I Hate the Gym by Jessica Kaminsky
[Don’t forget to call in with your thoughts on a Holiday Book for the Book Club Podcast! (Look to the right for details.)]
I couldn’t resist putting this book up even though I haven’t read it, just because I love the title. And, well, there’s another reason. In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I did not receive a review copy from the publisher. I did, however, get a really great gym bag that says, “I Hate the Gym” on one side and “Simon and Schuster” on the other, at BEA a few years ago. That bag is the only reason I even know about this book, so I’m not endorsing it or anything. [I jest, but there really is a thoughtful and provoking discussion about blog disclosure at Reading Matters.]
But today’s story is not really about I Hate the Gym, the book by Jessica Kaminsky, as you might have guessed, but about the I Hate the Gym, the gym bag.
Remember about my whole yoga thing? Well, I decided that the tension in my back and shoulders from all my work stress had finally gotten to the point where I should do something about it. Plus, I had noticed that I was getting a little soft around the middle. So I started looking into yoga studios by my house. After researching yoga styles, reading websites, and visiting a studio, I came to the conclusion that I should do it, even though it would be a fairly significant cost each month.
That was Friday.
On Saturday, it occurred to me that gyms usually offer yoga classes and if I joined a gym, I could not only take yoga, but I could also use the other facilities. A better value, right? With the days shortening and the rainy season upon us, working out in a gym seems much preferable to jogging in the wet and dark. So I spent the day researching fitness centers and visited the Renaissance Club Sport, the closest one to our house, to get a tour and a sales pitch.
This place is S-W-A-N-K. It’s like going to a spa rather than a gym. In fact, there is a spa there. And a hotel and restaurant and bar, a full-size basketball court, full-size volleyball court, three racquetball courts, three squash courts, four group class studios, 25-yard lap pool, group class activity pool, outdoor hot tub, and separate men’s and women’s Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. The place was quite seductive, despite the fact that I don’t play basketball, volleyball, or racquetball.
It is, of course, breathtakingly expensive. But they supply the towels! And the hairdryers! And you get a 15% discount on all spa services!
Well, I got my seven-day trial pass on Saturday, and I went on Sunday to take a beginner yoga class. Then I got up early this morning to go swimming and sit in the hot tub before work. That was quite nice. I brought with me my I Hate the Gym bag, courtesy of Simon & Schuster, to remind me that I really do hate the gym. No matter how beautiful, sparkling, and spacious it is, I really do hate the gym. A month from now, when the sparkle has worn off, I will still hate the gym.
Now what do I do?
I Hate the Gym by Jessica Kaminsky
I couldn’t resist putting this book up even though I haven’t read it, just because I love the title. And, well, there’s another reason. In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I did not receive a review copy from the publisher. I did, however, get a really great gym bag that says, “I Hate the Gym” on one side and “Simon and Schuster” on the other, at BEA a few years ago. That bag is the only reason I even know about this book, so I’m not endorsing it or anything. [I jest, but there really is a thoughtful and provoking discussion about blog disclosure at Reading Matters.]But today’s story is not really about I Hate the Gym, the book by Jessica Kaminsky, as you might have guessed, but about the I Hate the Gym, the gym bag.
Remember about my whole yoga thing? Well, I decided that the tension in my back and shoulders from all my work stress had finally gotten to the point where I should do something about it. Plus, I had noticed that I was getting a little soft around the middle. So I started looking into yoga studios by my house. After researching yoga styles, reading websites, and visiting a studio, I came to the conclusion that I should do it, even though it would be a fairly significant cost each month.
That was Friday.
On Saturday, it occurred to me that gyms usually offer yoga classes and if I joined a gym, I could not only take yoga, but I could also use the other facilities. A better value, right? With the days shortening and the rainy season upon us, working out in a gym seems much preferable to jogging in the wet and dark. So I spent the day researching fitness centers and visited the Renaissance Club Sport, the closest one to our house, to get a tour and a sales pitch.
This place is S-W-A-N-K. It’s like going to a spa rather than a gym. In fact, there is a spa there. And a hotel and restaurant and bar, a full-size basketball court, full-size volleyball court, three racquetball courts, three squash courts, four group class studios, 25-yard lap pool, group class activity pool, outdoor hot tub, and separate men’s and women’s Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. The place was quite seductive, despite the fact that I don’t play basketball, volleyball, or racquetball.
It is, of course, breathtakingly expensive. But they supply the towels! And the hairdryers! And you get a 15% discount on all spa services!
Well, I got my seven-day trial pass on Saturday, and I went on Sunday to take a beginner yoga class. Then I got up early this morning to go swimming and sit in the hot tub before work. That was quite nice. I brought with me my I Hate the Gym bag, courtesy of Simon & Schuster, to remind me that I really do hate the gym. No matter how beautiful, sparkling, and spacious it is, I really do hate the gym. A month from now, when the sparkle has worn off, I will still hate the gym.Now what do I do?
I Hate the Gym by Jessica Kaminsky
Tags: books yoga gym Jessica Kaminsky
posted by Renee at 8:06 PM
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