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BUFFALO - Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier, gifted centers who are expected to be the first two picks in the NHL draft, were fairly even during Saturday's fitness testing at the scouting combine.

In other words, if New Jersey was looking for a reason to make one of the players the No. 1 overall pick based on the fitness results, well, it didn't happen.

The Devils will select No. 1 in the first round June 23 in Chicago, while the Flyers will pick No. 2. The Flyers had a little over a 2 percent chance to get as high as they did in the draft lottery.

It is still considered a coin flip as to which player goes No. 1.

"They're this close," said Craig Button, the draft expert from TSN in Canada, as he held his thumb and index finger an inch apart.

Dan Marr, director of the NHL's Central Scouting, said Patrick and Hischier won't be generational players like Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews.

"But they'll be solid franchise players for their clubs once they get established," he said at the combine.

On the ice, Patrick and Hischier are head and shoulders above the other draft prospects, scouts say. But they tested in the middle of the pack in several of the fitness events.

Patrick (6-foot-2, 198 pounds) was stronger than the 6-1, 178-pound Hischier in the bench-press (12 reps to 7), but Hischier had the edge in the standing long jump (105.75 inches to 99.75 inches), showing he has explosive legs - a key to a player's success.

"I was really happy about my testing," said Hischier, who, like Patrick, will attend the Stanley Cup Final on Monday in Nashville. "I don't have to prove anything here, but I just did what I can and I'm happy with it."

Patrick said he didn't view the combine, which had 103 players in the fitness portion, as a competition between himself and Hischier. But he did admit to looking at the scoreboard before one event.

"It's tough when you're about to do chin-ups and you see he's atop the leader board, and I [said], 'I've got to put some up here,' "he said. "But you know, I'm not competing against him. He's a great guy and I see he did good in the testing and I'm happy for him."

Hischier, who said Pavel Datsyuk is his role model, did 13 chin-ups, two more than Patrick.

The most grueling part of the fitness testing occurs at the end of the circuit, when the prospects ride a stationary grade-spin bike. They pedal at low resistance for two minutes. To start the test, the athlete pedals at a progressively quicker cadence so that by the time the designated workload has been reached, he is pedaling at his maximum capacity.

The athlete pedals at maximum capacity against the designated workload for 30 seconds.

"I was terrible. I was pretty zonked after that and my breakfast didn't stay down," Patrick said after competing in something called the Wingate cycle ergometer test, which measures a player's explosiveness. "So it was a tough one for sure. . . . It was tough for everyone. No matter how hard you train for that, everybody was gassed and leaving it all out there."

Patrick said he had no ill effects from a sports hernia, which caused him to miss time this season in the Western Hockey League. He doesn't believe he needs more surgery.

Next week, Patrick said, he will travel to Philadelphia and Newark to be examined by the Flyers and Devils doctors. "They just want to make sure I'm healthy," said Patrick, who has been in contact recently with Ivan Provorov and Brayden Schenn, two of his friends who play for the Flyers.

As for the combine testing, scouts say it tells only a small portion of a player's ability. Two years ago, Jack Eichel outscored McDavid in most of the fitness categories.

McDavid, of course, went No. 1 in the draft to Edmonton and has blossomed into a young superstar.

Some have referred to Hischier as the "Swiss Connor McDavid."

"I think it's too much," Hischier said with a smile. "I don't think you can compare [me] to Connor McDavid; he's on another level. He's better than any other player, and it's really like high expectations. I don't like when they call me that."

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull

http://www.philly.com/flyersblog

Flyers hoping to strike gold in draft beyond first round, too Jun 2 - 5:23 PM

Hischier or Patrick? Flyers hope to feast on 'leftover' Jun 3 - 3:13 PM

Vegas GM is high on Flyers' goalie Michal Neuvirth Jun 3 - 5:55 PM

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Published: June 3, 2017 3:01 AM EDT | Updated: June 3, 2017 4:22 PM EDT

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Originally posted here:
Hischier and Patrick also close in fitness testing - Philly.com

EDWARDSVILLE - Blue Wave Martial Arts and Fitness in Edwardsville along with instructor Donna Bartley are offering an innovative, new kids yoga class this summer.

The yoga classes are designed for kids ages 5-10 at Blue Wave Martial Arts and Fitness. The class runs six weeks with dates of June 17, June 24, July 8, July 15, July 22 and July 29.

