Picking a place to sweat

YAKIMA, WASH. -- Sharon Morgan liked the variety of fitness classes.

Wendy Chrisman was impressed with the friendliness of the staffers and cleanliness of the place. Plus, it's close to home.

It's convenient for Tanner Gronowski, too. Better yet, it has 24-hour access. And for the first-year medical student at the nearby Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, it's free. A gym membership at YAC Fitness in Terrace Heights is part of the enrollment package.

"You had to sign up for it, but I definitely did because I really liked the place. It's close by where I live and where I go to school. And it's 24-hour access. You can't beat that," the 23-year-old says.

Each of the three was drawn to the club for his or her own reasons. Whatever an individual's appeal to a specific facility might be, local health club managers agree the key to finding the right gym to meet your workout needs -- without emptying your pocketbook -- is evaluating your budget and particular exercise needs.

"One of the components of fitness is enjoyment," says Carrie Sattler, general manager of both YAC Fitness and the Yakima Athletic Club. "You've got to have the right fit."

So a must-do in deciding where you'll be sweating, Sattler says, is an on-site visit. Other local club managers concur.

"You want to get to know the place before you actually commit to it," says West Valley Fitness manager Memo Galvan. "For most people, it generally takes a visit or two."

Tressa Shockley, membership director at the Yakima Family YMCA, recommends taking a tour as well as completing a trial workout.

"Most places -- or at least we do -- offer guest passes," she says. "My other recommendation is to find someone to join with. Come with a friend."

Then, make plans to meet that friend at the gym on a regular basis. It's motivation to go to the gym. And the more you go, the more bang you're getting for your buck.

During your initial visits, Shockley also recommends checking out your surroundings as well as exercise classes and equipment.

"Walk in the place," she says. "Is it an environment you feel comfortable in? Does it meet your needs? Is the location en route to somewhere you have to go on a daily basis?"

If not, Shockley says, "You'll come up with reasons why you shouldn't go." And that would be a waste of money.

At Valley Racquet and Fitness Club in Sunnyside, "The variety that we offer is what we sell," says manager Gary Miles. "We're an 18,000-square-foot facility. We offer aerobics, swimming, tanning, cardio equipment, Nautilus and free weights. When people get burned out on their routines, there's a lot more to do."

But some people aren't looking for so much variety.

"Some people just want equipment; they don't want programming," Sattler says. "If you know you're an equipment junkie, you don't need a big gym. You don't need a big club."

A place like West Valley Fitness might be more your style.

"Most people don't have time to spend three to four hours in the gym," Galvan, the manager, says. "A gym like ours fits people who want to have a quick-and-easy express workout."

In addition to weights and cardio equipment, West Valley Fitness offers child care, exercise classes and tanning for additional fees. But there are no showers and no swimming pool.

"We're a dry facility," Galvan says. "That factors into the low cost."

An individual membership at West Valley Fitness costs $19.98 per month, plus joining fees.

"We are the cheapest in town, and that's guaranteed," Galvan says.

In addition, his club operates on a month-to-month basis; there are no long-term contracts.

"A lot of people I know don't like contracts. You've got to factor in: Am I going to stick it out for a year?"

Like other local club managers, he encourages prospective members to weigh their options.

"Basically," he says, "it comes down to price: How much do you want to spend?"

At the Sunnyside club, as well as many others, exercise classes are included in the membership price. And there are several membership options.

"We do offer month-to-month and three-month memberships. But they cost more. So you're better off to go with the 12-month contract," Miles says.

In addition to yearlong contracts, "every gym should also offer a month-to-month membership," Sattler says. "It's usually at a higher rate because we're not getting that commitment."

Some clubs offer discounts for referring new members. And some offer reduced rates for students, seniors, members of the military, couples and families. The more family members, the cheaper it gets. You might even get more use out of the place.

"When it's a family deal, you're probably going to go more than if it's an individual (membership) and you're taking time away from your family," Miles says.

Other considerations include co-ed or women-only gyms -- "Some women don't want to work out with men," Sattler says -- as well as hours and location.

Location was a main consideration for Chrisman, who lives and works out in Terrace Heights. The 52-year-old accountant joined YAC Fit in early August and now goes to the gym two or three times a week.

"I didn't visit any other club," she says. "Mainly, it's because of convenience. I just went up there and asked if they had any specials for signing up."

