If you are a student at Stern looking to avoid the ‘freshman 15’, then you definitely have your work cut out for you. It can be difficult to make healthy food choices when faced with all the delicious kosher food options that Midtown has to offer. Emotional eating during midterms and finals can also wreak havoc on your diet and waistline. One option to combat this problem is to join and frequent a gym. Exercise additionally decreases anxiety and stress.
Keep in mind that the on-campus facilities are a convenient and inexpensive option: Gym facilities are available in all of the residence halls and on the eleventh floor of 245 Lexington. These on-campus exercise rooms are a great resource for students. However, the machines fill up quickly. If you don’t want to take the chance of arriving suited up in your best exercise gear only to find that all the equipment is in use, you may want to join a gym.
When it comes to choosing a gym, Stern students have an overwhelming variety of options in the Midtown area. It is important to know the differences between these gyms in order to select the best one for you.
There are three main gyms in the Stern neighborhood: New York Sports Club, BOOM Fitness, and Equinox. Whichever one you select depends on individual priorities and preferences.
Here’s a brief description of the different options:
- New York Sports Club
- Located at 3 Park Avenue (34th Street between Lexington Avenue & Park Avenue)
- Student/Junior Membership Price- $29.99/month + Initiation Fee ($78.99) + Yearly Maintenance Fee ($39.99). Provides students access to a single gym facility during the facilities operating hours excluding 4:30pm-7:30pm.
Schedule & Classes- Large variety of class types, including: Shred, Pilates Mat,
Hatha Flow, UXF Burn, Cardio Strike, African Dance, Cardio Kickbox,
SilverSneakers, Abdominals, Vinyassa Flow, Step, Zumba, etc.
- Venue- Very large space, but not the most aesthetically appealing or clean area. Showers, bathrooms, and lockers are available to members as well.
- Equipment- Abundance of up-to date machines & weights.
2) BOOM Fitness
- Located at 4 Park Avenue (Between 34th Street & 33rd Street)
- Regular Membership- $19.99/month + Initiation Fee ($249.99) + Yearly Maintenance Fee ($79.99). Provides full access to single gym, and all offered classes.
- Customer Service- High quality service when frequenting gym; however, very difficult to deal with over the phone for inquiry & membership cancellation purposes.
- Venue- Quite small, and can be very crowded during peak hours (approximately 6-9pm), but attractive ambiance. Showers, bathrooms, and lockers are also available to members.
- Equipment- variety of up-to date machinery & weights, but during busy hours certain equipment/machines might not be available.
Equinox
- Located at 1 Park Avenue (33rd Street between Lexington Avenue & Park Avenue)
- Single Club Membership- $156/month + Initiation Fee ($175) + Yearly Fee ($120). Provides full access (including classes) to a single club location.
- All Access Membership- $188/month + Initiation Fee ($250) + Yearly Fee ($145.55). Provides full access to all club locations and their offered classes.
- Schedule & Classes- Cycling, Yoga, Pilates, Cardio, Conditioning, Conscious Movement, Martial Arts, & Water Workouts.
- Venue- Big, beautiful, various up-to-date machines & weights.
In conclusion, if you are a night owl who’s interested in midnight workout sessions as opposed to the daytime classes, then perhaps BOOM is the right choice for you. However, if you’re the potential gym guru, whose fitness motivation comes from exciting and challenging class workouts, then NYSC is probably your best bet.
But no matter what gym you decide on, make sure you just say no to the ‘freshman 15’!