Jackson Heights Life

I am paying somewhere around $67 per month. I just worked out at the Sunnyside location yesterday and while it is small, I liked it and it's pretty easy to get to.

I am paying somewhere around $67 per month. I just worked out at the Sunnyside location yesterday and while it is small, I liked it and it's pretty easy to get to.

Wow!  When I just quit NYSC, I was paying $90 a month!    In fact, the insane increases over the past few years were what got me to switch to Matrix in Astoria this fall.  I like Matrix (haven't been since new year's and am wondering if it is finally busy because it's been half empty every time I've gone no matter the day/time).  My one complaint about Matrix is that I like doing strength training classes and they offer very few of those.  I never seem to make them and so have ended up doing strength training at home with a video which isn't ideal.

I had joined NYSC when I lived in midtown about eight years ago; I wonder if they still had the midtown club down as my home club and if price increases depend on location?  My fees went up about $5/month every year which really adds up quickly.   

I belong to EFN. It works for me in the winter because it is a 5-minute walk; it's too hot in the summer. But my biggest problem with them is the noise level.  (Used to belong to Bally's, had the same problem).

I don't understand getting one's body in shape while losing one's hearing...

Given that anyone can bring their own music in the form of an iPod or Walkman, why must gyms blast music at us? Can anyone report on whether the NYSC at Sunnyside is QUIETER?

The worst gym ever!
Someone please open a decent gym in JH, we have coffee but we need a decent gym. EFN is a dump no AC, it is so overcrowded that you have to sign up for a treadmill two hours in advance and machines are broken a they never fix them. I know EFN is cheap but it is still a rip off!!!

There was a sales guy at NYSC in Sunnyside asking me if I had any friends who wanted to join so I took the opportunity to ask about the charter membership rates at that location.  He said the initial fee to get started is about $70, and the monthly fee is $59.  I imagine this is the basic membership where you can go to the Sunnyside location at any hour but you are restricted to the off-hours at the other locations.  I don't know how long this rate will be offered.  He suggsted it might only last through this weekend, but my experience with gym salespeople is that they always tell you the rate is about to go up if you don't join right away.  The guy I talked to was Paul and his number is 718-361-2254.

Does anyone here swim at the YMCA in Long Island City? 

They are having a special deal at the moment through tomorrow, Feb 4- no joining fee.  I was thinking of trying it for a month ($46) just to go swimming, as the NYSC pools are few and far between - there are only 3 NYSC branches with pools and all three are in Manhattan.

Just wondering what it's like at the YMCA - crowds? cleanliness?

My biggest gripe about living in Jackson Heights was that we had no decent gym.  My wife and I tried to make a go at EFN for the last year but the lack of ac in the summer and the hour and half wait to use treadmills that are really run down challenged the most dedicated gym rats, which we are not. After Letty’s, Espresso 77 and now Cannelle opened up, my wife and I had to find a decent gym to work off all the cheese cake, scones and chocolate croissants or give up our new addictions.  After extensive research looking for the closest decent gym, we settled on Evolution Sports Club.  It is located on 34-30 37th Street in Astoria; it is right next to the Museum of the Moving Image, has free parking after 4 pm and is a block and a half from the Steinway stop. The gym is really spacious, has new equipment (14 treadmills and 16 elliptical machines), every kind of weight lifting machine possible, a sauna and steam room.  The owner Anthony is not pushy like at NYSC and he is really chill; he lets his gym speak for itself. I spoke to the owner and told him about the gym situation here and he told us he would offer a special for Jackson Heights $559 for the year (the regular price is $787) with no initiation fees (just let him know you are from Jackson Heights). They also offer a month to month membership with a year contract for $59 and a no contract membership for $69. They offer a bunch of classes but I really didn’t pay attention to that part. The website says they offer free childcare but we do not have children so we did not follow up on that.
My wife and I work out during peak hours 5-8pm and we haven’t had to wait for a treadmill or machine yet so the commute is worth it for us.