When I go to the gym, the last thing I want to do is run on the treadmill for 30 minutes sandwiched between the kid who asks all the questions in my Spanish class and the girl who was real drunk at Top of the Hill last Saturday night. Yet, whenever I go to the SRC or RHRC, it feels like a class reunion. Only, the air smells stale, I’m wearing a five-year-old ratty t-shirt, and Nickelback is blasting from every speaker. My workouts were not enjoyable, and I had to take the bus to catch the bus for the sojourn from my off-campus apartment to the SRC. But all that changed when I decided to shell out the $180 for a three month membership to the Ladies Fitness & Wellness Center in Chapel Hill. Behold: a gym with only female members, where I don’t have to sign up to use a machine and don’t have to listen to Nickelback.
If you are sick of the SRC or the RHRC, and you can afford to join a gym, do it. There are many gyms around Chapel Hill, offering the restless exerciser with new classes and an escape from the student population. Below is a list of some of the gyms in the Chapel Hill area that you should check out.
Ladies Fitness & Wellness Center
Locations: Chapel Hill, Durham
About: As the name suggests, LFW is for women only (sorry, guys). Although it is smaller than the SRC or the RHRC, it usually is not as packed. I have not had to wait to use a machine. There is a sauna, more than 40 classes to choose to participate in and many strength-training machines. For an extra fee you can hire a personal trainer, get a massage or use the tanning beds. If you are in a sorority, you get a membership discount. LFW is not open for as many hours as the SRC or RHRC, but if you live on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, it is a convenient alternative.
Contact:(919) 969-8663 for the Chapel Hill location, (919) 929-7474 for Durham
PEAK Fitness
Locations: Durham, Chapel Hill
About: You cannot find an excuse to skip the gym with a membership to PEAK because it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I would like to meet whoever is working out at 3 a.m. So, what are the perks of PEAK besides its hours of operation for the insomniac in each of us? They boast both their comprehensive facilities and their affordable rates. They also have an extensive group exercise schedule, including step, cycle and yoga classes. Some locations even have a swimming pool.
Contact: (888) 833-PEAK
UNC Wellness Center
Location: Meadowmont, Chapel Hill
About: In addition to its gym amenities, the Wellness Center has registered nurses, dietitians and exercise physiologists on staff. In terms of the facility’s offerings, there is a 25-yard lap pool, an indoor cushioned 4-lane walking and jogging track and a multi-purpose room with basketball court. There also are education classes, rehabilitation and nutrition classes. For someone who wants a gym that offers everything, the Wellness Center is for you.
Contact: (919) 966-5500
Franklin Street Yoga Center
Locations: 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
About: The Yoga Center is yoga, all day, every day. On the Web site, the teacher and owner, Lori Burgwyn, says her “teaching style adapts yoga to the ever changing needs of the individual thereby motivating students to find what’s right for them by looking within.” Most of the classes are power yoga, which combines traditional yoga and a more vigorous workout. The first class is free, and there is a newcomer special.
Contact: (919) 929-0414
I will continue to update this list with other gyms in the area – check back soon.