The cost is $75 per child for all the classes, and the parents are allowed to participate as well. The classes run 45 minutes and begin at 11 a.m. on the scheduled Saturdays. If the class is successful, Blue Wave Martial Arts and Fitness will continue to offer them. Bartley feels that yoga at this young age is beneficial especially for kids with anxiety, ADHD, and those on the autism spectrum.

We want to introduce the kids to yoga at a young age, Bartley said. Yoga at a young age teaches the kids so much more than yoga. It teaches them about breathing and we work on other principles such as sharing and being compassionate. It will be a fun class and we will have a lot of fun doing it.

Bartley said she learns from the children when she teaches them and they are like little sponges.

It is not the typical yoga class, it is a little more active with some singing and games and different ways to teach them yoga techniques, she said.

Bartley said she loves teaching yoga at Blue Wave Martial Arts and Fitness and the atmosphere there. She said she works with all kinds of people in her yoga classes. She also instructs free yoga classes on Saturdays at LeClaire Park during the summer until Labor Day weekend.

Bartley has taken several hours of training and completed a course for the process.

I went through the teacher training process for a year to get certified, she said, and adds that spaces are limited, so it is recommended to sign up soon.

For more information, call (618) 692-5223, or check out http://bluewavestrong.com/

If you have a news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebookandon Twitter.

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Innovative new kids yoga class now offered at Blue Wave Fitness, helps with relaxation - RiverBender.com

WILTON By the end of 2016, Devon Frechette had hit a wall. She was working 14-hour days six days a week at her familys snowmobile dealership, sometimes more. During the day she juggled looking after her toddler, one-and-a-half-year-old Paisley, and running a business with only one full-time employee besides Frechette and her husband, Scott. After work shed go home, cook, clean and try to be there for her two teenage stepdaughters.

When it got to the point that Frechette, 25, dreaded waking up each morning and spent her days counting down the hours until she could get back to bed, she knew something had to change.

I wanted to hit pause on my crazy life, and I didnt have that avenue. I didnt have that outlet, Frechette recalled in an interview Friday. When you own your own business, there is no clocking out or clocking in. Its 24/7. Even when you get home at night, its not really like you get to relax. Its whats always on your mind.

So Frechette turned to a longtime love and source of comfort: exercise and fitness. An avid athlete most of her life, Frechette had played field hockey, basketball and softball in school and went on to coach high school basketball and softball. After graduating from college and getting married, however, sports fell by the wayside. So did the gymnasium.

So in November, Frechette decided to start a group on Facebook called 17 by 2017 and invite 10 or so friends to form their own health and fitness goals for the last 34 days of 2016. The group would be a place of support and accountability. It would be a short-term source of inspiration for Frechette as she worked to regain control over her own health.

But then something unexpected happened. The group took off. Within 72 hours it ballooned from a handful of members to 150. Today the group, now known as Maine Made Wellness, has over 1,800 members.

Despite its growing size and stature, Maine Made Wellness still feels like an intimate group of girlfriends cheering one another on and picking each other up when they stumble. Members write in with post-workout selfies and meal plan victories. They trade product recommendations and reviews, workout regimens and inspirational mantras. When group members post about the guilt they feel for falling off the fitness wagon, others chime in with messages of compassion, empathy and support.

Initially, Frechette said, she had no intention of keeping the group going past the end of the year; but after suffering a back injury that landed her in the hospital only two weeks into her 17 to 2017 challenge, she noticed something remarkable happen. She had been forced off social media during her days in the hospital and was facing weeks of inactivity as she recovered. When she returned to the group, she found it had become a self-sustaining entity with women turning to one another for help and support as they worked toward better, healthier lives.

Even though I was absent, those girls that were in that group were still utilizing it, Frechette said. They were still feeding off each other. They were still encouraging each other, and thats when I realized this group cant end in 2017.

Frechette thinks in reaching out for support in her own life she tapped into a larger need. Like her, other women were struggling with their attempts to create more balanced lives. Like her, they looked at social media images of seemingly perfect female bodies, models and athletes in bathing suits and wondered, Why dont I look like them?

It was only after trying to train for a fitness bikini contest that Frechette realized the images she had been seeing on social media werent real. They were altered, filtered, shot by professionals and often featured athletes who underwent grueling training regimens every day to achieve that moment of peak physical fitness. It was a standard that simply didnt make sense for a young mother with life responsibilities pulling her in a million directions.

