Btw, yesterday, someone mentioned that a family were looking for a place to take a shower. A sister to one of our admins who also lives in ground zero had to travel out...
Emily F. replied:
Station 4 1101 North 6 th Street Minneapolis MN 55411-4307 If someone speaks with a firefighter who is on scene, they'd be able to talk with their captain and get definite answers.
Hello friends! Can anyone recommend a geek-friendly personal trainer who can help with form, equipment, and plans for a non-gym-based strength-training regimen?
Sarah B. replied:
Not a personal trainer at all, http://geekintoshape.com and http://www.nerdfitness.com are pretty decent -- they've got some geek-themed workouts. I've also seen some Netflix-bssed workouts (workout while you binge watch) that might give you some good at-home workouts.
What fitness club would you recommend (or avoid) in Minneapolis? I'm kicking around the idea of joining a fitness center/club/whathaveyou and I was wondering if anyone...
Anonymous replied:
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txuleton replied:
I'm definitely an amateur/newbie...I probably shouldn't jump into "filipino dirty boxing" straight out of the gates. I'm looking for cardio/weights for sure, I'm not sure I'm a going-to-classes kind of gal. I'm torn between a get in/get out place like Anytime or Snap and having perks like a locker room/pool at some place like LA Fitness. I hadn't considered Lifetime or the community options, so these are interesting...
Derpatron9000 replied:
Check out the YWCA. Their Uptown and Midtown locations should be convenient for living in S Mpls. A huge step up from Anytime/Snap but way more affordable than LTF.
sartirious replied:
It's off the beaten path, and certainly more expensive than any of the spa/gyms - but I can't recommend [HorsepowerSC](http://horsepowersc.com/) enough! Granted - your also buying time with the trainer, but it's certainly worth every penny.
Noonsky replied:
Fitness 19 has a few locations around the cities. Dirt cheap and no frills. Plenty of cardio and weight machines and a double set of dumbells. I pay 12 bucks a month and it could have been less if I hadn't been in such a rush to join. Claim you have a family member who has a membership when joining and your joining fee gets cut in half. You can pause and restart your membership at any time with no fee. My sense is that they make most of their money off of personal trainers but you can firmly state you arent interested and they will leave you alone. Really the only downsides are lack of a pool and it isnt 24-7.
Anonymous replied:
It really depends on what your needs are. If you just need a treadmill and some weight machines, Snap is for you. If you need personal trainers and basketball courts and a juice bar and ads all over the wall, go to Lifetime. Or you could run on the trails around the lakes until it gets too cold.
neverrememberpasswor replied:
I'm going to second /u/GrassCuttingSword and mention Los Campeones. I started going there last November (although I haven't been all summer because summer is busy for me) and it's great. It has plenty of variety in weight machines, which is nice. It also has free weights and cardio machines, of course. It's at most about $45 a month, but you can get discounts for longer term memberships, or for using auto-renew (which you can cancel at any time). They also offer a free week trial, so if you're unsure just stop by and ask about that, try the place out for a week, and see if you like it.
amanda_0320 replied:
I've been with LA Fitness for about a year and a half and am very pleased with it. Costs vary, depending on when you sign up and how much you pay initially. There are always different deals and promotions going on at the different locations. I paid around $50 to join, and only pay $24.99/month. What I like most about LA is that you can go to ANY location, vs. Lifetime (which I was a member of for about a yr), where you can only go to certain gyms, depending on how much you pay per month. This is extremely convenient for me, as I may use around 3-4 different gyms/month, depending on where I'm at. LA still has many of the same perks as Lifetime, including full locker rooms, group fitness classes, large spacious gyms. I would say the three things I did like about Lifetime more are: they're open 24 hours, the lockers all have locks and keys that you may use for free, and the fact that there are towels available in the locker rooms so you don't need to bring your own if you want to shower. However, LA still has plenty of lockers, you just have to provide your own lock if you want to lock your belongings; I just don't bring valuables with me (oh, you want to steal my dirty work shoes and my overused recycled Urban Outfitters bag? Alright..). Also, many health insurance companies offer discounts if you visit the center at least 12 times/month (in my experience, both LA and Lifetime do this), and I received $20 off my monthly membership, in the form of a direct deposit refund, which is awesome. All in all, I prefer LA due to the fact that I can use any location with my monthly fee, and it offers most of the same gym perks as Lifetime, for over 50% less/month. Even when I'm not going as often, I would never cancel it because I know my $25/month is locked in, and really, who can't afford that?
Anonymous replied:
I went to Lifetime in Lakeville with my ex two years ago, and I was shocked by how nice it was. I've been in country clubs with less impressive locker rooms. My employer provided workout facilities when I lived in the Twin Cities and I'm out of state now, so I can't tell you much beyond that.
ravenlily replied:
If youre close to bloomington. Check out planet fitness. We go to the roseville one and its cheap. Huge and awesome.
cleric04 replied:
Everyone I know goes to the SLP Lifetime fitness.
CPTherptyderp replied:
Really depends on what kind of workout you want. My friend's Krav Ma Gra(?) class will smoke the piss out you but its incredibly fun if you're into martial arts. Another friend just started a Panatuken (filipino dirty boxing) class. There are good kettle bell classes if you like throwing weights around. Several crossfit boxes but they are pretty expensive $150+/mo. We need more detail what you're looking for.
iSocks replied:
As an employee of Lifetime fitness, I feel it is overpriced. However one club offerings are decent if you can afford it. What I have learned, Please note that you have to give 30 days notice before you cancel your membership, which ultimately leads to an additional month of payments. Some locations require a photo id to enter, if you forget the membership card. Just a side note that I learned last week. Lifetime doesn't recycle and it really pisses me off.
