Fitness Clubs

[bellzisu]

Ok... Looking for some place to go either in Des Moines or Ames.. What do you guys recommend?


I'm not completely out of shape.. I bike a lot in the summer but need something different then sitting on a trainer in my basement.

Cost is kinda a factor...

 

[ILiftWithRoyce]

My wife and I have been with Ames Racquet and Fitness for alittle over a year now and we love it. You can make it whatever you want it to be - personal training, fitness classses, aqua, weight lifting, cardio, etc. The staff is really solid, at least at the North location where we go. We signed a 2 year committment and paid up front and it shook out to about $20/month for each of us

 

[ILiftWithRoyce]

You also get a free fitness assessment and free personal training session for signing up

 

[Cyched]

I'll second ARFC. Great environment, plenty of machines, weights, etc. and a wide offering of classes if that's your thing. Not many other places are going to match the value you get there.

 

[bellzisu]

I'll second ARFC. Great environment, plenty of machines, weights, etc. and a wide offering of classes if that's your thing. Not many other places are going to match the value you get there.

Are classes part of the membership then and not extra?? That's the problem with some places in Des Moines.

 

[NWICY]

I'm not sure but if you have an alumni membership, you can get into state gym and rec center for basically a 2 bucks a day. Don't know the details but my niece does it.

 

[JP4CY]

My wife and I have been with Ames Racquet and Fitness for alittle over a year now and we love it.

I'll second ARFC. Great environment, plenty of machines, weights, etc. and a wide offering of classes if that's your thing. Not many other places are going to match the value you get there.

Wife and I have been going to their sister company Fitness World in Ankeny for a few years now. Love both locations, now adding a third. Great staff, and they continually re invest into equipment.

Are classes part of the membership then and not extra?? That's the problem with some places in Des Moines.

My wife does quite a few free classes. Yoga, power lifting, the drum stick exercise class.

 

[BikeSkiClone]

Are you an Alumni Association member? IIRC, members w/ a valid ISU Card (an alum-specific one I believe) can buy a pass to ISU's Rec Facilities, which includes all fitness classes but personal training is extra.

Looks like current rate is $403/year or about $34/month.

http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/facilities/policies/eligible-users/
http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/facilities/eligibility-and-rates/

 

[mdk2isu]

Wife and I have been going to their sister company Fitness World in Ankeny for a few years now. Love both locations, now adding a third. Great staff, and they continually re invest into equipment.


My wife does quite a few free classes. Yoga, power lifting, the drum stick exercise class.

My wife goes there as well. I go to their West Des Moines location.

 

[brianhos]

Aspen is down to $9 a month now that the fancy new "see and be seen" gym opened up a mile away.

 

[ILiftWithRoyce]

Are classes part of the membership then and not extra?? That's the problem with some places in Des Moines.

90% of the classes are free with membership.

 

[jbindm]

Aspen is down to $9 a month now that the fancy new "see and be seen" gym opened up a mile away.

Check the fine print on that $9/month rate. It's a minimum three month commitment, plus there's a $79 "joining fee". And after ninety days there's another $39 tacked on as a regular maintenance fee. They're going to go the way of Seven Flags soon.

 

[AltHawk]

I'm going to be in Des Moines for the summer and am looking for a gym. Does anyone know of a gym in the metro area that A.) doesnt require a long-term commitment (only going to be there ~10 weeks) and B.) allows the use of chalk?

 

[JP4CY]

I'm going to be in Des Moines for the summer and am looking for a gym. Does anyone know of a gym in the metro area that A.) doesnt require a long-term commitment (only going to be there ~10 weeks) and B.) allows the use of chalk?

I know Fitness World has no chalk signs everywhere in the North Ankeny weight room, I imagine the rest of their places probably do too.

 

[Cyched]

I know Fitness World has no chalk signs everywhere in the North Ankeny weight room, I imagine the rest of their places probably do too.

You said they're the sister company for ARFC; do you know if there's a way to transfer membership? I'm moving to Ankeny in about a month and was curious.

 

[im4cyclones]

You said they're the sister company for ARFC; do you know if there's a way to transfer membership? I'm moving to Ankeny in about a month and was curious.

They used to do it. Not an actual transfer because they are separate businesses. But similar ownership. So you should be able to sign up at FWW without a joining fee.

 

[chuckd4735]

I joined Planet Fitness about 2 years ago. Laugh all you want, but I've spent about $250 over two years.