They did, and she got a price break on the joining fee, which included two hours with a trainer -- "a real deal," says Chrisman, who pays about $46 a month for her membership.

On top of that, she signed up to meet with a trainer once a month for six months. The package -- a $360 value for $300 -- saved her $60, or the cost of one session.

Because of the club's proximity to his home and school, Gronowski says he'd likely join YAC Fit even if membership wasn't offered through the university.

Usually, he goes to the gym in the afternoon or evening. But, "There have been weeks where I have gone at 11 o'clock at night," he says. "It varies, which is, again, why I like it. It's open all the time."

Gym Alternatives

Don't want to -- or can't afford to -- pay to exercise? You can get fit without joining a gym. There are plenty of free or low-cost ways around Yakima to get your heart rate up and your waistline down. And many of them include venturing into the great outdoors. Here are a few ideas to get you moving.

* Take a hike. Or just go for a walk. There are plenty of hiking trails in the Cascade foothills. Closer to town, the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy maintains more than 14 miles of trails. For more info, visit www.cowichecanyon.org.

There's also the Yakima Greenway, a 10-mile paved pathway that runs through the Yakima River corridor between the Selah Gap and Union Gap as well as west along the Naches River. For more info, visit www.yakimagreenway.org.

And there's the shorter Powerhouse Canal Pathway, stretching 2.5 miles from 40th Avenue and River Road to McGuinness Park.

These paved paths are also great for in-line skating, roller-skating and bike riding.

* Go for a run. Through your neighborhood. Along the Greenway. Around the track at Yakima's Franklin Middle School.

* Ride a bike. Again, there's the Greenway, Cowiche Canyon, your neighborhood, the Cascade foothills. Check out www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike and www.valleycyclingandfitness.com for tips and other links.

* Play tennis. Several Yakima parks -- including Franklin Park at 21st Avenue and Tieton Drive and Kissel Park at 32nd and Mead avenues -- have tennis courts. Kissel has the most, with a dozen.

* Play outside. Organize a game of Ultimate Frisbee in Franklin Park. Kick around a ball on one of the six soccer fields at Chesterley Park at 40th Avenue and River Road. Several Yakima parks also have basketball courts; call your friends and get a regular game going.

* Exercise at home. Invest in some light weights, aerobics or yoga DVDs and do it yourself in your living room. Don't forget to throw in some old-fashioned sit-ups and push-ups.

* Swim laps. You don't need to join a gym to swim at a public pool. At Lions Pool at Fifth Avenue and Pine Street in Yakima, coupons for 10 swims are available at a discounted rate. So are three-month passes. Reduced rates are also available for youth, seniors and families.

* For more information about Yakima parks, including pool fees, visit www.ci.yakima.wa.us/services/parks or call 509-575-6020.

* For information about health clubs, visit www.healthclubs.com or www.ihrsa.org.

Thinking of joining a gym?

There's much to consider, especially if you want to shed pounds without slimming your pocketbook at the same time. Gyms come in all shapes, sizes and prices. And these days, they offer everything from workout equipment and exercise classes to tanning, hot tubs, saunas, massages, personal trainers, even laundry service.

Here are a few tips to help determine the best fit for you.

* Shop around. Many gyms offer reduced-price memberships, including special packages for students and seniors.

* Try it before you buy it. Many gyms offer free trial periods or trial or temporary memberships for a nominal fee.

* Ask questions. Do trainers and instructors carry national certifications? Are background checks performed on staff members who work with youth?

* Look for specials. Gyms sometimes waive or reduce joining fees and offer special package deals.

* Don't pay for something you won't use. Hate hot tubs? Then paying more to use a special locker room with one might not be the best option for you.

* Be honest with yourself. How many times will you actually use the gym? As a general rule, you need to use it at least twice a week to benefit from the membership cost.

* Read the fine print. Are there extra costs for certain classes or child care? How much notice do you have to give when you want to cancel your membership?

* What else is included in your membership? Some fitness centers offer free towels, the use of a sauna or personal trainer, or exercise classes as part of a package.

* Check with your employer. Would your workplace subsidize a portion of your gym fees?

* Work at a club, even if it's just a part-time or "moonlight" job. Gyms usually give free memberships to employees.

-- Compiled by Adriana Janovich