I have a walk around West End a couple of times a week. It's a pleasant enough stroll and gets my steps up for the day. It also clears my head before work and lets me catch up on whatever audiobook or podcast I'm listening to at the moment.
This morning, however, I had a mission.
A Facebook favour, indeed.
Somebody in one of the only two groups I follow said she was moving to Australia and getting an apartment in West End. Did anybody know of any good strength training gyms there?
Well, West End is full of gyms.
I reckon I’d pass a dozen of them every time I walk there. I had noticed them without ever really noting them if you get the difference. So, this morning I set out for my walk with task and purpose.
I was looking for a strength training gym for somebody on the Internet!
It needed to have lots of racks and free weights and not be too crowded at peak hours. I took that second ask as wish casting, but in fact, it was the first requirement – lots of racks and barbells and dummies – that nearly deep-sixed the whole thing.
I went looking for an old-school iron factory, and man, that was hard to find. There are plenty of bespoke, independent gyms scattered like confetti throughout West End, but like most of the big box chains, they’re really just warehouses full of treadmills and bikes for spin class. Cardio is king.
After walking around for an hour, though, I did find a place in the back streets.
West End Strength.
It had plenty of racks and lots of heavy things to pick up and put down again.
I put my head in and said hello to Jess, the instructor on duty at the time. She was running a small group class. That was the other thing I noticed. Young people these days just do not like training by themselves. Unless exercise comes with a built-in friendship network, they don't seem to be interested. Me, I hate people. My favourite thing is to go to the gym, put my headphones on, and ignore everyone. I have no idea whether my Facebook buddy is the same way, but I suspect she is. Anyway, I'll send her some links, and she can make that call for herself.
West End Strength
West End Strength
West End Strength
I have a walk around West End a couple of times a week. It's a pleasant enough stroll and gets my steps up for the day. It also clears my head before work and lets me catch up on whatever audiobook or podcast I'm listening to at the moment.
This morning, however, I had a mission.
A Facebook favour, indeed.
Somebody in one of the only two groups I follow said she was moving to Australia and getting an apartment in West End. Did anybody know of any good strength training gyms there?
Well, West End is full of gyms.
I reckon I’d pass a dozen of them every time I walk there. I had noticed them without ever really noting them if you get the difference. So, this morning I set out for my walk with task and purpose.
I was looking for a strength training gym for somebody on the Internet!
It needed to have lots of racks and free weights and not be too crowded at peak hours. I took that second ask as wish casting, but in fact, it was the first requirement – lots of racks and barbells and dummies – that nearly deep-sixed the whole thing.
I went looking for an old-school iron factory, and man, that was hard to find. There are plenty of bespoke, independent gyms scattered like confetti throughout West End, but like most of the big box chains, they’re really just warehouses full of treadmills and bikes for spin class. Cardio is king.
After walking around for an hour, though, I did find a place in the back streets.
West End Strength.
It had plenty of racks and lots of heavy things to pick up and put down again.
I put my head in and said hello to Jess, the instructor on duty at the time. She was running a small group class. That was the other thing I noticed. Young people these days just do not like training by themselves. Unless exercise comes with a built-in friendship network, they don't seem to be interested. Me, I hate people. My favourite thing is to go to the gym, put my headphones on, and ignore everyone. I have no idea whether my Facebook buddy is the same way, but I suspect she is. Anyway, I'll send her some links, and she can make that call for herself.