When I travel, I like to try out local neighborhood gyms. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a “mega-gym”. I, in fact, belong to one such mega-gym full of new equipment, fancy trainers and sparkly cardio equipment, row on row.
But, there is something very special about the smaller local neighborhood gyms.
These gyms have history, guts and character. There is no “fanciness”, just shorts, a t-shirt and a good buddy hefting beat-up dumbbells, right beside you.
I was travelling with my husband and my in-laws for a summer getaway last weekend. We chose Leavenworth, Washington as our destination. This lively Bavarian themed town is quirky and frankly, a little odd, (literally, lederhosen) but has lots to offer to keep a group of folks busy for a few days. The food offerings are fantastic, and there are plenty of shops and entertainment to whet your whistle (or Alphorn as the case may). We rented (VRBO) a fabulous little townhouse for the occasion. It was not only close to the shops and bratwurst; it was only 0.6 of a mile from the closest gym.
On the first morning of our visit to Leavenworth, I arrived at the “gym” after some google-maps generated twists and turns through farm fields. Just before I spotted the sign, I saw a couple guys working on some big piece of crop machinery in a neighbour’s driveway. (Overalls, in this case, not lederhosen.) The sign said “Club West” and it welcomed you down a driveway to a spacious property.
When I had called the day before I was asked, “When do you want to come in?” I said, “around 7 AM,” and the employee said, without hesitation, “I usually don’t get here till 8, so if you wanna pop by today I’ll just give you a key to get in.” (What???) I responded, “that will not be necessary,” and queried what the fee might be for a drop-in? “Uhhhhh… eight bucks?” Eight bucks it is! (I haven’t paid less than 20 for a drop in 15 years.)
I walked into an open, empty lobby. There was no one around, so I just found my way to a back room that was the main weight room. I decided I would pay when I saw someone who worked there, and got down to it. I took a brief inventory of my surroundings. What this gym offered was perfectly acceptable; flat benches, free weights, kettle bells, Nautilus machines and resistance bands. The equipment was well worn but not in ill repair. There were a couple of guys already there and finishing up. (Had their own keys I guess!)
In walked a tall, lanky drink of water in a red T-shirt and black shorts. He was grey-haired, super fit and clearly the person who worked here. I found out, from my two new good buddies, that he was the owner. (And the guy that wanted to hand out keys to the establishment to complete strangers!). “Jake” had been the proprietor of Club West for 23 years, and the word on the street was that he pretty much trained everyone in Leavenworth. I explained to Jake that I was a fitness writer. I asked if he would mind if I took a couple of photos for my piece. He got a little embarrassed and pulled out a broom to sweep up.
Jake is a 60-year-old, latent athlete, who only started running when he was fifty. Shortly after his first few marathons he decided he would run a marathon in fifty states. He is heading to his 26th in September. He clearly provides massive inspiration to all the locals.
The second day I was there Jake greeted me with a grand hello. I returned to my little corner from the day before and started working out. I like to observe people when I work out. I also, truth be told, will turn down my ear bud volume and eavesdrop. I know, terrible! But, there were three lovely women being “group-trained” by Jake and I overheard them traverse topics of health, relocation, school, friendship and kids all in the span of about 15 minutes. I was completely enamoured by their solid friendship. They had obviously known each other for many years. There were plenty of sweaty hugs and smiles upon their departure. Other folks trickled in during my workout. One particularly well-connected woman, demonstrated by the fact she knew absolutely everyone there, turned out to be 87 years old! Jake told me she comes in and lifts weights multiple times a week!
I could not believe the energy at this place, it was so collaborative, supportive, and loving. I don’t remember the last time I left my mega-gym with a ridiculous smile on my face (other than for the pure relief of being done.) Leaving Club West, I couldn’t stop grinning.
So, obviously the smaller neighborhood gyms can lack in variety and quality of equipment. They don’t hand you a towel when you walk in, and they don’t have an HDTV screen on every piece of cardio equipment. But any shortcomings are overthrown by the sense of community, the ongoing support toward common goals, and the lack of fussiness and pretense. There is something powerful about working out with the same people year after year, something deeply bonding about doing life together with a common pursuit of health and longevity.
