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| { Broccoli bouquet | January 2013 } |
In the spirit of trying new things (that sometimes don't work), when I received a free day pass to a nearby Equinox I thought I should give it a whirl.
Since I've had a gym in my apartment building ever since I left university—and I like to do my own workouts at home—I haven't been a member of an actual gym with a juice bar and classes and whatnot in almost a decade. NYC gyms are pricey, and I could never justify the cost since I have machines and weights downstairs, BUT, the idea of mixing things up with classes seemed interesting, so away I went Saturday morning in the snow to 3SUM (I actually didn't even get the play on words at first—sad).
The class is supposed to be 90 minutes of cycling, strength work and yoga, but I only stayed for about 45 minutes. There was this weird, high school clique-y feeling that was the opposite of fun. The instructor never asked if anyone was new and spewed out instructions that didn't make sense. When we got into the weight room it was mass pandemonium with people reserving spots for themselves and delineating "no-fly" zones which meant I was smushed in by the door. I had zero view of the instructor and she called out rapid-fire instructions that only the regulars got so I was flailing around like a fool. And, I don't like looking foolish, so I sneaked out and decided to at least make use of the sauna and steam room before heading home.
Now, Equinox talks up their plush amenities (Kiehls! Orchids! Etc.!), but...it was just okay. I only spent a few minutes in the sauna, because it was co-ed and there were some definite "bros" talking it up. It also wasn't that hot and it had fluorescent lights that wrecked the ambiance. The women-only steam room was a bit nicer, except that every 3-4 minutes the system pumped in more steam with these horrifically loud machines that sounded like 45 hand dryers all turning on at the same time.
So, me and Equinox? Not so much.
The next afternoon R and I both had a session booked at AIRE—which we have tried and loved—and slipping back in to enjoy a massage, the baths, the steam and the flamenco music was, just as we remembered, wonderful.
Two sybarites and a steamy, thermal-bath Sunday, followed by raw cacao-coconut-maca hot chocolates at home, was so much better than the less-than-equalizing Equinox.
hahaha! the NYC gym scene... I remember some gym promoter stopping me and asking me: are you looking for a gym that will really work your body out or a gym where you just look at other people and show yourself off? I said, uuuuhh the second one the second one!!!!! (clearly he was hoping I'd say the first one)
ReplyDeleteThat's disappointing about Equinox. I've never been, but I had it built up in my head to be this awesome place. I joined an all-women's gym (Healthworks) a couple of years ago and I love it. The whole energy is different, it's not stinky (well, most of the time), and I finally started enjoying group classes. I've yet to try the sauna or steam room, but I need to remember to do that. A co-ed sauna would be a no-go for me.
ReplyDeleteI was the same way about Equinox! And, no idea why the steam rooms are located in the sex-specific locker rooms, but the sauna is co-ed (I was not a fan at all either). If I ever looked into joining a gym, maybe women-only is the way to go. I'm sure it's a much different experience.
DeleteAnd, seriously try the sauna/steam room if you have access to it! I always feel hot so the idea of sitting in a purposely-hot place always sounded ridiculous to me, but now I love, love, love it! Feels so amazing during and after.