Fancypants Sportsclub/LA giveaway
September 23rd, 2009
“So,” you ask, “How did you decide to join the most upscale gym in Boston?”
I reply, “Do you mean Sportsclub/LA? The one in the same building as the Ritz Carlton?”
You say (with a bit of a hurumphh in your voice) “Yes, that’s the one.”
Well, let me explain. As many of you know, I was laid off from my fulltime job in advertising awhile back. And instead of scrambling to find another one, I decided to pursue my part time gig (and fulltime passion) of health and wellness.
Sure, I was concerned about money. Filing for that first unemployment check is a big hit to the ego. But luckily with savings and with income generated from my private health counseling clients, things were going to be ok.
Sweet!
Enter Alden. Alden is a friend of mine from yoga training. I said, “Hey Alden, haven’t seen you in awhile.” She said, “Oh well you know what, I just joined the Sportsclub/LA, you should come take a yoga class with me there! I have a free pass for guests.”
To which I replied, “Heck yeah!”
But inside I was thinking, “Boy Alden, you must make a lot of money to afford such a fancy gym…” Jealousy. Judging. Comparing. These feelings all came up. What can I say? I’m human.
So, I found myself walking past the Ritz Carlton and into SCLA, wishing that perhaps my workout clothes were a bit more posh. I gave a sideways glance to the other person in the elevator and thought…wow, I wonder what THAT guy does for a living.
When I got inside I saw no diamond studded treadmills or anything like that. But. It is a very, very nice gym. I’ve belonged to gyms that make you feel you need a shower just by walking into the room. Icky. But I’ve never belonged to a gym where I actually felt happy to be there, surrounded by big windows overlooking the Boston Common, pleasant people and plenty of space. They have an entire second floor dedicated to Mind-Body classes. This is where I headed for yoga, noting along the way the free herbal tea bar and individual yoga rooms for private practice.
And after class, I saw the locker rooms were stocked with cottonballs, tissues, razors, plastic bags for wet clothes, hairdryers, hairspray, deodorant and combs. Did I mention the steam room? Oh, it was heaven. They have a steam room, a sauna and a pool. But I’m a steam room kind of gal myself.
Long story short, I remembered that part of my job as a health counselor is convincing people to prioritize their health. Often I speak with people who would like to start a 6 month health counseling program but feel like they can’t afford it. I understand. I felt like I could not afford this gym. No way, no how.
But…it was just awesome. So I decided to put my money where my mouth is. I figured, being laid off meant I would finally have time to fully utilize a gym membership. I’d belonged to other gyms that cost $60/month and I never went. That’s a waste of money. What if I spent more, but loved it, and used it all the time? Hmmmm.
Ha! So I joined. If only to prove a point – that health is worth investing in.
I don’t have cable TV. I ride the city bus. I shop with a strict budget in mind. And I use the library. If I want to enjoy my workouts…that seemed like the right place to splurge.
Now of course, I don’t know all of your personal finance situations but I hope that sharing my story will underscore how vehemently I believe in prioritizing health. Maybe it means spending less on clothes and more on organic produce. Or spending less time watching TV and more time walking for exercise.
I’m very happy to offer a free pass to Sportsclub/LA to 4 lucky winners! I have 2 passes good only at the Boston location, and 2 passes good in either New York, Miami, Washington DC or San Franciso. If you would like to spend a day at a Sportsclub/LA near you, please leave a comment below and answer the question:
How do you prioritize your health? (AND what city will you use your pass in?)
For additional chances to win, do one or more of the following and let me know in the comments.
1. Sign up for my newsletter
2. Sign up for my RSS feed
3. Link to this contest from your blog
4. Follow me on Twitter
Winners must provide a US address for the free pass to be mailed to. Contest ends October 10, 2009.
