Where is the Best Workout in Portland, Oregon?
10th Ave is in a class of its own. Hate the atmosphere of Bally’s or 24Hr? Come here…seriously. I did the 24Hr thing and it failed me – unfriendly staff, prissy atmosphere, and not a single locker to rent to keep my stuff in.I came to 10th Ave because I wanted to find a place that was smaller yet still had a breadth of equipment…and somewhere where I could keep my things in a locker overnight! It’s a great atmosphere to work out in – no pretentiousness – just genuine people who are there to get their hearts beating a bit faster and to maybe shed a few pounds. Trainers are around all the time if you have a quick question…and they’ll even say hi to you (even if they don’t know you!) This is the only place I’ve felt like I’ve been able to be ‘myself’ and workout. No guilty feelings for being overweight. Just a darn good gym.Pros + Regular people, friendly staff, rentable lockers!Cons – Trainer groups sometimes take up too much room
I’ve been taking Pilates with Ishbel since the beginning of 2007. It’s uncharacteristic for me to have consistently exercised for such an extended period of time, but I’ve rarely missed a class unless ill or traveling. That I look forward to Tuesday and Thursday mornings is due in very large part to Ishbel’s delightful personality and high-quality instruction. Ishbel leads our class with good humor and creates a fun (yet calming) atmosphere that is welcoming and encouraging to all, no matter what a person’s ability or experience. Her instructions and demonstrations are clear – much of Pilates happens in the mind and she has a great repertoire of helpful metaphors. She keeps the class interesting and our bodies challenged with frequent variations on the standards and introduction of new moves (seriously, in 18 months I’ve never been bored). Although the group is occasionally large, Ishbel is always alert to what students are doing and provides individual attention where needed.
