I harbor a deep and abiding love of the Salem YMCA, where for six months, I had been working dutifully to keep off the pounds I’m in danger of putting on from all of this eating up Oregon.
For half a year, I parked in the jammed lot next to the IKE Box downtown. For half a year I climbed the stairs and walked the track to the Y’s barely-conditioned cardio room, where I often encountered smells so human they were out-of-this-world. For half a year I drank in the chlorine smells of the underground pool and weathered stares from employees gawking at my increasing girth. And for half a year I took yoga classes with a red-headed hot mama named Karen, a sparkly new-ager prone to sprinkling her soothing, meditative yoga sessions with hilarious, end-of-hour TMI outbursts.
Well, my YMCA days are over for now. And I feel awful about it.
My new friends just joined Courthouse and gifted me with a free 30-day pass, which I promptly cashed in last week after putting my Y membership on hold.
My experience at Courthouse has been mixed. It has me longing for the days when I could work out in a place that had an obvious old-school charm and where I felt like I was mixing with the whole range of the Salem community.
My first inclination that Courthouse would be a whole different bag-o-beans occured at the counter, where I asked someone if she could cash in my free pass.
“No,” she said, and looked down at her schedule.
“Just kidding! Sure, I can do that.”
Me: Incredulous, annoyed.
The second sign that Courthouse was a different sell happened at the sales desk, where an employee asked me:
“How old are you, 24?”
Me: Incredulous, really annoyed.
Um…. no. And I don’t look it either. I haven’t looked 24 since I was 22. Then he preceded to circle items in the Courthouse contract and have me initial them — that’s a car sales tactic to get have me believe, on a pscyhological level, that I’ve already committed myself to Courthouse.
Well, I haven’t committed yet. I’ve been going a couple of times a week to work out on the elliptical trainers and to lift some weights and to try as I might to keep from adding even more fat to my face in the pregnancy. You might not be able to tell from this picture, but I’m adding all of my baby weight to my chin.
Naturally, the Courthouse has some obvious draws. It is strenuously clean, looks brand-spanking-new, is air-conditioned (I’m a fiery furnace these days, I need AC!), has a pool (currently closed), and offers a pretty wide range of classes. For older people (there’s even a chair yoga class).
But I can’t help but miss the Y. People don’t talk to you at Courthouse, there is no feeling that the business is doing something to better the community, and the Lancaster Avenue location makes me feel like I am just one more person trying to look good.
At the Y I really did feel like working out was just a regular part of my life here in Salem. At Courthouse, I’m really just working out, and I could be anywhere.
In the end, this is a moot discussion. Have you heard about the Kroc Center? It’s opening at the end of this month and it costs only half as much as the YMCA for a single person’s monthly membership. They have an indoor water park. And registration is free through September 30.
I may not be done switching teams just yet…
The one you can walk to is the one to use. Driving a gym is like making love to promote virginity.
Um… hello! That sounds like a great idea! I will happily make love to promote someone else’s virginity.
Don’t feel bad. It’s all about the market, and for what they charge, the Y should be doing better. I used to be a member, but the lack of machines and the nasty nature of the building didn’t inspire me, but rather depressed me. It was convenient as I work downtown. So I quit and joined Gold’s Gym (join at the one in Keizer; the one on South Commercial is just crazy with their fees and what not. Once a member, you can use ANY Gold’s Gym ANYWHERE on the planet).
It cost me less, and for what I use I get more. No pool, so if that’s the real call Golds won’t work for you. And be prepared to get the hard sell on personal training sessions when you sign up. But after that… I’ve been happy with my membership.
I’m not about to suggest that if you don’t live close enough to a gym to walk to it that you shouldn’t go.
I went to Gold’s for a year in D.C. It was all young professionals who, if I can be completely judgmental, didn’t have enough to fill their lives. I kind of like the meatheads that show up at most Gold’s. I like it when dudes would rather gawk at themselves than at me.
I totally share your dilemna. I love the people at the Y but really don’t like the facility. I love that they do something good for the community but hate the parking. I love that it is a mix of the frumpy & fashionable people but I hate that it cost about the same as the Courthouse. There are 2 things that keep me at the Y. #1 – their childcare hours are much better than anywhere else so you can take small children during non-peak hours when it isn’t crazy and #2 – the indoor running track. I loose my balance on treadmills. Oh, and #3, I really really love the staff. The Kroc center is pretty tempting but I figure it will be pretty crazy during the first couple months so I’m waiting it out. Good Luck!
Childcare! And that is one reason I may go back. I tried to volunteer there but they never called me back…
I’ve been a member of the Courthouse and became great friends with some of the people in classes I took. Regularly attending a class gave us a bond – an excuse to talk I guess and years later (and added lbs) we still are friends! I went to Curves and thought it was odd that I was next to the same person for 20 minutes and they never made eye contact . . . did I use my deodorant?
Sadly, they don’t really have any pregnant-friendly classes. I’m a total klutz at this point and can barely walk, let alone step.
