AWCH The Fitness Company

I have never been much of a gym person, especially coming from the sunshine state of Florida, where one has so many options to be active outdoors, whether it be hiking, biking, swimming, or surfing – you name it, there is always something to keep you active. But shortly after I arrived in Hamburg to join my German husband, I went through my first real winter with snow, rain and very long, dark days. I realized I was getting more and more tired and feeling very depressed. I had read a lot about the beneficial effect sports or physical activity can have on the brain through the release of endorphins. Endorphins are a natural pain killer and stress reliever which produce a feeling of euphoria. Basically, exercise triggers the release of these happy-making fellows into your system, which is why you may feel tired but usually have a sense of well-being after any physical activity. It has long been said that this is the reason exercise can be addictive.

So shortly after reading about this I decided I needed to do something. Knowing I was not willing to go out in the cold winter to exercise, I decided to join a gym. But it took some time to find a gym I really liked until I found the Fitness Company.

I was familiar with this fitness center but there was never a location close enough to me until recently one opened up in my neighborhood of Lokstedt/Niendorf. And now, four years later, I have a gym that I really enjoy! The minute I walked in, I was very impressed. I was given a warm and friendly greeting and a tour right away. The facility is fairly new and very well equipped with state-of-the-art workout machines. It’s four stories high with everything from a beauty salon to a video rental place. It’s an entire experience, just going to the gym. Now I understand why Germans spend hours on end in their fitness centers!

What I especially like about it is the “easy training” section, which is specially designed for people who have long, noisy, stressful work days but still want to enjoy a good workout at the end of the day. It’s a “gym within a gym,” equipped with almost all the same machines but in a much smaller, quieter, and more relaxing atmosphere without all the noise of many people working out or the jarring clang of weights dropping. Each machine also has its own mini-TV to plug into for those who like to watch the news or their favorite television program while working out.

There is also a sauna, solarium, private showers, a women’s sauna, yoga, one-on-one training, an array of courses, and they even have fun ways to keep you motivated. Plus it’s a place where people actually go to work out and not one of those “see and be seen” kinds of gyms. The price of joining varies depending on what kind of contract you want; the most basic starts at EUR 56 a month.

So even though Hamburg has lots of fun summer outdoor activities (some of which one finds in Florida), I still enjoy going to my gym, come rain or shine – it’s my treat to myself. For more information, see www.fitcom.de.