It was a realization that resonated with many of the women in the Maine Made Wellness group. Chelsea McGraw, 24, of Auburn, said she also got discouraged with the imagery she saw online. A three-season athlete in high school, McGraw said she stopped playing sports in college. With six classes and two jobs to balance, she stopped paying as much attention to her health. Two years later, she was struggling with the person she saw in the mirror when she found Frechette and the group. What she saw made her feel that she wasnt alone.

In todays day and age there are so many filters and tricks, and you can really make yourself look like you have this perfect life and youre happy all the time, McGraw said. It sounds terrible, but its nice to see other people are struggling with the same things that I am.

Two months after joining the group, McGraw said she and her fiance have undergone a transformation. They have a well-established routine now, coming home and hitting the gymnasium five nights a week. Theyve cleared their shelves of cookies and started meal planning. Most importantly, shes gained a lot more confidence.

McGraw credits Frechette and the group with teaching her a healthier approach to fitness. Its not just about losing weight, but feeling better.

Its just become so easy for me now because of all the resources that we have, McGraw said. Ive always been a super-self-conscious person, and seeing women coming together and instead of attacking each other encouraging each other all the time, its just an overwhelming and amazing feeling.

The Maine Made Wellness group is governed by only a few rules: keep posts positive, private and judgment-free. It is a safe space where people can share their wellness goals, concerns, progress and setbacks. Even though the group is set to private, Frechette said its open to all comers. Those who wish to can simply request to join and Frechette will give them access.

The group now boasts members around the country with some hailing from Louisiana, Indiana, Texas and Ohio. It has even gone international, making its way north to Canada. Some gentlemen have joined the ranks as well, posting their own progress photos and garnering cheers and words of encouragement from other members.

Frechette encourages those just starting their own fitness journeys to start by reflecting on where they feel they need help. Whether they wish to learn about nutrition and meal planning or exercise routines, Frechette said, she wants people to see the group as a resource as they set about educating themselves on their best paths to healthier living.

Dont be afraid to ask questions, Frechette said. None of us are professionals. Weve all learned from experience, but together we can learn together and grow and share what weve learned from one another.

Kate McCormick 861-9218

[emailprotected]

Twitter: @KateRMcCormick

Continued here:
Wilton-based fitness group explodes online as people join together in journeys to better health - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Fitness 19 Location * Arroyo Grande Bakersfield Baldwin Park Bellflower Brea Buena Park Camarillo Campbell Chatsworth Chino Citrus Heights Concord Corona Covina Daly City Danville Fair Oaks Folsom Fontana Gardena Hayward Hemet Hesperia Highland Huntington Beach Livermore Long Beach Maywood Menifee Milpitas Mira Loma Mission Viejo Moreno Valley Moreno Valley II Murrieta Murrieta II Newbury Park Oceanside Orange Oxnard Pleasanton Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga II Redding Redlands Rialto Riverside San Clemente San Jose II San Mateo San Ramon Sunnyvale Sylmar Temecula Victorville Walnut Creek Wildomar Yucaipa Aurora Loveland Thornton Westminster Lawrenceville Lilburn Marietta Algonquin Arlington Heights Buffalo Grove Chicago-Lakeview/Lincoln Park Louisville II - Lime Kiln Lane Louisville-Blankenbaker Pkwy Elkridge Parkville Clinton Township Eastpointe Farmington Grand Rapids Jenison Rochester Hills Royal Oak West Bloomfield Eagan Eden Prairie Lakeville Cary Raleigh Elmwood Park Rivervale South Plainfield Henderson Las Vegas Buffalo Depew Lindenhurst Malverne, NY North Tonawanda West Seneca Williamsville Cleveland Dublin Fairlawn Parma Toledo Westerville Wickliffe Edmond Oklahoma City (Casady Square) Elkins Park Pittsburgh (Greentree/Scott Twp.) Pittsburgh (North Hills) Pittsburgh (South Hills) Secane West Mifflin Greenville Cypress Houston Katy San Antonio II Chesapeake Edgewood/Milton Federal Way Graham Maple Valley Mountlake Terrace Seattle/Ballard Yakima

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Guest passes can only be used once in a six month time period. Limit one per person. First time guests only. Must be local resident. No other discounts can be used with this offer. Must be 18 years old or 12 years old with a parent. Personal Training and Kids Club services available for an additional fee. Valid photo I.D. REQUIRED at check in. See club for complete details. Must redeem at a Fitness 19 location within fifteen days.

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California Fitness Center Locations | Fitness 19

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June 02, 2017 -A new study from Stanford Medicine finds that fitness wearables can measure heart rate with 95 percent accuracy, but fail to accurately count calories burned. Devices produced error rates between 23 percent and 93 percent, indicating that the wearables may not be very useful for making decisions about diet and exercise.

