Evanston fitness clubs provide alternatives for Northwestern students

Though Northwestern has three fitness centers on campus, some students look beyond these and explore what Evanston can offer to meet their exercise needs.

A fan of going to the gym to de-stress, Jennifer Goldberg said she didn't enjoy working out at NU's Blomquist Recreation Center. It was often difficult for her to find an open machine, she said.

"It was almost as crowded as the Keg on Mondays," the SESP junior said.

Goldberg now works and exercises at the Evanston Athletic Club, 1723 Benson Ave. The center offers cardio and strength training equipment, as well as a swimming pool and more than 150 classes per week. Goldberg said she especially enjoys the flexible class schedule.

"I find that I like working out more when it's in classes," Goldberg said. "You can pretty much just drop in and go whenever you want."

Amy Whalen, manager of EAC, said students come for the community feel of the club in addition to its facilities.

"Maybe students want to go to a place where they're not only going to see Northwestern students," Whalen said.

Dave Englund, owner of Ultimate Fitness, 823 Emerson Street, said the same about his gym's atmosphere.

"I can literally say all of our members know each other here," Englund said. "A lot of the college kids are more comfortable coming to the gym here because they probably know more people here than they know walking around campus."

Ultimate Fitness, also known as the Evanston Boxing Club, features a boxing ring and mixed martial arts ring as well as the typical weight training and cardio equipment. In addition, the gym offers Muay Thai, yoga and ballroom dancing classes, each run by a professional.

"Really, the programs we offer here are truly taught by people who consider themselves masters at what they do," Englund said.

A member of the NU Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club since his freshman year, Joe Spiro said he goes to Ultimate Fitness for its Jiu-Jitsu classes. But the Communication junior also works out at Blomquist and the exercise center at Evanston Place Apartments. He said he finds these places more conveniently located than the Sports Pavilion and Aquatics Center.

"I had this bizarre image of an ivory tower in the distance that I could never get to," Spiro said of SPAC.

Spiro said he thinks students are drawn to the quality differences off-campus fitness centers provide, even if they come with a price tag.

"Probably there are people who are willing to spend that much money and also who want a place that doesn't look like a 1980s Russian gulag type thing," Spiro said.

Although the cost is irrelevant due to her free employee membership, Goldberg said the appearance of the gym does make a difference in her workout enjoyment.

"It's the nicest gym I've ever been in," Goldberg said. "It's just incredibly spacious, gorgeous and newly remodeled. So it's a more aesthetically pleasing environment to work out in."

shainacoogan2013@u.northwestern.edu