You are going to be away from home for a few days. Maybe it's a business trip or perhaps a pleasure jaunt. You love your aerobics classes and would really like to work out while you travel. What do you do?
Before you leave, find out if your own club has a national affiliation. Ask if there is a fee, or if you can simply present your club card at another participating location. If you find that the club is far from where you are staying, your best bet is then to check with the hotel concierge, who can tell you if there is a gym in or near the hotel. The better concierge services also can provide you with class times and costs. Keep in mind that the cheapest is not always the most cost effective. If you are going to pay $5.00 for a class and another $20.00 on a taxi to get to and from the location, you may want to re-think your choice. Paying $20.00 for a class that you can walk to from your hotel may be less expensive in the long run.
When you have the names of a few gyms or exercise studios close to where you are staying, give them a call. You can expect to pay anywhere from $5.00 to $40.00, but be sure to find out exactly what the fee covers. Ask about features that are important to you. Some suggestions:
Do they provide towels?
Can you use a locker?
Does the fee cover just the aerobics class or can you use other facilities as well?
Do they offer a weekly rate if you will be in town for a longer period of time?
Do they cater to a specific clientele? Mostly younger, mostly older?
Ask about their classes. If you like ultra-high intensity classes, can they offer that?
Tell them how long you have been working out and the type of class and level that you enjoy. They should be able to point you in the right direction so you can attend a class you will like. If they don't want to take time over the phone to help you out, you may want to chose another club.
Show up a few minutes before class starts so you can get oriented. It's always a good idea to make the instructor aware that you are not a regular member. If you tell the instructor that you are from out of town, he/she may explain complicated moves more thoroughly.
Instructors often have different names for common choreography moves. For example, an "L-step" in Washington, DC, may be called a "T-step" in another area of the country. "Across the step" may mean go the length of the step from end to end, or it may mean go across the step from one side (the front) to the other side (the back). Don't get frustrated. You might learn some great new moves to take back and share with your own instructor!
Be sure to say thank you when you leave. You aren't a member, and they have extended a courtesy to you. Most important - have fun! And congratulate yourself for sticking to your fitness program on the road!
