Community fitness classes (neighborhoods, high school, price)

[Isabel_009]

Has anyone been to any of the Community Education classes? I'm considering signing up for one of the fitness options. Anyone know if they are any good? For example, are the facilities relatively clean, instructors decent, classes not overcrowded, etc? I can't afford a gym membership or anything like that.

[Globe199]

Hit or miss. I've been to three classes, I think. Two were pretty decent, one was kind of lousy. I think it really depends on the instructor you get. Some are more passionate than others.

[uptown_urbanist]

In general yes, pretty good, especially considering the price! It depends on the teacher, but that's true anywhere. The community ed classes often have a core group of regular instructors, so if you find one you like you'll be set.

Facilities vary. My experience has been with Southwest and Pratt (although not recently); the Pratt exercise classes had their own dedicated space, which was nice. SWCE is based at Southwest High School, so they use the school facilities. In general they're pretty clean; not fancy, but adequate. I hate the SW pool, though. Most people seem pretty happy with the classes. (full disclosure: I've worked with community ed in the past, although not recently, so I think they're a great value for the money.) Now that I think about it, back when I worked there (it's been awhile...) one of the aerobics classes was in a classroom, not the gym, so no locker room. It was my job to move out all of the desks and clean the floor before the class, and the instructor always came early to make sure it was set up to her standards. The community ed staff should be able to answer any questions you have about specific classes, even if the official booklet doesn't spell out all the details.

[Isabel_009]

Thanks! I guess you would be the right person to ask about community centers that are easily accessible by transit from Uptown? I was thinking Harriet Lake.

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

In general yes, pretty good, especially considering the price! It depends on the teacher, but that's true anywhere. The community ed classes often have a core group of regular instructors, so if you find one you like you'll be set.

Facilities vary. My experience has been with Southwest and Pratt (although not recently); the Pratt exercise classes had their own dedicated space, which was nice. SWCE is based at Southwest High School, so they use the school facilities. In general they're pretty clean; not fancy, but adequate. I hate the SW pool, though. Most people seem pretty happy with the classes. (full disclosure: I've worked with community ed in the past, although not recently, so I think they're a great value for the money.) Now that I think about it, back when I worked there (it's been awhile...) one of the aerobics classes was in a classroom, not the gym, so no locker room. It was my job to move out all of the desks and clean the floor before the class, and the instructor always came early to make sure it was set up to her standards. The community ed staff should be able to answer any questions you have about specific classes, even if the official booklet doesn't spell out all the details.

[uptown_urbanist]

They've changed the names around and I haven't paid much attention; Harriet Lake has two campuses, doesn't it? The school on Chowen, and the one on Vincent? They're both pretty quick bus trips from Uptown (route 6). The neighborhoods over there are safe, so at least you won't have to worry if you're waiting at night to get a bus back. In warmer weather (or for the truly hardcore bikers) they're a very easy bike ride, if you bike.

If you do find something at Southwest Community Ed that's an easy bus ride, too, and is in the same general area as the other two (it's at 47th, between Abbott and Chowen), and only three short blocks away from a bus stop.

[Isabel_009]

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

They've changed the names around and I haven't paid much attention; Harriet Lake has two campuses, doesn't it? The school on Chowen, and the one on Vincent? They're both pretty quick bus trips from Uptown (route 6). The neighborhoods over there are safe, so at least you won't have to worry if you're waiting at night to get a bus back. In warmer weather (or for the truly hardcore bikers) they're a very easy bike ride, if you bike.

If you do find something at Southwest Community Ed that's an easy bus ride, too, and is in the same general area as the other two (it's at 47th, between Abbott and Chowen), and only three short blocks away from a bus stop.