I'm not like every other person who joins a gym in January because of New Year's Resolutions…read more Nope, I joined because I have an important event in a couple months and I need to get my butt in gear (literally)!
I had thought I would join potentially for the weight loss benefits of going to the gym regularly, but had overlooked the benefit of endurance, both physically and mentally because being around people you may not want to be around is a special kind of endurance! I'm going to a conference out of state. Instead of loud drunk adults, this place has loud children and instead of walking for miles, seemingly in circles, you get to dance them in circles or step them or Aqua Zumba them. In any case, I feel like I'll be fit on all levels in time for my event.
I had actually considered NC a couple years ago but wasn't fully sold at the time. Recently, I gave it another look and I think they have improved their website and now have an app. In addition, the membership options seem easier to understand and they have added an InScan / Body Scan machine that's free for members. That alone is worth the price of admission. It will tell you in excruciating detail how unfit you are but, hey, hopefully, you can only improve! Members can scan as much as they want but obviously, once a month is the most you should do to actually establish a trend.
On membership, I opted for the month to month no contact one: $71 and no initiation fee. While that may seem high, I really need classes to feel engaged and motivated and most classes, even on Class Pass are around $20 to $25 a class, so if I go to one class a week at NC, I'm already ahead! One neat thing, the monthly pass just runs 30 days then deactivates. If you try to scan your card, it makes a noise and the staff will charge you to re-up for the next 30 days. For someone that has gotten burned on gym contacts more than I care to recall, the fact that this just expires is such a benefit to me. One less thing to worry about. You can also get the monthly membership and family and all kinds of flavors with different costs and contracts but for me, this was the perfect option.
I mentioned classes and man, they have a ton: dance, Pilates, step, yoga, spin, Aqua Zumba, and they even have sports like drop-in pickleball! I've already taken a couple classes and really enjoy them. They have the app and you can add a class to your calendar from the app. You can't sign up for a class through the app though but hopefully that's in the works. You can also check into the gym with the app or with your keychain card, so that's handy.
They have various lectures and courses and competitions which I'm looking forward to participating in as well. Also, they have a water bottle refill station which is great. No juice bar or anything but very close to a ton of places to quickly undo whatever you just did at the gym.
Now for the neutrals and negatives:
Yes, the bathrooms are old but I don't find them to be dirty or slippery or whatever some reviewers have said. They have lockers but bring your own lock and they are just day lockers. Half the time, I don't need a locker so it's not a huge deal for me but YMMV.
Parking can be tricky. Free on the street if you can find it otherwise, pay with the Passport app to park in the lot.
Children. It's weird if you're used to only going to gyms where it's adults only and also mostly going places where it's adults only. They are only allowed in the classes for them I think so there's that (I wish the app would let you filter those out because they have some kids classes I might want to take them you click in and see the age limits. Maybe I want to take "Creative Dance" or "Fit and Fun").
Overall, I'm already very happy with this choice and may very well convert my monthly membership to a contract. Eventually. Maybe...
