No pain, no gain, right?
For some of us, the pain hits us in the pocketbook just as much as it does the gluteus maximus. Health clubs and gyms are a lot like steaks -- you get what you pay for. In Idaho Falls, we're fortunate to have a great selection of facilities and programs that not only offer a myriad of resources, but they do so at some relatively healthy price points. Consider…
Apple Athletic Club - Idaho Falls, ID
Overview: This popular facility has it all, from an extensive weight room to numerous state-of-the-art tread mills, ellipticals, stair-steppers and a treasure chest of fascinating fitness-forming machinery that we could only begin to describe. If it's uniformly effective and highly regarded by the fitness industry, you can bet that Apple has it. What really sets this health club apart is its people, however. The Apple is easily the largest and best known fitness facility in East Idaho, thanks in large part to its army of highly trained staff. The club is also a hub of popular classes, organized activities and and signature community events.
Specialties: Extremely high-caliber personal training, intense workout groups, numerous classes and unique training programs for women and kids.
Extras: Awesome pools, aquatics program, its newly minted "FitWall" and and a variety of youth programs.
Contact: 529-8600; www.appleathleticclub.com
Curves - Idaho Falls, ID
Overview: Now with 20 years under it's belt, Curves has grown to become the largest fitness franchise in the world, helping women in over 90 countries lead healthier lives. The brand's signature 30-minute workout exercises hit every major muscle group, burning up to 500 calories through a proven program of strength training, cardio and stretching.
Specialties: Curves Complete is a complete program with exercise, meal plan and one-one-on coaching. The program has been proven to reduce fat and increase lean muscle, all while boosting metabolism.
Extras: Last year, Curves launched an innovative digital version of its award-winning magazine, DIANE. It covers the whole gamut of the Curves philosophy, including a number of inspiring success stories.
Contact: 542-0471, www.curves.com
Gold's Gym - Ammon, ID
Overview: Popular in Idaho Falls as well as Blackfoot and Pocatello, Gold's has a strong presence in the region -- and an even stronger fan base. It's the largest co-ed gym in the world with some 3 million-plus members. It features cutting-edge health and fitness programs including personal training and customized conditioning programs. It's also the proud sponsor of a critically acclaimed fitness information initiative, the Gold's Gym Fitness Institute.
Specialties: Group exercise classes are a major area of growth at Gold's. At various locations (650 in all), you'll find anything from boot camp sessions to pilates, yoga, body pump and more.
Extras: As of late March, Gold's now has an online Group Fitness page on Facebook. Just type in "GGX Idaho Falls/Ammon" and you're there.
Contact: 524-4653; www.goldsgym.com
World Gym Idaho - Rexburg, ID
Overview: True to its name, this venue carries a label that is famous in fitness circles all over the planet.
Specialties: Club amenities include advanced cardio equipment, free weights, a vast assortment of machines group training and weight-loss programs, personal training, showers and lockers. Of growing popularity is the gym's hard-hitting boot camp class. World Gym also offers great tanning amenities. Also be sure to check out its "Cardio Theater: for a workout you'll never forget.
Extras: For only $9.99 per month you have access to the club 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You can have Unlimited tanning and guest privileges for only $19.99 per month.
Contact: 552-0500; www.worldgymidaho.com
KOKO Fit Club - Ammon, ID
Overview: In a break from traditional health club paradigms, Idaho Falls has welcomed Koko Fit Club to the local fitness fold with two locations (one on Broadway; the other in Ammon). We all have different bodies, different conditions and different needs. Koko addresses these issue through rigorous customization. Koko's patented Smartrainer precisely prescribes the right weight, pace and exercises just for you. It even gauges the rest time in between each exercise. It’s uninterrupted, high-efficiency training, so you get the full benefits of a traditional 60 or 90 minute workout in just 30 minutes.
Specialties: At the heart of the Koko philosophy is a system uniquely designed to build and preserve the body’s foundation of precious lean muscle, which makes you look and feel younger. Lean muscle increases your energy level, your strength and agility, and even your ability to fight disease.
Extras: Koko Fuel is a customized plan to properly fuel the body with proper nutrition and a detailed strength and cardio exercise plan. Koko's online meal plans and guidance are based on a clinically proven, higher-protein/controlled carb design that’s completely integrated with your custom Koko exercise program.
