By Timothy Jensen
After a day of heavy reading, writing and thinking, some students may feel they need an outlet. Going to the local gyms is one way many students get lean and relieve stress. The four major gyms in Provo offer different kinds of contracts, facilities and atmospheres:
24 Hour Fitness
2121 N. 550 West. Provo
24 Hour Fitness counselor Nate Kukahiko said all of the trainers at 24 Hour Fitness are certified professionals.
The gym has several kinds of membership plans. For example, the “Keep Fit One-Club” membership is for students: just show a student ID, and 24 Hour Fitness will waive the usual $129 enrollment fee.
Kukahiko said 24 Hour Fitness allows their members to freeze or cancel their gym contract for free.
Lifestyles
800 S. State, Orem
Lifestyles gym also has different kinds of contracts available. One of them is a month-to-month student special, which requires $99 down. The student special also offers unlimited free personal training. Members can cancel their membership at any time.
Michael Young, assistant manager of Lifestyles, said Lifestyles has the largest selection of free weights, strength machines, and cardio equipment in the Provo/Orem area.
Young said Lifestyles also has a women”s section in their gym.
Although Lifestyles is 53,000 square feet, it doesn”t offer some amenities like basketball, racquetball and swimming.
Golds Gym
460 N. 900 East, Provo
1640 S. State, Orem
44 E. 800 North, Orem
Many students are attracted to the basketball, racquetball, swimming, spa and tennis courts offered at Gold”s Gym. It”s also the closest gym outside of campus, located on 900 East just south of campus.
Members can freeze membership for a $25 fee, and Gold”s gym does not stop drawing money out of your account.
Around 60 percent of Golds Gym members are college-aged students, which can be good or bad depending on who you talk to.
“I work out usually on the one at Ninth East, but I have to go early in the morning,” said BYU student Stephanie Farnsworth. “Otherwise, it”s a meat market.”
Curves for Women
250 E. 800 South, Orem
Curves is a women-only club, and although trainers are not certified, they claim to have extensive knowledge of how to be fit.
Curves instructors set weight-loss goals with their clients and guarantee results in the first month, said Shawna Compton, fitness instructor at Curves.
Jane Harris, a Curves gym member, said she likes the gym because she got results and likes being in a women”s-only club.
The student special currently at Curves is $99 for a three-month contract. They can work out at any Curves nationwide, classes and programs are included and the intention is to focus strictly on women.
