I go to the gym most mornings. Why? Why don’t I just work out at home? After all, I have some dumb bells, some stretch bands and some other equipment that I can use right there. Why would I get up so early and go to the gym, just to exercise? That’s a good question that I’ll try to answer it here. You may want to give it a try.
First, apparently a lot of other people seem to feel the same way, particularly seniors. While the gym is not completely full at 0530, it is better than half full. That means that the machines are in use and the floor areas are mostly full. There are even several early bird classes going on that early.
While there is a seeming overabundance of equipment, I don’t use much of it. I do a series of what I call “floor and core” movements which are mostly done on the ground. I save the machines and weights for last and use devices like TRX suspension trainers (similar to gymnastic rings) and a “tire flipping” machine where truck tires are used to lift up and flip over.
Going to the gym early puts me around “like minded people” with a lot of energy. Like me, they prefer the early morning and for the most part, find that it energizes their day right from the start. That’s not just the seniors, it also includes a lot of people who work in downtown Washington, D.C., or in the large suburban “mini-cities” that surround the Nation’s Capital. It’s energizing in it’s own right just being around other motivated people that early in the morning.
My gym is simple. It has floor space, weights, machines and several large class rooms for group exercise classes. It doesn’t have running tracks, basketball courts, a swimming pool or luxury spa areas. It is a gym for people who want to exercise and move on with the day. There are several of the luxury gyms in the area but they are not at all what I am looking for. My gym has a Sauna which is a great pre-shower experience. The Sauna is the the full extent of the luxury.
There are classes for those who want to do them. There are spinning classes (cycling), Zumba classes, Yoga, and plain exercises of varying intensity. My wife goes to a moderate intensity exercise class a couple of days a week and Yoga on occasion. She gets there early and uses some of the machines before class. It’s also a social period for her and she has made new friends there.
For those who want individual attention, there are personal trainers available. They seem to be quite busy, even in the early morning.
So, I have a place to go to get exercise and energy first thing in the morning. If I stayed at home to do the exercises, I might find ways to put it off. But once the garage door goes up in the morning, I am committed.
While I don’t recommend the early morning exercise for everyone, I do recommend that you check out one of those gyms that will give you a free week membership and see how it works for you. And while the luxury spas can be quite expensive, a simple gym like mine can be quite affordable. Give it a try, you might like it.
Thank you for reading.