I Love My: Gym

I Love My Gym!

There's a few reasons why I love Planet Fitness.

First, and most important -- the price! They really have a great leg-up on the competition (the Urban Actives and Lifestyle Fitnesses of the city) because they only charge $10 a month!!! That's it. And you get just as much from this gym, as you would at any other gym with the most basic plan. You can go for the $20 plan, and that adds on tanning to your membership, as well as use of the massage chairs in the relaxation room. Everyone gets a bumper sticker, pen and t-shirt upon signing a contract. However, if you sign up for the basic membership, you can only work out at the club you signed with. But having a "Black Card" membership (the $20 one) allows you to work out at the other locations.

But not only is the price right, their contracts are pretty much not-binding whatsoever. You can cancel whenever you want. You just have to either come in and do it, or submit something in writing. No penalties, fees, etc. No strings attached. There is an annual fee of, I believe, $29 bucks. But, because you are able to quit the membership at any time, you could very well avoid that annual cost all together by canceling your membership prior to having been a member there for a year.

I go to the Clintonville location, right off of Indianola nearest the North Broadway intersection. It's a tucked away, remote location...but for the price, who cares?! Dublin is where the other Planet Fitness is located.

The gym is always hoppin'. Peak hours are right after work, of course, so that's one thing to remember if you join. It's best to try and get there around the 7 pm hour, if you're a person like me who works out in the evenings. That way you're most likely to get use of the machine of your choice.

Second, I love the club's motto and how they draw in their core customers. They consider their gym a "no judgment zone." That's a very inclusive message, and good marketing to boot. There is a large mixture of types of people who use Planet Fitness. You have the former jocks and super buff guys who live in the gym and always seem to be training for something, but you also have the novices who've never used a stair-stepper before (I actually witnessed this). There's personal trainers, tatted-up rockers and indy/emo/hipsters all working out together as one big happy family. It's refreshing to see.

They have those awesome free floating elliptical-like machines (above). 
It's my favorite one to use.

Photos courtesy of planetfitness.com

Third, Planet Fitness has some non-traditional ways of catering to their members...this is through constant and never-ending offerings of candy. They carry Tootsie Rolls and the purple grape-flavored, fruity Tootsie Rolls, in little bowls, placed around the facility. (Purple is because that's the company's color, along with yellow). Candy, one might think, defeats the purpose of a "gym." They feed you sugar while you're on the stationary bike?! Well, if you are able to be self-disciplined and/or live in moderation, then you can eat a couple of the pieces of candy each time you come, and not feel bad about it. 

Also, at the Clintonville spot, on the first Monday night of each month, they host a Pizza Party with free pizza for gym-goers. Also seems contradictory, and it is, but I don't pass up free pizza. Ever. Even if I have to stay an extra 30 minutes more to work it off.

You can sign up online and pay your dues online, as well as transfer a membership to another location. Several states have PFs, as they are a franchise. It only costs a one-time fee of $10 to start your membership.

Note: The only things that I wish were different about PF is...there's not too many locations around Columbus. And they do not offer any kinds of classes, like kick-boxing, Zumba, spinning or otherwise. Maybe soon they'll adopt that idea.

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