When you want to exercise, you likely turn to a gym. Gyms are open long hours, have lots of equipment, and if you choose a big box gym, they are pretty cheap. Also, Santa Clarita is full of gyms, so you have your pickings.
Yet, gyms are not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone's fitness needs. In fact, if you look at the research, you will find that gyms can be the most ineffective places to get fit.
The Paseo Club of Santa Clarita is a private club with tennis and pickleball courts, a pool, a Pilates studio, a fitness center, and even a gym. In this article, you will learn why stand-alone gyms fail you — and what to do about it.
Why gyms fall short in Santa Clarita - 6 reasons
No help
Maybe you heard deadlifts are good for building strength, but you feel a little intimidated by which weights to select and how heavy to go. At a gym, you are usually on your own. The staff is there to help the gym run smoothly, but unless you book a private training session (which only some gyms offer), you likely will not find someone to give you pointers on safe techniques.
Impersonal
If you are lucky, you can attend a neighborhood gym and see the same members and staff day after day, facilitating a sense of community. Unfortunately, most gyms are run by large chains with headquarters out of state. Staff turnover is high, and members tend to be transient.
Limited resources
Even the most resourced gym is only going to have so much equipment. Treadmills and squat racks can get you far in your fitness journey, but there is only so much jogging and back squats a person can do. Gyms often do not offer racquet courts, pools, Pilates, or other auxiliary ways to be active.
Zero accountability
Whether you make it to your three-day-a-week gym sessions or not is solely up to you. There is no coach ready to receive you for a class and no peer group to cheer you on. If you are feeling busy, tired, or down about your fitness level, staying motivated by yourself can be a losing battle.
Gyms are intimidating
There is a common stereotype that gyms are full of big, muscle-y dudes who know all about weightlifting and scoff at anyone who does not look like them. Although this is a myth, it can dissuade people (especially women and seniors) from strength training. And as we know, weight lifting is essential to everyone’s health, whether it is bodyweight, dumbbell, kettlebell, or barbell training.
Peak times are swamped
Even the biggest gyms can be full to the brim at the peak hours of 4-7 pm. Busy gyms mean you spend more time waiting around and trying to exercise and less time actually doing the workout. Your time at the gym is extended, and you end up getting home to your family after work even later than planned — bringing more stress to your life, not less.
Skip the Santa Clarita gym membership and join a club
Gym membership may look affordable on paper, but if you never go, you are just throwing money down a dark pit.
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Getting fit and staying active also take a village — a village of welcoming staff, expert instructors, and friendly members who all join together to support and encourage you.
The Paseo Club has over 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor gym space. There are cardio and weight machines, free weights, functional fitness equipment, and a stretching and rehab zone.
However, the Paseo Club is not just a place to work out; it is a community hub with dozens of social events every month. Check out Wine Down Wednesday or Karaoke Night. These are great opportunities to meet new people — and who knows, maybe you will find your next gym buddy.
If you get tired of training on your own or want to mix it up, try the 60+ fitness classes every week, small group training programs, and personal trainers. You can also hit the ball on the tennis and pickleball courts, go for a swim in the pool, or mobilize and stretch in yoga or Pilates class.
Spend the day at The Paseo Club for free by getting a day pass. If you know you’d like to be a member, sign up online. It takes just a few minutes, and all eight acres of the club will be yours.
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