STT gym recommendations?

Kellymac,

I believe there are only two options for you. There is the gym I belong to - America's Paradise - has two locations. One is downtown at Nisky Center, and the other is on the east end near the mall. I can only speak for the one on the east end - they have a good selection of free weights, machines, and cardio equip. Plus, it is usually pretty empty so your never waiting to use anything. They do offer few different scheduled classes at day and night, but I can't comment on those either since I have never taken one. I signed a contract, and pay $49 a month, and feel it is a pretty good value, but I have very basic needs when it comes to a gym. It is nothing like the big, nice new gyms stateside, but it serves its purpose for me.

There is also and X-treme fitness located in the middle of the island, near the movie theatre. Have only looked inside once, appeared cleaner and nicer, although quite a bit smaller. Again, can't comment on price or classes.

The nicest place is probably Journey's Spa and fitness center at the Wyndham. Very expensive, not much equipment, no classes, but the spa is really nice.

Hope this helps, if you have any other questions just ask

Antilles School had the MCM center. It looks pretty nice.

My downstairs neighbor goes to the gym at the Elysian every day.

Max

I work out at Marriott Frenchmans Reef. The cardio equipment is very nice with individual LCD screens to watch what you want to. The equipment is okay but not much of it. I go during lunch when the tourist are at the pool and the beach which makes it pretty much a private gym. Not much in the way of classes, they do offer Yoga and Tai Chi at an additional cost. The cost is $70 per month. I got a little break by paying for a year in advance. The only thing that makes it worth it is the convenience for me and I also like the locker room and spa facilities. Based on what you are looking for I would not recommend it.
I occasionally work out at Xtreme Fitness especially on my Leg day because they have more equipment. It is nice and clean and during the day pretty empty. They offer classes but not too many. I think they are around $30-$35 per month. It has plenty of parking and the hours are pretty good but I cant speak much on the classes.

The gym at Antilles is nice and a relatively good bargain. If I remember correctly they are around $30 per month. They also offer classes. The equipment is pretty up to date and again easy parking.

If I had to join a gym today I would go with American Paradise. They have the most equipment and the most classes. The thing that turned me off when I went to visit was the lady trying to sell me the whole time I was looking at the gym. High pressure health club sales people turn me off. I know exactly what I am looking for and if the gym has it I will join the cost is pretty insignificant if they have what I want.
At the end of the day I would recommend stopping by American Paradise,Xtreme Fitness and Antilles to look at their schedules,equipment and pricing. Maybe do a couple of drop in's at each one before making your choice.

Has anyone been to Curves at Lockhart?

Thanks to all for great info.

Best,

LR

Alot of people stateside are not great enthusiasts of Curves Gyms, for the reason that the owner/founder, Gary Heavin, is a very vocal and active opponent of abortion and uses the profits from his women's health gyms to promote his views.

To many of us, making money, from women, promoting women's health and then piping that money into his clinics which deny a women's choice, seems hypocritical, at the very least.

You might do some research on the subject before joining so that you're sure your money is going where you want it to go.

Wow, fascinating.

I googled the name Angela listed, and found the following quote:

"Heavin matches the first $1,000 that each franchise raises for community causes such as walkathons to benefit pro-life pregnancy-care centers. Such controversial stances have led to criticism, but Heavin is unfazed. "There's nothing healthy about abortion," he says. "I'm not afraid to tell the truth." "

I'm going to steer clear of the hotbed of political conversation that this could generate and just say thanks for some interesting information.

Best,

LR

Hmm, very interesting indeed. I too shall refrain from comment other than to say thank for the tip of the day!

I do not agree with Mr Heavin's politics but I nevertheless think it important to note the following (from the Snopes.com Urban Legends Reference Pages http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/curves.asp):

"Gary Heavin is far from the first successful businessman to underwrite reproductive causes. Tom Monaghan of Domino's Pizza and Carl Karcher, founder of the California-based hamburger chain Carl's Jr., have been very open and public regarding their support of the pro-life philosophy, just as Warren Buffett, ranked by Forbes magazine as the second-richest man in the world, has been forthcoming about his backing of pro-choice programs. In each instance, these men are acting as private citizens who choose to bestow parts of their fortunes on the causes they believe in, not as officers of their corporations. The money is theirs to do with as they please, just as anyone's paycheck belongs to the person who earns it and stops being the employer's money at the moment it is paid out. That a spendthrift employee might choose to gamble away his earnings doesn't mean the company he works for supports gambling; likewise, that a wealthy man financially supports particular causes doesn't mean the corporation that paid him the money favors those movements. "

well, I don't know how many shares does Mr. Heavin own in his corporation, but if he does own the majority of the shares, then in layman's term he does own the corporation. His situation then would be very different from a janitor in his corporation who loves to gamble. His fortune is directly build on the profits made by the corporation, which come from the consumers, or stockholders. Suppose the owner of your small neighborhood grocery store is a neo-nazi, he is very open about it and he participates in the nazi parade every year, and you don't agree with his view, can you still go there to shop every week knowing that part of your money will be supporting a view you are against?

Besides, there's the image factor, he is using the name of his corporation to gather support for the cause he believes in.

I really didn't mean to start another long, long thread when I posted this information. As I said, it was just information so that the user could decide for herself if this was where she wanted her money to go to - to allow her to make a choice.

It is interesting, however, that Curves Gym sells itself as devoted to women's health; there are many who feel very strongly that his position is not healthy for women, and they choose to make a choice where their money goes and who or what it supports.

It's all about choice.

I extensively looked at gyms when I first came down here and have since switched gyms since being here a year. America's paradise has the most options - nisky and 4 winds and I also heard rumors that they bought out gold's gym as well. One note about the cable machines there - it rough state, be careful if working out on them, watch the cables as you work. Also a lot of the free-weight machines aren't bolted and often will not have enough weight on them to keep them safely on the floor. Otherwise, have a good selection of equipment, the regular weight machines are in good repair and classes are free. Word to the wise - make sure when they quote you a price, it's NOT for 3 years. Many people on island complain about getting tricked into a 3 year contract with them thinking that they are signing up for a year. Just read the fine print.

I have since switched to X-treme fitness by cost-u less. Machines are in good repair, smaller, and has free water 🙂 Less choice in classes, but are also free and parking is easier.

Antilles is a nice gym, classes are extra though - it's too far from my house, didn't really consider it.

There's a new women's gym out by Mahogony Run somehwere, haven't checked it out. Curves is not my favorite, I don't really consider it a "gym". A few machines in a circle with areas to do cardio inbetween. They have you move around the circle in time with the music, something like 30-60 seconds at a station. No cardiomachines.

Hope it's helpful, I'd call for rates/specials