Recommendations on local gym/healthclub

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Author Message   clueless Citizen Username: Clueless Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2003 Posted on Friday, August 1, 2003 - 11:54 pm:        I will soon be moving to SO and wanted to hear local recommendations of a area gym/healthclub. I am looking for: *Extensive free weights (dumbells that go up to at least 100lbs.) *A large number of aerobic machines such as stair masters and elliptical machines *A place where you do not have to wait for 20-30 minutes for a piece of equipment at 6-7 PM on weekdays. *Clean facility *A gym where the majority of gym members do not work out in groups of four and see who can grunt the loudest on each exercise or spot each other yelling at the top of their lungs in tandam "come on man you can do it!" Whew! Perhaps that's too much to ask. Classes are NOT important to me. Any local place fit those needs?   shoshannah Citizen Username: Shoshannah Post Number: 186 Registered: 7-2002 Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2003 - 6:07 pm:        Clueless: Your experiences tell me you are coming from the city. I have never come across a gym here where you have to wait 20 minutes. In fact, I have never waited for a piece of equipment ever. I belong to Motion on Millburn Ave in Millburn (the Whole Foods shopping center). It's very clean. I've never heard anyone grunt. It's modeled after Equinox from the city. Can't tell you what the free weights go up to, tho; never use them.   Spry Citizen Username: Spry Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2003 - 6:37 pm:        Shoshanah et al: This is a little tangent on this thread about which I hope you might help/give advice. I recently took my first pilates class, at Bodies in Motion on Valley Street. The atmosphere was incredibly supportive, the teacher wonderful, the facility spotless and spacious, the equipment new, the pricing reasonable (one can pay by the class -- no need to put out a big hunk of change at one time, to suspend memberships, etc.) But -- I wasn't crazy about the pilates discipline itself, the use of the pole, the strap, the quick change from movement to movement, the lack of a "cool down" period at the end. Do you know whether any of the local athletic facilities, including the JCC in Livingston, Motion Fitness, the South Mountain Y, the Summit Y, etc. offer the "old fashioned" variety of stretch and tone or "abs and thighs" classes. I am seeking just a lot of mat work, concentration on one set of muscles or one part of the body at a time, lots of cool down time, classes of the sort that were popular pre-pilates. Thanks for any advice!   peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 187 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2003 - 9:46 pm:        At the corner of Millburn Ave and Springfield (behind the wine store under construction) is MAximum Fitness & Racquetball. The majority of members appear to be interested in racquetball.. So -- the cardio equipment, machines, and LOTS of free weights are virtually unused at times. The downside -- if you are used to spa like showers and lockers (at least speaking for the men's facilities) -- you'll be disappointed. Its more gym than spa. And you'll find a bit of orange carpet around that looks a bit dated. BUT for well maintained gym equipment and lots of it -- can't be beat. Also -- their prices are about the lowest around. (I belonged to another branch of theirs in Belle Mead/Hillsborough) Good luck -- Pete   shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 597 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2003 - 9:50 pm:        Both Summit & Springfield Y and NY Sports Clubs offer bodysculpting type classes. You can check the Y's website at summitareaymca.org for more specific class info. I go to the Springfield branch, but used to go to Summit and the classes were good and membership is also reasonable. (NYSC is in the Foodtown Shopping center on Morris Ave in Springfield.)   Maplewoody Citizen Username: Maplewoody Post Number: 267 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Monday, August 4, 2003 - 11:00 pm:        I've seen a few guys wearing black jackets and sweatshirts wtih DIAMOND GYM-Maplewood NJ on them. Where is this GYM?   shoshannah Citizen Username: Shoshannah Post Number: 190 Registered: 7-2002 Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 - 9:42 am:        Spry: I don't know much about pilates or other classes. I generally use weight machines.   Jackie Day Citizen Username: Zoesky1 Post Number: 60 Registered: 6-2003 Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 - 10:03 am:        Motion Fitness is great. Never once have had to wait for equipment, and I use both cardio and free weights. Occasionally if you're using free weights, someone might ask if they can jump in while you're between sets, but that's about the worst of it. That has only happened a few times, and I was with my personal trainer at the time...she said fine. Anyway, it's a great place. Very clean, very cool, not too expensive. Nice steam room. I don't take exercise classes, so can't speak for those, but there seems to be a lot of them, plus yoga. Good child care. Nice owner, who ran an Equinox in NYC before coming out here to start Motion.   shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 599 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 - 12:17 pm:        Diamond Gym is on Irvington Ave in the Foodtown Shopping Center. (I think.) Not sure if this is considered Maplewood or South Orange. From what I gather, it's more of a weight training place without frills, but I could be wrong. A neighbor of mine went there.