Contact: 552-5656, www.kokofitclub.com
Anytime Fitness - Ammon, ID
Overview: A leader in the concept of 24-hour fitness facilities, Anytime has more than a few happy customers -- including some right here in Idaho Falls and hundreds more at seven other locations around East Idaho. Beyond the sheer convenience, Anytime also prides itself on a safe, clean, inviting atmosphere stocked with a full suite of state-of-the-art equipment.
Specialties: Anytime has a strong orientation toward corporate plans and employee wellness programs. Its official website includes an integrated workout planner and activity tracker, as well as a diet tracker for logging food intake. It's the perfect recipe for incentives and recognition of employee wellness.
Extras: Each new member receives a free personal fitness orientation, including an explanation and demonstration of basic exercise principles and a quick, safe, and effective exercise program.
Contact: 542-9675; www.anytimefitness.com
Snap Fitness 24-7 - Idaho Falls, ID
Overview: Packed with the industry's best cardio and exercise equipment, Snap Fitness offers a nice bundle of services and convenience from their I.F. location on Woodruff. There's no thing as a sure thing, especially when it comes to the fickle nature of our own bodies, and that makes Snap's 30-day guarantee all the more impressive. If you don't see the results you're after in that time frame, Snap will refund all your money. Membership benefits include a number of national and local discounts to good and services ranging from cell phone service to sporting goods.
Specialties: No contracts, so it's pay as you go. Accessibility is a huge priority with Snap. With 24/7 key card access, members have free reign at any Snap Fitness location worldwide.
Extras: One of Snap's more interesting offerings is the "easyFIT" wearable body motion monitor. It converts your daily activity and calorie burn into one simple point score. Snap also offers some attractive incentive programs for companies and their employees.
Contact: 522-3200, www.snapfitness.com
YMCA - Idaho Falls, ID
Overview: Always one of our local favorite go-to venues for indoor courts and fitness amenities, "the Y" still has a broad appeal for health-conscious patrons of all ages. Be sure to check out the full gamut of YMCA programs and benefits in the 2013 Idaho Falls Parks & Recreation Guide. Both in print and online, you'll find details on topics ranging from youth development to leadership opportunities and healthy living.
Specialties: Summer youth camps are especially popular, serving as a perfect summit for learning skills, developing character and making friends. Other key programs include indoor sports, wellness training and community service initiatives.
Extras: Often overlooked are the Y's outreach efforts to underserved demographics. To address hunger in communities, the Y is partnering with Walmart to help expand the number of children who receive meals this summer to supplement the USDA's Summer Food Service Program.
Contact: 523-0600; www.ifymca.org
Super Fly Fitness at SRL
Hang out. Hang down. Get fit.
A new wave of fitness is hitting Idaho Falls! Owner Alexandra Chapman is ecstatic to announce the opening of the new innovative fitness studio, Super Fly Fitness, at 901 Pier View Drive Suite 102 in Snake River Landing. The new fitness studio will open the week of January 14th with demo classes and opportunities to enroll in the growing class schedule.
Super Fly Fitness is open on Pier View Drive, offering a cool curriculum of classes that have never before been offered in eastern Idaho. The approach falls under "studio specialty fitness" -- an emerging market for clients that prefer the smaller gym experience and the ability to pay for only the classes they take.
Under the ownership and management of Alexandra Chapman, Super Fly features the highly sought after AntiGravity Yoga -- a yoga fusion form of fitness in which you use a silk hammock that attaches to the ceiling to suspend your body. From there you can perform low impact, zero-compression inversions among a long list of other wonderful benefits. Other classes and training opportunities include Kettle Bells, H.I.I.T. and Zumba.
She strategically coupled AntiGravity with TRX as the systems seemed to work well together and she enjoyed using the TRX system in personal training sessions.
The complete class schedule and any new classes added may be viewed atwww.superflyfitness.com along with more information about enrollment, the trainers and staff.
"I don't hold my customers to contracts, but would prefer to have clients pay as they go, only paying for what they use," Chapman says. "I want people to come and discover something new they are going to love doing."
For more details, call 821-2816 or visit www.superflyfitness.com.