I saw your Courthouse on Friday, right before I gorged myself on tasty Mexican food at Los Dos Amigos.
I am excited about Kroc!
Dude, you should have come with us to Da Vinci’s. more on that soon.
I used to work at the Y, and the creepy old building charms the heck right outta me. But, it should be cheaper
I’ve been a member at the Courthouse too, and was less charmed, but I got my workouts in and it was clean. The pool was down a LOT though. One think to keep in mind about the Y is that they have an amazing range of classes and programs for kids, which will be cheaper if you’re a member.
Ah, so, the Lancaster Courthouse.
I was just taking note; you said, “…People don’t talk to you at Courthouse.” And darned if that isn’t 30% or so of the reason I canceled my Courthouse membership about a month ago. I went for 2 1/2 years, early morning, because that is when I have time to work out, first thing in the morning. And the last thing I want at 5am with no makeup, sweaty workout clothes and bedhead is people talking to me. And that’s ALL THEY DID there. I was slightly harassed by a couple of old dudes the entire 2.5 years that never took a hint that I didn’t want to be “buddies”. I didn’t want to meet at Starbucks after spinning class and blow all the calories we burned on a Caramel Macchiato. It was creepy. Plus the staff at the front counter is required to greet each member and say farewell to each member as they come and go — this is not the small talk I want at 5am — 18 minutes after being literally in bed! I used to make a game of trying to slip out the door without them noticing so that they wouldn’t come barreling out of the laundry room where they were sorting towels to shout, “BYE! Have a good day!” Ugh.
I’m sorry, but how ’bout everyone keep to themselves that early in the morning.
In fact the people there surprised me. People could not share; not machines, not time on this station or that, not TVs… a rather rude group I thought. And it was a very clean place to be sure, but the people there are as smelly as at any other gym (maybe smellier — just my two cents after being around those two old dudes all the time).
Who knows, maybe the Courthouse crowd at 5pm or 7 pm was completely different. Maybe nicer. But my husband who worked out at 2pm said it was all meatheads and girls in skimpy workout bras who wanted to show off.
–Oh yeah, and they probably wanted you to be 24 so they could save you $10/month on your dues. I just turned 25; perfect time to get out of that place before I couldn’t afford it anymore. I might try Golds next. Courthouse has a lot to offer — much more than I will ever utilize, so something like Salem Fitness Center might be more my style.. just a place to run out of the rain this winter.
Oh, Sophie! You have touched on so many of my un-articulated annoyances. I actually have a running game trying to sneak out of that place too. I’m deathly afraid that they are all watching me as I waddle in and out. I really don’t want the full customer service treatment at the gym.
But I don’t count saying hello as talking to you… not when it’s in the name of service.
Time of day definitely does play a part in the courthouse experience, I’m finding. My friends go in the morning and they say it is all 70 year olds. I go in the afternoon and it’s UO undergrads on break, bodybuilders and, if I stay too long, the huge after-work rush. Go on a Sunday afternoon and I’m the only person there.
Have you heard about the Kroc center? I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m going to check it out.
What do you want from your first day or two at Courthouse, stranger-danger Emily? Everyone to be bringing you cookies and water and wiping your sweet li’l lilac-scented brow while asking how you are? I mean, you’re a fiery furnace who looks 24 years old, and the last thing I’m gonna do is take time out of my 45-minute elliptical machine workout to risk looking like I’m mackin’ on some mama-bear-to-be who’s probably got a full schedule and doesn’t want to be interrupted. Especially her first day there. Especially when she looks like she’s totin’ a freebie 30-day pass that she’s only usin’ because friends gave it to her. Maybe, if I was in my third set of preacher curls, I’d be a bit more outgoing, but then again, my choice of workout activities alone would probably land me in the “bodybuilders” category of your evaluation and exclude me from consideration as a legit partner in conversation. To say nuthin’ of what you’d think of me if I was wearing my skimpy workout bra…..
Dude, thanks for the compliments. But I did wait a couple weeks to post this, so I’ve been there quite a few times…
I think you sound hot. As studly as a muffin comes. If I see you on the elliptical I’m going to talk your ear off.
Missed Connections
You were the lonely-looking, mama-bear-to-be wandering through the Courthouse. I was the stud-muffin in training bra sweating on the elliptical machine. Care to take my pulse?
Oh Em. At least you have a good (?) reason for abandoning the Y. One word, eight letters as to why I haven’t darkened their door for at least three months: l-a-z-i-n-e-s-s.
Though I’ve never been to Courthouse, it always seemed so … waxy. But let us, together, join the Kroc Center and float around their lazy river to our hearts’ content!
Finally, you’re not gaining fat, you’re gaining adorable. Seriously, you and your baby bump look awesome.
I think the real question should be: Why am I so attached to the griminess of the Y? Why do I want to work out in a place where I might catch something other than someone’s eye?