If you are considering a new gym, think about trying out some of the smaller more “neighbourhoody” options. You will not be disappointed.
Oh ya, when I reminded Jake about the eight bucks I owed him he just waved his hand in the air and said “phlebbtt.”
Shout outs to my new friends in Leavenworth:
Icicle Ridge Winery I met Don at the gym the first morning I went to Club West. He is a super friendly fellow with an unabashedly firm handshake. I surmised, because he told me, he is the owner of Icicle Ridge Winery. We decided to check it out and our visit there was fantastic. (Heavy pour on the tastings, and particularly delicious Gerweitsmeiner!)
SOUTH I fell in love with this sweet spot. Price, who was Don’s workout buddy, started SOUTH as a tribute to foods from all over South America. Best Jalapeno cilantro margarita “The Stinger” on the planet! My favorite thing about this restaurant is the fact they locally source their food, and use grass fed, antibiotic-free meats whenever possible!
Club West Stop in and say hello to Jake!
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Please share your greatest and worst gym experiences below in the comments section.
19 Responses
I attend a small private gym a couple of days a week and a big gym a couple of days a week. I would choose the little one over the big any day. It makes all the difference when people know you by name.
I love hearing that. I am starting to shift a little. I like the anonymousness of the big gym but I like the community of the smaller gym. So motiveting!
What a cool gym! I’ll have to do some more research on what is near where I live.
I was pretty inspired. I mean I still like my big gym as well, but I was thrown by how pumped I was by this little place.
I love that gym! Especially love the medal/bib wall…great idea!
Me too! It was so inspirational!
This sounds full of character! I spent far too long recently puzzling over different gym membership options (high tech machines? massage chairs? long contracts? 24 hours? child care?), and ended up joining the local rec centres because they have swimming and child care, and we can get discounts on swimming lessons for the kids.
It was such a great treat to meet Heather! Her story is spot on. Our local gym is all about friendship and stories compiled over many years. It’s what makes community great!
Thanks for responding Don. You and Price were a great highlight. I am sorry I missed you guys at your places of business. Speak to you soon. Will look in on you next time I am in town.
I am all for the local gym. All the new, high tech workouts and such are out of my league, lol! It’s hard enough to get to the gym, let alone have to deal with a learning curve. I still love my old-fashioned aerobics classes — and they are getting to be fewer and far between.
That is so true Suzette. We have lost a little of the sense of community haven’t we?
Great post! I joined a new gym chain called fitness evolution , 5 min from my house, cant beat 10 bucks a month! Great post, thanks for sharing!
Valerie
fashion And travel
That’s fantastic Valerie. It is awesome when you don’t resent the cost right?
Heather, it was so nice reading your take on our gym. I moved up here from California 9 years ago and have been going to Club West 3 days a week since then. I joined to gain strength, to help me out shoveling snow. I ended up loosing 40 lbs….BONUS! And have been able (for the most part) to keep it off. The comraderie, caring, friendship and encouragement not to mention inspiration is what keeps me going. All of that from Jake, an 87 year old friend and so many others that I have the honor of talking with at least 3 days a week! I’m so glad you gave our gym a try & have encouraged others to try too!
Chris…thank you so much for commenting. It was a gift experiencing the sense of community that goes on there. it is very rare.
I just joined a gym nearby! Lots of classes at different times and I saved money by paying a full year in advance. That helps with the motivation. It’s already paid for, so I have to go, hehe!
Well done girl!
Where I live now we don’t have any “town” gyms- just a couple of the chain gyms since there really aren’t to many people into fitness enough here to start their own gym (well besides my husband and I if we had the money haha!) But I LOVED my gym in my home town that is like this. It is just the greatest.
Hayli at HayliDeJong.com
I think they are so great. It is like they remove all the pretense BECAUSE they have rusty dumbbells. I love it.