I have had a coupon for a free week at Curves for quite awhile. Len is at a meeting tonight so I decided to check it out. I telephoned first and the opening hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7. p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

Well it was 6.30 when I arrived. I entered a large room and walked towards the receptionist at the right hand side. She had a lovely smile and welcomed me. I pulled the coupon out of my purse, and we headed over to a table and chairs, to the left of the front of the room.

She gave me the usual form to fill out and asked some health questions. She also asked what if any exercise I did. I told her walking, and when I am on vacation that is 10 miles a day. I swim, do aerobics, play table tennis, use the treadmill, work on my weight machine, and do free weights, but not all at once. She kind of lifted her eyebrow at me.

She then got a tape measure and did my statistics, weighed me, and took my body fat percentage with the machine.

Then she asked me if I had 45 minutes, which seemed strange, I thought I had come to work out. She showed me a frame with cubbyholes in it and said to put my things in there. I looked around and we were the only two people in the room.

We started at the front of the room. There were 8 platforms and 8 exercise machines. I walked on the first platform and she showed me how the first machine worked. There was up-beat music going on, and when it said 'go to the next station', she got off the machine and I used it. She made sure I worked it correctly. Then I am back on a platform for 30 seconds while she shows me the next piece of equipment. This continues on until I have completed the 8 pieces of exercise equipment and the 8 platforms.

At some of the platforms they had free weights to make it a little more interesting. Also you could go in the middle and hula-hoop for 30 seconds. I picked it up and did the 30 seconds without it falling, and again I think she was surprised that this 57 year old was capable of that.

You do 3 circuits, and I found second time around that I was jogging or dancing on the platforms. Just walking or marching is very boring. Halfway around the voice on the taped music tells you to take your pulse. If you do not know how too they are supposed to show you.

She told me that the 8 pieces of equipment work every part of your body. As we were the only two people there, she stayed with me the whole of the time. Telling me to lift my elbows, or bend my knees when releasing the platform. Basically this is pushing and pulling movements. I use resistance bands at home so found the workout to be very easy. I didn't even get a sweat up.

After the three circuits of 8 machines, 8 platform, for 30 seconds, you should have done 24 minutes of exercise. Then it is to the back of the room where they have an area for stretching exercises. There is a large poster on the wall showing all the stretches. There were 12 and we did them together. They also have a bar, like dancers have, if your balance isn't perfect. This makes up the 30 minute workout.

That was it.

I looked around before heading back to the front of the room with the trainer. There were restrooms and a few clean towels, but that pretty much was it. She did tell me that this Curves, at 6629 U.S. Hwy. 19, New Port Richey, Florida, 34652, only opened in May. They have 60 members as of today. When the membership gets bigger they plan on having 4 more machines. The place looked new and clean so this explained why. There would be very little to clean.

We sat down again and the lady gave me her card. She was one of two Managers. Then she quickly passed me a sheet of paper and asked me to initial 3 paragraphs and sign at the bottom. This was the release paper to say that I was using the gym at my own risk. Lucky for her nothing happened to me tonight. She told me that I have the free week, and can go in as many times as I want until November 2nd. They recommend 3 times a week, but she did say that as I was fairly fit, I could go in twice a day if I wanted to.

Then she went on to the sales pitch. The enrollment is $149, but if I bring a friend in I could get it for $49. The monthly fee is $29 if you have it automatically taken out of your checking account, and you have to sign up for 1 year. If you pay monthly or any other way it is $39 a month.

I thanked her and she asked if I wanted to join today. I said I would like to have my week to decide. She then said that they have an offer on. If you bring in proof of a recent mammogram there is zero sign up fee. She also said that if I paid a year in advance they would give me a further 10% off. I thanked her again, and said that as it was dark, I had only brought car keys and no money in my purse. I did take my own bottle of water and didn't see anywhere I could get a refill.

When I left the parking lot was really dark. The shop fronts were well lit but they were mainly handicapped parking. I had parked close to the street and there were no streetlights in the area. This was another strike against this place.

Final thoughts.

I honestly think this is great for a beginner, or someone who wants mild exercise. I think it would be good for ladies that are a little overweight or older ladies that don't do any kind of exercise. I came home ready to do a workout. When I have been to the Y.M.C.A. or Lady of America I have done their aerobic classes and came home feeling great.

As no one came in during the hour I was there, I would be very disheartened if I had wanted to workout with a group of people.

Sorry Curves but circuit training/exercise just isn't for me. I would rather do my own at home.

Susie.





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