Learning at the Health Club: There's a Lot More Than Treadmills and Juice Bars

Health clubs used to conjure up images of sweaty, muscle-bound men pumping iron and admiring their physiques in mirrors. More recently the health club has metamorphed into a virtual cathedral of health, with endless rows of treadmills and stair-climbing machines facing television sets, with loud, hypnotic music blasting in the background. Juice bar serving smoothies and other healthy drinks have become a standard features, along with climbing walls, massage therapy, swimming pools, and as many other features as can be imagined to attract new members.

Health clubs are also becoming something else - a great place to learn! In addition to the machines and other attraction, many health clubs now offer a variety of classes ranging from aerobics to yoga, and from cardio kickboxing to pilates.

Galter LifeCenter

Located in the North Park neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest side, the Galter LifeCenter distinguishes itself from most other health clubs through its association with Swedish Covenant Hospital. The hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, and Pain Management programs are all located at the LifeCenter, creating a unique integration of health and wellness services.

The 69,000 square foot, two-story facility includes many of the feature one would expect of any first class health club: 25-yard swimming pool, 1/12th-mile indoor running track, free weights, cardiovascular and strength training equipment, sauna, steamroom, and whirlpool, aerobics and exercise studios, and personal trainers.

Additionally, the LifeCenter offers services less commonly found at health clubs including a diabetes exercise program, arthritis therapy pools, and screening for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

There's a lot that can be learned at Galter. More than 90 classes are offered each week. Classes include tai chi, yoga, waterobics, kickboxing, and balletone, which integrates classical ballet exercises with modern fitness concepts. Classes are offered at a variety of levels and are included with membership in the LifeCenter (which starts at $64 per month).

"The classes offer a great workout with great teachers," according the Chicago resident Carolyn Garrett. "I've taken Water Aerobics and feel that I got a lot out of it."

A specialty at Galter is the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, which includes a 45-minute water exercise routine geared specifically to those with arthritis.

Galter's membership runs the gamut from teenagers to senior citizens and studiously avoids "the scene" of many area health clubs.

Galter LifeCenter
5157 North Francisco, Chicago, IL
773-878-9936
www.galterlifecenter.org

Crunch Gyms began as a bare-bones basement aerobics studio in Manhattan's East Village in 1989. Today they have 25 gyms in eight cities, including 6 locations in Chicago. Crunch professes a philosophy of "No Judgements" and welcomes people from all walks of life, regardless of shape, size, sex, or ability.

Crunch offers classes in martial arts, flexibility, yoga/wellness, and cardio, many with enticing titles. Personal training by certified instructors is also offered. Some of Crunch's courses include:

Fight Club - a 60-minute class that teaches proper sparring technique then tests your skills with 2-minute rounds of supervised sparring in a full-sized boxing ring.

Bosu Bootcamp - provides training on an apparatus that is a cross between a core board and a stability ball.

Cardio Striptease - class combines some of the basic moves of striptease wityh elements of an aerobic workout.

Other tantalizing titles include "Karma Sutra Yoga", "Polynesian Phunk", and "Whipped."

Crunch Fitness

• 38 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 312-828-9777
  
• 2727 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 773-477-8400
  
• Marina City, 350 North State Street, Chicago, IL 312-527-8100
  
• 820 North Orleans, Chicago, IL 312-573-4300
  
• [Opening Soon] 939 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 312-337-1244
  

www.crunch.com

Bally's Total Fitness runs 16 clubs in the Chicago area and more than 300 nationally. Perhaps the largest health club chain in the country, Bally's offers both personal training and a variety of classes.

Offered free with membership, Bally's classes include:

Intro to Step - which covers the fundamentals of step training, with an emphasis on terminology, form, and technique.

Kwando¨ Drills - covers the basics in movement skills with emphasis on stabilization, proper form, and execution techniques.

Yoga Fitness - introduces the student to the essentials of proper breathing and form in executing exercises.

Bally Total Fitness
Many Chicago area locations
800-515-2582
www.ballyfitness.com

Cheetah Gym has locations in Chicago's Andersonville and Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhoods. Each offers in excess of 40 classes per week in toning, yoga, cardio, and spin.

Classes include:

Ashtanga Heart Yoga - combines vinyasa, asanas, and pranayama. The class is a meditation in motion that increases strength, stamina, focus, and flexibility.

Hard Body Pump & Sculpt - teaches a variety of toning techniques using a variety of tools including weights, bands, the resist-a-ball, and strength positioning exercises.

Spin - a 50-minute non-impact cross-country indoor bike tour.

Cheetah Gym

• 5248 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 773-728-7777
  
• 1934 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 773-394-5900
  

www.cheetahgym.com

YMCAs provide an attractive, often less expensive, alternative to traditional health clubs. More than a dozen locations are available in the Chicagoland area.

Facilities and programs vary by location, but include program s for both youths and adults. Subjects include swimming, dance, cooking, martial arts, fitness, and aerobics.

I grew up playing ping pong, shooting pool, and playing basketball at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston. Today, their menu of programs has expanded dramatically to include more sophisticated options including:

Power Splash - an aerobic workout performed in both the shallow and deep sections of the pool.

Dance, Dance, Dance - a low impact combination of hip hop, jazz, and modern dance.

NIA - Neuromuscular Integrative Action. This "East meets West" method of toning your spirit, mind, and body combines the grace of dance, the power of martial arts, and the widom of the healing arts.

Other courses offered by McGaw YMCA include Intro to River Kayaking, Tai Chi, Yoga, Swimming, and American Red Cross CPR/AED. McGaw YMCA also offers a tutoring program for children.

On Chicago's north side, the New City YMCA occupies an interesting location between gentrified Old Town and the Cabrini-Green public housing development, giving it a diverse clientele to service.

Classes at New City YMCA include Hatha Yoga, American Red Cross Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid training, Cardiovascular Basketball Fitness Class (covers basketball fundamentals while giving an aerobic workout), and a variety of swimming courses for all ages. New City YMCA also offers "The Learning Place", a half-day preschool offered for 2-1/2 to 5 year olds.

Area locations include:

• New City YMCA, 1515 North Halsted, Chicago 312-440-7272
  
• Lake View YMCA, 3333 North Marshield, Chicago 773-248-3333
  
• Irving Park YMCA, 4251 West Irving Park, Chicago 773-777-7500
  
• High Ridge YMCA, 2424 West Touhy, Chicago 773-262-8300
  
• Wabash YMCA, 3763 South Wabash, Chicago 773-285-0020
  
• South Side YMCA, 6330 South Stony Island, Chicago 60637
  
• Leaning Tower YMCA, 6300 West Touhy, Niles 847-647-8222
  
• Latoff International YMCA, 300 E. Northwest Hwy, Des Plaines 847-296-3376
  
• McGaw YMCA, 1000 Grove Street, Evanston 847-475-7400
  

www.ymcachgo.org

This article appeared originally in the Winter 2003-2004 issue of Chicago Learning Guide Magazine.