GrassCuttingSword replied:
In the city itself, I'd recommend Los Campeones. http://www.loscampeonesgym.com/ By far the best spot I've seen in the city. If you're willing to travel to Mounds View, Allegiance Fitness is awesome http://www.allegiancefitness.com/
agressiv replied:
A lot of it depends what you want out of the club.
If you want no-frills, with mainly cardio/weights/nautilus etc, Snap Fitness or Anytime Fitness are cheap. You typically won't get showers/locker room, or much else - but there are many locations.
LA Fitness, Lifetime, and YMCA offer more, at varying price levels. Depending on the club, you'll get basketball, a pool, racquetball, a running track etc.
Another choice are the various community centers that have a decent set of facilities - but you'll be limited to that facility. But, its generally your best bang for the dollar. For example, I live in Minneapolis, but work in Eden Prairie, so I'd get the same membership rate at the Eden Prairie community center as a resident would - but even a non-resident price isn't that bad.
I currently use Lifetime, and I pay a rate so that I can only go to a single club - it's about $70 a month after taxes, if I recall. You pay more if you want to access multiple clubs, or if you want to access clubs with more facilities. There was a YMCA that was a tad cheaper, but I'd have to bring my own lock for my locker, and my own towels (or have to pay for them) - which would make it more expensive than Lifetime.
Good luck!
goldbricker83 replied:
If you have the money to burn, Lifetime Fitness is pretty damn sweet, I haven't found a bad one yet...someone might come in and correct me if I'm wrong on that. I've encountered very nice locker rooms, nice facilities, some gyms have pools, tennis courts, most have basketball courts. Massive centers with lots of space and plenty of equipment. Big perk is the free child care while you work out. They have lots of classes and trainers, it's overall a very nice gym experience. The downside is the cost, it's very expensive. However...If you're just looking for machines and weights and can workout mostly on your own, LTF might be a waste of money - it was for me as I never took part in anything other than working out on the machines. So I've been trying out Snap Fitness in the south metro and it's been good so far. They seem to be everywhere and are accessible 24 hours but are not staffed very often so you're on your own mostly, but they do have trainers you can make appointments with. I've heard good things about the downtown YMCA and a couple other Y's in the area, I've been thinking of joining for the activities I can bring my kids to.
Anonymous replied:
Saint Paul Athletic Club is where its at, but that is not in Minneapolis. thespac.com
JessieLeee replied:
I really enjoy LA fitness. I go to the one in richfield which has been recently renovated. Its $30/month. Love the classes that are free with membership. Lifetime is definitely fancier but also double the price.
mnwinterite replied:
I am in SW Minneapolis. I went to the Anytime on 54 th and Lyndale and was very pleased. I switched to LA Fitness in Richfield after they opened because I became more serious about weightlifting and they have many more machines/weights. It is also slightly cheaper. The ability to go to the gym ANY time is nice though. Sometimes I can't sleep and feel like some cardio and that is nice with Anytime. I like everything else about LA though except the skimpy menswear some people insist on wearing, I refer to the shirts as reverse thongs.
aciddrizzle replied:
LA Fitness in Calhoun Square turns into a zoo after 4:00. I enjoyed working out there during the morning/midafternoon, but as soon as everybody gets out of work good luck finding a treadmill, 20 lb dumbbell or bench. Even during non-peak times, the culture of the regular crowd there embraces many of the don't-do behaviors that can make the gym experience suck for others: not re-racking or wiping down, ignoring other people waiting for equipment, hogging 3 or more pieces of equipment at the same time...I'd recommend avoiding unless you have no alternative. I've since switched to a Lifetime in the burbs and I love it, it's a lot more expensive but the amazing facilities, towel service, staff who actually care that they're at their jobs and do more than just grunt at you, and availability of equipment more than justify the added expense for me.
I'm about to join gym. Any recommendations in Champlin?
Lisa S. replied:
I would highly recommend FXB Brooklyn Park (by Cub) or FXB Maple Grove (By Target). The new session is just starting so you'd have to get in this week, but you'll never meet a better group of people who support you no matter where you are on your journey. http://www.extremebodyshaping.com/location.cfm?locationId=6F611B41-19B9-E1C5-3184-6AE7F4C1B6BF
Abby L. replied:
Definitely Lifetime! I love it there! If you wanna set up a tour and talk pricing I'm good friends with one of the sales guys. His name is Dan...this is his direct office number: 763-486-1213 :)
Jennifer G. replied:
AnyTime Fitness-Champlin Mn, talk to Michael Weber.
Jessie H. replied:
Anytime Fitness in Champlin!
Kathy G. replied:
Anytime fitness. Michael Weberis the fantastic owner and everyone is wonderful there
The headline is wrong; he's pretending to be a hobbit, not a wizard.
Anyone know of any geek themed gyms in the Twin Cities area?
Rachel D. replied:
Also not a gym, but there is a Geek Physique meetup. http://www.meetup.com/geekphysique/
Jenny M. replied:
Also, Geek Slink offers belly dance classes at the YogaQuest studio in Uptown Minneapolis on Thursdays.
Justini Y. replied:
Thanks for mentioning all the geeky wellness opportunities at YogaQuest guys! Part of what we do at YQ is talk about other ways that geeks can engage with wellness outside of the studio in order to make wellness fit you, instead of you trying to fit into the traditional wellness model. Also, check out the Fit Geek column in TC Geeks: http://twincitiesgeek.com/category/features/fitgeek/
Kyle M. replied:
The Minnesota Sword Club has a Medieval Combat Class that meets at 8 pm Mondays, Wednesdays and 8 am Saturday mornings. There's usually a groupon for half price for a one month membership.