And yes, Kelly, let’s check out the Kroc. Best get in before the pre-reg ends.
Yes, let’s try the Kroc! I want to. Their rates sound stinkin great and the facility sounds rad. Nevermind it would add another 40 minutes or so to my workout just to get there and back……….
Whoops! That doesn’t sound like a solution, though, Sophie. 40 minute commute sounds atrocious. I know already I won’t be able to get my husband to join. If you can believe it HE HAS NEVER BEEN TO A GYM.
Ok – I’m going to mention the elephant in the room with regard to the Kroc Center (oops, maybe that’s the wrong metaphor…
. I am curious how its overt Christian mission will spill over into the programming and the feel of the place. For instance, in the description of the Yoga classes, it says “this non-meditative class” – huh? One thing I definitely don’t need when I’m working out is a religious sales pitch or guilt trip. Don’t get me wrong. I think the facility is a wonderful thing for the community and sorely needed. But in their materials, the Kroc and the Salvation Army identify as an “evangelical part of the Christian Church.” What’s worse than a sweaty old guy trying out his pick up lines on the treadmill next door? How ’bout an evangelical sweaty old guy trying to talk your ear off about Jesus? Just my two cents.
I was wondering about that, too, Rachel, after picking up a prospectus. The thing about yoga and meditation is that they can’t stop me from meditating when I’m practicing yoga. Now if the instructor brings up Jesus during the session, then I’ll know I’m in the wrong place.
And yes, I’m the elephant in the room. That’s how I was planning to introduce myself to my students next week!
Ha! You are too funny. You are nothin’ but cute…please know I was JOKING!
I’m totally not joking. I don’t imagine there will be much evangelizing, but I’ll miss my yoga instructor-led mediations: Picture yourself. You are in the water, the water is streaming all around you. Something swims by, and you realize it is a dolphin. You grab the dolphin’s fin and he begins to drag you through the water — it’s flowing all round you. You can feel the sun in your hair. Slowly he submerges into the water, taking you with him. Gulp. Gasp! AGHHHHH!
First, GREAT BLOG!
So happy to hear this gym saga is real and not just in my head. I’m new to Salem, arrived about a year ago from the Silicon Valley. In the Bay Area you can find a gym on every corner for every need. Down there the “Y” is the “cheap seats” of the gym world. Here I can’t believe that the “Y” (which looks and runs like a “Y”) cost the same as the “gourmet” Courthouse. I do like the Courthouse, though I’m at the South gym, not sure how different that is from the Lancaster location – but one thing is UNIVERSAL there – the over the top “face time”. I’m not used to having someone come up to me while I’m trying to workout to constantly offer their help or just “check in”. On more then one occasion I have told them that I’m just a “grumpy gym gal” so not to take it personally but I’m don’t actually like a lot of chatter while I’m trying to work out. Doesn’t change a thing, apparently they have to have a certain amount of this “face time” to please the management. It’s so frustrating to leave a gym more up tight then when you walked in!
Looking forward to hearing your review of the Kroc Center. Perhaps that will be the answer to my problem – little nervous about the over all vibe of that place so I’m shamefully happy that someone else is doing “guinea pig” duty.
Facetime! Unless they can keep the girl next to me from changing the channel from the History Channel’s pirates special to a donut documentary (happened today), I don’t need it either.
um, are you pregnant?
Yes, yes I am. Very. Gravid with child.
Just joking about the *elephant* metaphor! All the other stuff, I’m right there with ya.
I haven’t been to the Kroc center yet, but I want to go check it out. I skimmed an article (oh hey, BY THE WAY!! – congrats on being mentioned in the SM as Salem’s best Blogger, Woot!!)
anyways… haven’t been to the Kroc yet, but I should stop by. Skimmed a piece about them recently, read about the water park, the classes, the kids activities, etc, but didn’t read much about an official gym area, so I’m curious what’s all there for exercise equipment. Although, who could complain, when they have a floating river!
p.s. You look SO cute in that picture, no worries, you’re a doll!
Sadly, I didn’t make it down for the opening. I was at a wedding in PA all weekend… And thanks for the congratulations! I got Salem’s best blog, but I’m not convinced that I’m Salem’s best blogger…
You’re easily Salem’s best blogger. My opinion
Ok so just getting back to this — you know, the Kroc center is not a 40 minute there-and-back commute for everyone. I live on the South end of town so it would be for me, but maybe not for you. I didn’t want to discourage you, that’s all!
I actually didn’t realize it was “Christian”-centered, by the way. The Kroc. I know, I’m dumb, because the Salvation Army seal is on all their stuff; I just haven’t heard anything Jesus-related beyond that about the place so far. Do we really think they would be evangelizing all up on us while we’re trying to sweat it out on the treadmill to pirate or donut documentaries? I’m curious. I have a feeling the South Courthouse “facetime” could be more annoying than a little Christianese on their materials or signs… I don’t know.
–I guess that would depend on one’s view of Jesus!