifteen dollars for access to a pool, weights, weight machines, etc for 12 months isn't half bad.

[*AHIMSA*]

That is GREAT! :)

[Animosity]

I'd totally sign up. I'm lucky because my Mother works at a hospital where she and her famliy get to use the student gym, They have classes for yoga, Pilates, Belly dancing, And a bunch of other stuff as well as regular gym equipment. Plus we have a local park (well, 20 miles away) that offers 10 miles of hiking trails and several rock climbing oppertunities.