I have been active and fit for my entire life, enjoying many sports including tennis, yoga, skiing, rollerblading, hiking and water-skiing. But a few things are missing from my routine and I set out to find a gym to fill in the gaps. The only gym I have ever been a member at was the in-house one at NBC that I joined the day it opened and was a member until my last day with the company. It’s been nearly 17 years since then, so I approached this in my usual methodical way.

I have a few goals:

  • Strength training (I am losing muscle as I age)
  • Yoga classes (for flexibility)
  • Core workouts
  • Balance exercises (good for the mind)
  • Improve my swimming (especially crawl)
  • Try spinning classes (did not like the first one 20 years ago)
  • A place that’s comfortable to hang out between classes
  • A place to meet new people
  • Tennis & pickleball are bonuses

Tennis Options

I started by expanding my options in the area to play tennis. I have a standing Thursday night game and become a sub at three other times. I also began taking drop-in classes at Westchester Tennis Club (WTC), but not many people are signing up so they do not happen that often. I also took an evaluation session at Tennis Innovation Academy in North White Plains and have gone to one clinic that I enjoyed very much. I found that TIA’s clinics are great but are not given at times that work with my current schedule.

A few weeks ago I also started visiting fitness centers in the area, first touring LA Fitness in Portchester (across the street from WTC), then Lifetime in Harrison and lastly NYSC in White Plains. NYSC was recommended by Sherry’s cousins Jeff & Susan, and LA was recommended by friend Michelle. Lifetime was recommended by tennis buddy Tom Carlin and friends Alice & Roger.

And the winner is…

Each of them have positives and negatives.

In last place was NYSC, which I visited today. The gym is nice, and they have 3 yoga classes a week. Membership would be free with Renew Active included in my Medicare Supplement. Unfortunately, their pool is permanently closed and the gym is on top of the city center in White Plains, which adds time going in and out (and parking fees).

LA Fitness membership would also be free, and they have a pool that is almost always available. A third party runs the swim training classes. The gym equipment is okay, but a little tightly packed, the place is a little worn and there are limited classes. The membership caters to the Portchester community – and might not be the social experience I was hoping for.

Today I signed up at Lifetime. It’s $150 a month with Renew Active, but the experience is superior and totally worth it. Equipment is top notch and the facility feels premium. There are dozens of classes each day including 6 for yoga. There are tennis and pickleball courts and there are two pools, two hot-tubs and free chair massages. As soon as I walked in, I saw Tom and he gave me some pointers. We’re off to a good start!

The next part of the adventure is on-boarding and learning the rhythm of registering for classes (they fill up quickly). I’ve already set up evaluations for swimming, tennis and strength training. Wish me luck!

3/22/2025

Update: I have now been registered at Lifetime Fitness for 3 weeks. It is a big place and getting the hang of it has been a little challenging. But I am making progress! For swimming, I did an evaluation and signed up for a class (more on this in another adventure). For Yoga I tried a Vinyassa class that was not for me, but found a “surrender” class with great stretching, need to keep experimenting here. For strength training, I have a trainer Teddy and a routine. I am pleased that my hamstring flexibility is increasing (there is a GREAT stretching machine). Lastly Tennis has been the most difficult one to crack. I had an evaluation (USTA 3.5) and attended a class, but was finding it hard to get connecting. After several tries, I finally got connecting into a 3.0-5.0 what’s app group and finding some opportunities to play. More to follow!

4/3/2025

Update: I am starting to get the hang of this. Registering for classes is still challenging, because you need to plan at least a week in advance. Some have an 8 day preregistration window, others 7 days. The tennis whatsapp group has been great and I’ve gotten a bit of playing time. Today I reduced the cost through my Medicare plan (see earlier posts) and had my first pickleball lesson. Also ran into good friend and water skiing buddy Norman. My swimming lessons are going well (I have had three so far) and I am beginning to feel comfortable in the space.

4/21/2025

I met with my fitness trainer Teddy today and he ran me through another assessment. Looks like I lost 2 pounds of fat and gained 2 pounds of muscle. Not bad in just 4 weeks! We also expanded my strength-training repertoire to include a greater variety of exercises. I really love that I am making progress!