No one’s buying that story about a malicious dry cleaner shrinking all of your pants–you packed on a few pounds over the holidays. Ditch the deep denial and add a trip to one of these top fitness centers to your list of New Year’s resolutions.
Sweet Holmes Chicago
With its holistic approach to fitness, the first (and only) U.S. location of London-based Holmes Place puts the “health” back in health club. The luxurious facility features two weight rooms, four studios and a stainless steel swimming pool (so it’s treated with ozone gas instead of chlorine). The club’s design places an emphasis on natural light, with floor-to-ceiling windows in the workout areas. Truly full-service, Holmes Place offers a sports medicine center, spa and restaurant on the premises. One might think its posh reputation would keep membership out of reach of the Average Joe, but it’s surprisingly affordable. Fee: Starting at $60 per month. Initiation fee: None in January. Contract: One year required. 355 E. Grand Ave. 312-467-1111.
Kick it up a notch
Owner Katalin Rodriguez Zamiar emphasizes that Pow! is not a health club, but rather a combination martial arts training center/fitness facility. As part of a structured program that stresses individual attention and a high level of student accountability, Pow! offers around 50 martial arts-based classes a week. It’s also Chicago’s official training center for Krav Maga, the hand-to-hand self-defense system of the Israeli army. First-timers, don’t let fear of a hard-core regimen deter you; Zamiar notes that a high percentage of students start as beginners who are dissatisfied with the lack of results they get from more traditional exercise programs. Fee: $90-$125 per month. Initiation fee: None. Contract: One year required. 950 W. Washington St. 312-829-7699.
Fitness 24/7
Join the 24-hour XSport Fitness in Piper’s Alley and you’ll never again use your busy schedule as an excuse for skipping a workout. This new 52,000-square-foot facility features studios for spinning, aerobics and yoga (six types, including Bikram), a basketball court, a two-story rock climbing wall, and lap and resistance pools. Have trouble turning off the tube and getting to the gym? Every cardio machine features an individual 13-inch flat-screen TV. Eight high-speed computers also are available for member use in a separate sitting area. With all these amenities, you can save even more money by breaking your lease and just moving in. Fee: Individual memberships start at $599. Initiation fee: $20. Contract: The fee covers a one-year membership. 230 W. North Ave. 312-932-9100.
Push your limits
Looking for a good, no-frills place to work out without all the hassles of a long-term commitment? Know No Limits’ Andersonville location offers month-to-month memberships. This cozy neighborhood club offers a refreshing change from the anonymity of some larger clubs, and its membership is intentionally kept small (there are presently about 300 members) so despite the gym’s small space, you’ll rarely have to wait for equipment, even during peak hours. Features include a cardio room, two weight rooms and a stretching/classroom, where a small class size (usually fewer than 10 participants) affords a high degree of personal attention. Fee: $55 per month, although classes are charged separately. If you want to check it out, a single visit to the facility (or trying a class) is $12. Initiation fee: None. Contract: None required. 5121 N. Clark St. 773-334-4728.
Take a peak
Ready to take your workout to new heights? Ukrainian Village’s Hidden Peak Climbing Gym offers a number of climbing walls of varying degrees of difficulty. Good news for those who have let a fear of heights keep them away from the sport: This gym focuses on bouldering rather than rope climbing, so most of your work will be done no higher than 12 to 15 feet off the ground. Fee: Each visit is $10, plus a few extra bucks to rent gear. For $35, newbies can arrange for an all-inclusive one-and-a-half to two-hour introductory lesson to learn the ropes. You also can get a lunchtime pass Monday through Friday and climb from 12 to 2 p.m. for $7. Initiation fee: None. Contract: None required. 937 W. Chestnut St. 312-563-9400.
