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Great places to exercise in Pittsburgh, PA
by Leann Zotis
I have gone to great lengths to find the perfect exercise venue for myself. I've tried a couple of the nationally renowned gyms, but found them too impersonal and too over-populated with the fittest of the fit and other Olympic hopeful types. That was just a little too intimidating for my taste.
I tried setting up a personal gym in my own home. A treadmill, an elliptical trainer, a weight bench and some assorted weights made up my own little exercise paradise. Oh sure, it was okay. I was committed enough to make use of the room at least three times a week. Funny thing, though, I didn't feel really good about my efforts. Going upstairs to the "exercise room" felt just a bit too much like I was giving myself my own personal "time out." Also, I never really felt any different when I did exercise than I did if I skipped exercising.
Frustration was setting in. I decided to try one more exercise facility. Here, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I chose a site very near to my home (a major plus) called Streamline Fitness. After my first session, I knew I had found my exercise home.
Streamline is a small gym, as gyms go, but it has everything I need (and even a few things I didn't know I needed until I got there) to create a healthy, productive fitness environment. A few sessions with a personal trainer got me on the right track to the proper use of the weight machines to flatten my stomach, strengthen my shoulders and legs, give me a solid core and, overall, develop a plan of action to improve my level of fitness.
Streamline is not "jock central." Oh sure, there are a fair number of muscular, bulked-up athletes who obviously see exercise as an important part of their daily existence as are eating and breathing. But there are also middle-aged people, older than middle-aged people and people who just want to get out and take in a little exercise in the company of some good people.
The staff at Streamline is well trained, very fit themselves, and an absolute delight to work with. They invite you in, right from the start, to the family-like atmosphere that fosters good health and attention to proper fitness practices. One of the first activities of Streamline that caught my attention immediately was the wide variety of classes that are offered to keep the idea of exercise fun and social and more about being active than about the drudgery of doing three sets of sit-ups. Classes are offered many times a week in spinning, yoga, Pilates, kick-boxing, Zumba, body sculpting and cardio stepping. They even offer a class called "Butts and Guts" that I haven't yet had a chance to check out. There is also a series of circuit machines available to help you ease into some of the more strenuous workouts.
The hours of operation are astounding. If you have the energy to exercise at 5:00 A.M. (not me!), by all means stop by. They are there to serve you. Seven days a week is no problem for them either. The place to go, for my money, if you're looking for a great place to exercise and have fun doing it is at Streamline Fitness in Kennedy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Streamline Fitness has a GREAT staff,accommodating hours of operation, is very clean, and all age groups feel comfortable-all of this is a recipe for a successful gym.I enjoy exercising here ! I've met a lot of nice people.Thanks for a great 7 years! Keep it going!
Jennifer R.
I have been enjoying my gym experiences at Streamline,even before Amy took the reins. As someone that works on their lunch hour or (nooner) as we call ourselves, I don't know what I would do without the break in the middle of my mostly hectic day.The exercise and friends I have made and talk to,let me refocus and I return to work or whatever I have to do, a new and better person.The staff and members are fun and always have a smile. I guess you're stuck with me !
Jeff
I have only been a member of the gym for a month and I have lost 10lbs. I also love Jacobs ladder.I am up to 15 mins.I try to come up 2 days a week.I also just got into a pair of jeans I haven't fit into in a year ! I have done most of the classes and like kick boxing the best. I enjoy everything ! THANKS !!!!!
Lynne L.
Streamline Fitness has helped me lose 10lbs in 4 weeks with spin class Mon-Wed-Fri.I love this class!
Emily C.
Amy and all, thank you so much for being here ! I have enjoyed the classes so much and I feel good about " me "time. I've met so many nice people.THANKS MUCH!Taking care of our mind,body,soul..EXERCISE
L. Hatman
Streamline Fitness reminds me of the theme song from "CHEERS", where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came.PLUS,you're guaranteed to get an awesome workout with any one of the classes and instructors.Thank you! Keep up the GR-8 work!
Chris C.
Dear Amy, there are many reasons I'm so thankful for "silver sneakers" program.The most important reason,of course, is how it has improved my body. About a year before I enrolled in the "silver sneakers" program, I fractured my back.After a year of attending the exercise classes, I noticed that my body was becoming stronger,and that there was a lessening of pain in my back.When you are older and at home,you don't want to take the time to exercise,but when you get in with a group of people who are a lot of fun,you find it so much easier to exercise.The teachers really do care about us and that means a lot.Our doctor told us that when she talks to her patients she uses my husband and I as examples to show what exercise can do for keeping a person in good shape.