The research team devised the study to explore the reliability of popular wearables when measuring important health data such as heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE), a term synonymous with calories burned.

More and more people rely on their fitness wearables to educate them on their health and assist in their health-centered decisions. If devices continue to deliver poor data, patients may be misled when relying on their wearables to make self-care choices.

People are basing life decisions on the data provided by these devices, said Euan Ashley, DPhil, and professor of cardiovascular medicine, of genetics and biomedical data science at Stanford. But consumer devices arent held to the same standards as medical-grade devices, and its hard for doctors to know what to make of heart-rate data and other data from a patients wearable device, he said.

In order to measure the accuracy of fitness wearables, the team provided a diverse user population with seven different models of devices. These devices included popular items such as the Apple Watch, Basis Peak, Fitbit Surge, Microsoft Band, Mio Alpha 2, PulseOn and the Samsung Gear S2.

Users then were assigned various physical tasks including walking, cycling, sitting, and standing. At the same time, the participants were measured with a medical-grade electrocardiograph (ECG) to see how the wearables stacked up to clinically accurate data.

The lowest error in measuring HR was observed for the cycling task at rates of 1.8 percent while the highest error was observed for the walking task at 5.5 percent. Of the seven devices in regards to any physical activity, the Apple Watch achieved the lowest error in HR at 2 percent while the Samsung Gear S2 had the highest HR error with 6.8 percent error.

For EE, the lowest relative error rates across all devices were achieved for the walking (31.8 percent error) and running (31 percent error) tasks. The highest error rates when recording EE occurred during the sitting tasks with 52.4 percent error. Median error rates across tasks varied from the 27.4 percent mark for the Fitbit Surge to 92.6 percent for the PulseOn.

The heart rate measurements performed far better than we expected,but the energy expenditure measures were way off the mark, Ashley said. The magnitude of just how bad they were surprised me.

Following the completion of their study, Ashley and his team created an online forum where other users can share their fitness wearable data, and look through the data gathered in the study.

The next step for the researchers will involve a similar study, where individuals will generate wearable data during their daily routines outside of a clinical lab. By doing so, the team hopes that they can further inform the public on the reliability of fitness wearables.

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Fitness Wearables Fail to Accurately Count Calories Burned - mHealthIntelligence.com

PARKERSBURG, W.Va.-(WTAP) Five individuals who saved a man's life earlier this year were all honored Friday at a local fitness center.

Two employees and three customers of Planet Fitness in Gihon Plaza saved the life of Neil Hickey, after Hickey suffered a seizure.

Hickey joined Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce, Fire Chief Jason Matthew, and the fitness center's manager in honoring them with the American Heart Association's "Heart Saver" award.

Hickey recalled for us what happened that day.

"I remember coming to an area across from us, sitting down on a chair, and that's the last thing I remember. They showed me the video of it afterwards, and I'm (leaning to one side) as I'm falling out of the chair."

"The employees called 911 and got the fire department and the ambulance on the way," said Pvt. Jody Ludwig, an EMT for the fire department. "The bystanders were able to administer CPR and get the AED ready, and made our job and life a lot easier."

Hickey went through several months of therapy, but we're happy to report he's back on his normal exercise routine.

See the article here:
Planet Fitness workers, customers honored for saving man's life - The News Center

Stacey LeeStacey Lee/Instagram

As a psychologist, Stacey Lee understands the impact social media images can have on a persons self-worth.

One of the recurrent themes I treat in my profession is body image and its effect on self-esteem, the Melbourne-based fitness influencer posted on Instagram on Monday. Self-esteem is defined as confidence in ones own worth. However, when that worth is tied to an image, a number on a scale, the size of clothes, the smoothness of skin, the smallness of a waist, the bigness of a butt, the definition on your abs or the gap between your thighs, your worth will never be measured correctly.

Lee says using those factors to define our self-worth is especially damaging when we hold ourselves to the unrealistic ideals set by images that have been photoshopped.

We are shown images every day which are not realistic even the small changes to photos or advertisements make a difference, she says. They send subconscious messages saying that you arent enough, and never will be.

RELATED VIDEO:Ashley Benson And Four Other Celebs Who Have Called Out Photoshop

Lee decided to decrease her exposure to manipulated images by unfollowing certain social media accounts.

