If you live ont the other side of the underpass, then you know the struggle of getting literally anywhere aside from somewhere on that side of the bridge. Everything on the other side of the bridge is up to a 5-minute walk from where you are, whether you’re going from Lower West to Upper West or the tennis courts to Upper Fulton. Don’t get me started on McCann, which seems like an eternity away. I’ve timed it the walks to various places on campus. To McCann it’s a 15-minute walk, a 10-minute walk to the Student Center, and roughly a 5-minute walk from there to McCann. So going to the gym has turned into a major inconvenience, and the Upper West gym is the perfect solution. This gym is in the Marketplace, across from laundry. You have to swipe in, which is on the far left side of the door.
I am not a fitness guru or a weight lifter. I don’t go every day, and I only use few machines. If you are the same, then like me, the small, cozy Upper West Gym is perfect for you. If you are a hardcore fitness addict, maybe McCann is better for you. But for me, the Upper West Gym is amazing.
Machines, the small gym has roughly 15 machines: 3 treadmills, 3 ellipticals, 1 bike, and a variety of weight machines. Personally, I do not need a lot to work out. I mostly do cardio to stay in shape, but that’s all. Generally, I go for about an hour, normally doing two machines. I try to go 3 times a week, but I’m sure I could do 6 days a week and be fine in this gym.
Television! In the front of the room, there is a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. And since the gym is so small, you can usually change the channel to whatever you want to watch!
It’s fairly large, often playing movies or talk shows. The other day I watched Ellen, and it happened to be the one where she went to CVS with Michelle Obama, (hilarious by the way), another time I watched some Steve Harvey show, and one-day Date Night was on, a Steve Carell movie. It would be nice to have your own TV on your machine, but you can always bring your phone and watch Netflix, browse the internet, or listen to your music. I personally like bringing my iPad, propping it up on the machine, and watching Friends. It’s a great way for me not to focus on the exercise, and not get too tired too quickly. You can still exercise without getting bored, and even bring your devices.
Few people actually go to this gym, whether it’s due to lack of knowledge, or lack of effort, so it’s always quiet. I have played music out loud before, turning it off when someone walks in, something you could never do in McCann. The room is always empty, the maximum people I have seen there is 5, and sometimes I’m by myself. It’s nice, relaxing, and so much less pressure than all of the buff people and athletes in the regular gym.
So, the small gym is great for someone who is looking to work out a little, and do machines, and not want to walk 30 minutes to the McCann gym every day. Because TBH, that is quite a walk.