ways to get exercise

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

hi all - i wanted to get some varied ideas of ways to get regular exercise around here.  i'm trying to avoid joining a gym- i prefer to do activities that are fun and challenging, and as an added benefit, happen to be good for your body.  e.g. climbing, sailing, swimming, hiking, but these are not the most convenient this tiime of year.  i think i need something that forces me to commit, and where i can see progress over time.  so i was thinking of signing up for a phys. ed. type class- maybe at a school, or if there are any continuing education type programs?  anything you know of in davis or nearby?

my other idea was joining a martial arts studio.  any you recommend?

also, suggestions for yoga/meditation studios are welcome too.  :)

Comments

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

You can swim at the Kennedy school in Porter Square.

AM - M/W/F: 6:15 - 7:45
PM: M-Th: 7:00 - 8:45pm
Sat: 12:00 - 3;45pm (this is combined family and lap swim)

It's 3/swim (for Somerville residents, but I've never seem them check an ID or anything), or 60/2-month Pass.

I did one class at O2 yoga, and while I liked the instructor and would love to go back, the class itself (an evening class) was SO crowded, and people were really competitive trying to get in the door. It wasn't really the experience I was looking for! I've been taking a prenatal class over at Cambridge Yogaworks too - it's a bikram studio, and it looks like nice.

- Lissie

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Wow. I didn't know that about the swimming! I'm like two blocks from there - I definitely need to check that out.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

hey awesome, thanks :)

as an alternative, i've recently discovered you can "community audit" a class at tufts for $100 and you get access to their facilities (including pool and gym).

i've heard about O2 and have been planning on checking it out. that's disappointing though- do they have a class limit?

where is cambridge yogaworks? i suppose i should just google...

[stutts.livejournal.com]

i've recently discovered you can "community audit" a class at tufts

Whoa, cool! You wouldn't have a link for the application, would you?

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

http://www.tufts.edu/alumni/ed-community.html

i'm trying to find a class i want to take right now :)

[awkwardduckling.livejournal.com]

major japanese authors started last night, and i'm already more excited about it than any class I've had my whole time at tufts...

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

There's also MetroRock (http://www.metrorock.com/home.html), a newer rock gym in Everett, sort-of near the Wellington T station.

If you are interested in outdoor climbing you should hook up with the Boston AMC. They have a great intro program (http://amcboston.org/mountaineering/2instruction.html) that teaches you all the safety stuff and ends with a group trip to the Gunks.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Mine's simple. I walk every day. Yes, even in winter. I live near Porter Square and I get off at Harvard instead. It's about a 20-minute walk, approximately a mile.

Not exactly what you were looking for, but it's an idea.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

:) i like that idea though. unfortunately my workplace is not T-accessible, otherwise i would love to walk/bike/run to work.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Heh. To be honest, if I didn't force myself off the train at Harvard on very cold - or hot - days, I'd never get any exercise. Once I'm doing it, I'm good...but getting started is the killer!

I don't drive...so therefor my workplace has to be T-accessible!

[komos.livejournal.com]

The Somerville Judo Club on Somerville Ave is pretty solid, and I've heard good things about House of Samurai (in Davis) for Shotokan and the Aikido School in Porter. Really, though, it depends on the style you're interested in.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

i've taken shotokan before, and liked it. but i would be open to others. how do you decide which style?

[komos.livejournal.com]

The two biggest factors are personal preference and what you want to be able to do with it. The first is simple... just decide whether you want to spend a lot of time with strangers rolling around on mats or punching and kicking them. The second could veer off into realms of "my kung fu is stronger," but doesn't have to. There's a whole range of approaches, starting with the brutally effective, ranging through sport and competition, and then turning to the esoteric and meditative.

If you're looking strictly in the area in and around Davis, your choices will be a bit limited, but I'm sure we can find something that would be a decent fit.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

"we"? :)

i think actually i could be open to enjoying a lot of things. but most likely, not into too much rolling around with strangers and aggression. i liked that shotokan seemed like a good balance of strength training, flexibility, balance, cardio, and meditation.

probably location would be the biggest factor in me actually practicing :)

[komos.livejournal.com]

Well, "you" really, but since I'm making recs...

Check out a few places for feel. I had a couple of friends who were studying at the aikido school and really enjoyed it. I had a blast for the short time I was doing judo, but it sounds like that might be moving in the wrong direction.

Have you ever seen a kung fu class? Straight up boxing?

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

no, but they sound intimidating..

[komos.livejournal.com]

I found that the Japanese styles tend to score much higher on the intimidation scale. Chinese styles tend to be a lot more laid back. Just different approaches, really, and it depends on the school. Again, visit a few and see how they strike you. The Shotokan place may really shine for you. ^_^

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

i'll do that, thanks.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

hey... i'm re-looking into this now. i wanted to ask if you have a list of the martial arts studios in the area (and which ones are recommended). if there are any aside from the ones mentioned here. i'm going to start googling them now and check them out. thanks.

[fredbarney.livejournal.com]

I try and run everyday, only on the outragiously cold days do I not go out. It is the cheap way! Well, once you buy some of the clothing.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

not a studio, but a woman named barrett lauck teaches classes (usually in church rooms) in the neighborhood -- yogibarrett@yahoo.com, or call 617-331-2386 according to the last ad i saw. i took her classes for awhile and enjoyed them a lot.

[ludimagist.livejournal.com]

I recently took up squash and am loving it. I play at Tufts (I'm a grad student there), but I'm sure there are other places to play as well. It's easy to commit to because it's a social activity as much as it's exercise. I'm thinking of learning tennis as well once the weather gets better.

Also, having exercise equipment in your house helps too, even if you're only doing short sets on a pullup bar or working with dumbells while you're watching TV. Whatever equipment you get is a one time investment.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

what about swing dancing? there are a bunch of places to take lessons, including the cambridge center for adult ed. www.havetodance.com has a calendar with a listing of all the different places to go dancing, most of them have a beginner lesson at the beginning of the dance.

[siderea]

Dance? Springstep is in Medford Center (96 bus from Davis).

P.S.

[siderea]

And the Cambridge Dance Complex, right in Central Sq.

[jadelennox]

< href="http://home.earthlink.net/~treeoflifetaichi/tol.html">Tree of Life Tai Chi, between Porter and Union on Somerville Ave, has both traditional tai chi as well as more active and martial classes (ba gua, sword, push hands, etc). The teacher is fantastic and the studio is lovely.