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FIT & FRUGAL: On a Budget? Options From Off-Hours Gym Rates to Free Fitness Videos Help You Keep Up Your Workout

Posted on: Tuesday, 25 April 2006, 06:00 CDT

By Cecilia Oleck, Detroit Free Press

Apr. 25--It's been a few years since Monica Breen faced life without a job.

But Breen, 37, of Hamtramck, now a Web specialist at Detroit's College for Creative Studies and a yoga instructor at City Yoga in Detroit and the Detroit Athletic Club, says she understands the urge to let fitness fall by the wayside when unemployment hits.

"I've been there before," said Breen. "I've lost plenty of jobs. But you have to stay healthy in your mind and your body and your soul."

As the bad news about Michigan's economy keeps rolling in -- the state's unemployment rate rose to 6.8% in March -- and financial stress increases, it's especially important to keep up or start a fitness routine. Yet when faced with the need to scale back, a gym membership or other fitness expenses can seem like too much of a luxury.

But fitness can be affordable -- and it is important.

While staying in shape might not seem like a prerequisite to getting a job, it does help, said Jim Pawlak, a manager at Detroit's Work Place, a career center downtown that helps connect people looking for jobs with employers.

"If somebody looks unhealthy, it makes it even more difficult to get hired," Pawlak said. "And if somebody comes in who looks like a real health risk ... that speaks volumes to an employer."

Breen said she tries to keep yoga classes affordable -- $10 a class or $80 for 10 classes -- because she knows that when someone is struggling with a stressful situation like losing a job, regular exercise is especially important.

"It keeps their spirits uplifted," Breen said. "It keeps them involved in a community that can help keep them afloat. It's more than just exercise, it really is."

For those looking to start or continue a fitness routine without shelling out a fortune, there are ways to stay in shape.

So here's to getting moving without spending a lot of moolah.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks

With 13 parks throughout southeast Michigan, activity options abound at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.

For $20 a year, you and anyone who fits in your car will have access to all of the metroparks, where exercise possibilities include hiking, biking, running, walking, in-line skating, fishing and disc golf. At some of the parks, kayaks, canoes, rowboats and cross country skis can be rented for a small fee -- $4 an hour for a rowboat, for instance.

Three parks -- Kensington near Brighton, Metro Beach on Lake St. Clair and Stony Creek in Shelby Township -- offer fitness trails, running or walking loops that include 20 stations with suggested exercises spread out along the way.

For information and maps, go to www.metroparks.com or call 800-477-2757. Free maps are also available at the parks.

Look for gym bargains

Shopping around for fitness bargains can pay off.

Some gyms, like the Beverly Hills Club on Southfield Road in Beverly Hills, offer membership discounts for those willing to work out during off-peak hours, usually in the early afternoon.

At Beverly Hills, a membership to work out on weekdays between noon and 4 p.m. costs $67 a month compared with a $109 monthly general membership.

Other places might run specials or allow discounted trial memberships. Senior and student prices often are available.

Breen said she tries to offer specials periodically. This month, some morning classes at City Yoga cost $1.

She's also toying with the idea of starting a free class once a week on Belle Isle.

Communities with fitness and recreation centers usually offer lower rates to residents or let others take classes for a small fee.

Those who live in Troy, for example, can get a membership to the Troy Community Center -- which includes an indoor pool, basketball courts, weights and cardio machines -- for $17.50 a month for adults and $8.50 a month for youths.

At the Roberto Clemente Recreation Center on Bagley Street in southwest Detroit, aerobics classes are free. There's also a weight room with basic workout equipment available to use for $50 a year.

Buddy up

Find a neighbor or friend who will commit to working out on a regular basis, even if it's just to walk around the neighborhood a couple days a week.

West Bloomfield dietician Gail Posner suggests walking the neighbor's dog.

"It's good for the dog and for your relationship with your neighbor," she said. "I would love it if someone would walk my dog."

Or create a home gym either at your house or a friend's by combining your equipment and setting a workout schedule.

Molly MacDonald, 55, a Beverly Hills mother of five who found herself out of work for a time last year, said she used to work out at the house of a friend who had a home gym. They'd keep a favorite television show on while they exercised, making their workouts more enjoyable.

The workouts were good for her and good for her friend, who otherwise might not have gotten any use out of her fitness equipment.

MacDonald since has saved money on a gym membership by piggybacking off her daughter's membership at the Beverly Hills Club, which offers savings for friends and family of club members.

Trails

There are lots of reasons to get out and enjoy the state's 1,300 miles of trails, not the least of which is -- they're free!

"It's a great place to clear your mind, out in the middle of nature," said Kristen Myers, the coordinator of the Paint Creek Trail, a nearly 9-mile path through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland and Orion townships and Lake Orion.

Part of the appeal of trails, said Myers, is that most are located close enough to where people live, making it easy to incorporate exercise into daily life.

There are trails located throughout southeast Michigan.

The Paint Creek Trail connects to other nearby trails, including the nearly 24-mile long Macomb Orchard Trail in Macomb County.

The Michigan Trails and Greenway Alliance, which coordinates trail development in the state, offers free trail maps. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to 410 S. Cedar Street, Suite A, Lansing, MI 48912.

Information is available at www.michigantrails.org or the Oakland County Web site, www.oakgov.com/parksrec.

Workout to a DVD/Video

The idea's not new, but if you're committed to working out and can't afford to pay to attend classes, home workout videos or DVDs can be a great way to keep up a fitness routine on a limited budget.

Either dust off your old ones or ask friends if they have any to lend you. If you're already signed up for a service like Netflix, you can take out fitness DVDs for no extra cost. Some libraries may also have a selection of fitness videos and DVDs available to check out.

If you want to buy, consider used copies from www.amazon.com. Be sure to read consumer reviews online to get a sense of whether the routine is right for you.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Detroit Free Press

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Source: Detroit Free Press

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