Name Witheld
When I joined Streamline Fitness in Jan 09 , I did so out of a sense of wanting to find a renewed commitment to personal fitness.I thought joining a gym would give me a sense of accountability.If I had to be at a certain place at a certain time several days a week,it would be harder to justify excuses for not exercising that seemed to come too easily in my life.If that would have been the only accomplishment I achieved from joining Streamline Fitness, it would have been enough.Instead,on that day I stumbled into Streamline Fitness,I entered a world that gave me a philosophical outlook that would change my life forever.Being new to the workings of the gym environment,I thought it best to employ the services of one of the personal trainers availed trough Streamline Fitness.Thus began my encounter with Linda May.To be sure,Linda May put me through the typical paces at the gym" Lift these weights!Adjust that bar! This machine works like this!Nothing unusual there.The Revelation came when Linda May imparted one of the many pearls of philosophical wisdom in her efforts to encourage me."I want you to push yourself until you fail".There it is _simple,direct and clear.Don't just go trough the motions,she was telling me.Don't get complacent doing ten reps of this or three sets of that.Above all,don't settle! Push yourself until you have exceeded your limits and cant go any further.Only then will you realize what you are capable of accomplishing.I am carrying this "light bulb" moment into every area of my life.What a concept! Don't stop in your comfort zone.Step outside of it until you cant go anymore.I was proud of myself for leg pressing 100lbs,until Linda May adds another 20 pounds to the bar-and I could press that too! I was happy showing up for body sculpting on Saturday morning,until Linda May challenged me to go for the"tri-fecta" of spinning ,body sculpting and yoga.Now I'm there nearly every Saturday morning for all three classes.Everywhere I look in my world these days, I see opportunities to "push myself until I fail."Funny thing is I'm not failing" !! I'm excelling. And I owe it all to one simple sentence spoken to me at Streamline Fitness.Thank you Linda May!!
Leann Z.
Amy, it was sort of ironic to me that I saw the gold box you put up, "comments about how the gym changed lives" I have been meaning for some time to find a way to tell you and some others how much finding Streamline Fitness has changed my life. While I have always been somewhat athletic and most recently an avid cyclist,in the fall of last year I lost my job,managed to put on 30 pounds and completely turned my back on exercising.Around Thanksgiving I decided to see what it would cost to join,and was surprised to find that even with limited means, I could afford a 3 month membership.I was really comfortable with the fact that there was no pressure to make a long term commitment or spend more money,so I didn't have to explain to a pushy salesperson that I was a jobless loser and couldn't afford it.(I had experience at other gyms).I started by coming to spinning classes since that was what I was most familiar with.On the first day Linda asked my name,and remembered it the next time I came.This was a first-and I have been to many spin classes at many gyms in my life.After a few weeks,I decided to try a new class,body sculpting with Julie.I had never taken that type of class ,had zero ideas how to lift weights and considered myself highly uncoordinated.In the shape I was in I had no interest in being anywhere near the mirrors,and again was pleasantly surprised at there being no pressure to be anywhere but hiding in my comfortable spot in the corner.When I needed help with form ,Julie discretely came over to me and corrected my position without making me feel embarrassed.Coming to the gym every morning became my new routine,and gave me something to feel good about.I began talking to some of the other members which is something I would never have done before.I am not a shy person in other aspects of life,but feel so unfit in comparison with "gym people" that I have always kept a low profile when I work out.But the type of people who come to your gym are unique,they are real,from all different walks of life,and not there to see or be seen like the types of folks at other gyms.I am inspired when I see the seniors barreling into the back room for their classes.It is a really laid back atmosphere.As some time passed and I was becoming more fit,I still hadn't lost any weight.I was frustrated and mentioned to Linda ,who recommended I go see Dr. Vinarski.I did,and also added weight training with Linda to my routine. This combination was amazing,I started dropping weight and becoming stronger.After a few weeks,when I was feeling 12 pounds wasn't a whole lot to lose,Julie said -"go pick up a 12 pound weight and tell me that's not a lot ".3 months later I am 40 pounds lighter and in better shape than I have ever been in my life.It's summer and I am back on my bike,and my riding friends are completely astonished at the transformation.I was always someone who would participate,but never really push myself.If I got tired,I'd stop.If it was a hilly or difficult route,I'd take a pass and get a ride to the finish.So far this summer,I have completed 3 century (100 mile) rides,keeping up with the pack even setting the pace on occasion.Hills no longer scare me,and being seen in cycling clothes no longer makes me break into hives.When I am on the bike and it gets tough,in my mind I can hear Julie yelling"PUSH PUSH PUSH!!" and Linda saying "nose mouth breathing" and Amy saying "Yeah,that was fun!" When I have 20 miles left to go I tell myself -"heck that's just a spin class,you can totally do this". My bike ride playlist includes music from all of the instructors classes because I like to remind myself of what I did to get me there.And as much as I hate that Charlie Daniels song-its on there for just that reason.Regaining self-confidence has had some other benefits. I am working again but in a capacity that lets me still find time to work out and be with my daughter.My teenage daughter sees the difference in me which is probably the greatest thing.She will do yoga with me,go running with me,stuff she never did before.While I still have a bit further to go with the weight loss,I am sure I can meet my goal,and add new challenges along the way.That's one of the other great things about the gym,there is always something more or new to do.Just today after spinning-which always gives me a boost because I know I'm good at it,I went to abs/yoga,and was laughing at myself for not being able to hold a plank position.I was happy because that only meant there is something else for me to get better at.I used to think Linda was trying to boost my ego when she said I should teach spin classes but now I think it's a real possibility,something I can work toward.I am a long-winded person,and could have probably just said "working out has helped me lose weight and get fit", but the truth is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT !.I was truly at a low point a few months ago-and now I feel like everything has changed for the better.And there is no doubt in my mind that this had everything to do with the fact that I walked in the doors of Streamline Fitness.Thank you for creating a place that does so much for so many in our community.You have great instructors,great members and a great atmosphere that really feels like home to me.
Megan M.