As soon as I stopped following accounts that used photoshop, professional images, constant filters and altered their images, my self-esteem improved, she said. Being able to see real women share their real bodies [] gave me the confidence to work for my realistic goals, and to measure my progress on a REAL measuring stick.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP? Psych Stace signing in One of the recurrent themes I treat in my profession is body image and its effect on self esteem. Self esteem is defined as confidence in ones own worth. However when that worth is tied to an image, a number on a scale, the size of clothes, the smoothness of skin, the smallness of a waist, the bigness of a butt, the definition on your abs, or the gap between your thighs, your worth will never me measured correctly. One of the reasons behind this is that the measuring stick we use, is based on lies, manipulations and imagined ideals. We are primed to believe a certain standard of 'beauty' is the goal. We are shown images every day which are not realistic, even the small changes to photos or advertisements make a difference. They send subconscious messages saying that you aren't enough, and never will be. As soon as I stopped following accounts that used photoshop, professional images (regularly that is, shit photo shoots are fun I won't knock you for that), constant filters, and altered their images, my self esteem improved. Being able to see real women share their real bodies, which still look incredible! Gave me the confidence to work for my realistic goals, and to measure my progress on a REAL measuring stick. This image was not created to say I don't like how I look in the real photo, it's to say the opposite actually. I love the work I've put in to look like the photo on the left. The point of this image is to show that when something that is already 'good' is altered to be 'better', it teaches people that your 'real' isn't good enough. I don't want to ever perpetuate or encourage that twisted notion. So I post these photos to combat that idea and to raise awareness of the damage it can have. So, what measuring stick are you using? Psych Stace signing out #trollstrollsgoawaycomeagainwhenyouhavesomethingnicetosay #keepitreal #psychstace #realityvsphotoshop #dedicated #bodytransformation #transformationtuesday #strongnotskinny #bbg #bodygoals #fitness #inspo #kaylaitsines #progressnotperfection #muscle #training #girlswholift #wellness #psychology

A post shared by Stacey Lee (@psychandsquats) on May 29, 2017 at 2:08pm PDT

To illustrate her point about subtle manipulations to photos, Lee showed how minor edits can make a big difference in the way a persons body looks.

The point of this image is to show that when something that is already good is altered to be better, it teaches people that your real isnt good enough, she said. I dont want to ever perpetuate or encourage that twisted notion. So I post these photos to combat that idea and to raise awareness of the damage it can have.

Read the original:
Fitness Blogger and Psychologist Explains Why She Stopped Following People Who Use Photoshop on Social Media - PEOPLE.com

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WPF has crappy facilities. Every time it rains, the ceilings leak, there's not enough room so you're constantly bumping into people or having to navigate tight spaces, and it's overheated. So why four stars? Jaime, Matine, Terri, and Fotini. They lead fantastic classes. Fotini does yoga sculpt Tuesday mornings at 9 AM. It is not light, girly yoga. You're planking until your arms feel like they're going to fall off. You're squatting and lunging until your glutes could trigger a fire alarm. She also throws in mountain climbers, pushups, burpees, bicycle crunches, high knees, jumping jacks, and tricep dips, all while incorporating Vinyasa yoga. The first 20 minutes in her class feel like 50 it's so hard, but it's the best way to start off the morning. I wish she taught yoga sculpt more often. Matine's 10 AM Sunday bootcamp makes me feel like vomiting. You start off by running on the treadmill for 7 to 8 minutes. Then, you do 10 exercises of about a minute each for four or five rounds: burpees, kettlebell swings, medicine ball slams (lots and lots of them), Romanian deadlifts, lunges, plank rows, battle ropes, you name it. I always feel great during this class because Matine does a good job of keeping it high energy and fun no matter how much I want to collapse. Terri, who instructs the Thursday 10 AM bootcamp, looks like Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She is very cute and little. Guys probably think she's a fairy princess come to life. Do not fooled by appearances; she is a taskmaster. Every part of you will burn in this class. She likes using resistance bands a lot and she likes doing several rounds of exercises with them--in between rounds, you run full speed on the treadmill for 2 minutes no matter if your legs feel like jelly from all those squat shoulder presses she had you do. But thanks to her, I can go from 8.5 to 10.0 on the treadmill for sprints. Lastly, Jaime. I call him Tiny Dancer (because he's actually a professional dancer). Tiny Dancer is a little sadist. Tiny Dancer is my favorite instructor at WPF. His classes are always packed because no one will have you sweat more. The gym should expand just to accommodate the demand for his classes alone. Twenty minutes with Jaime has me sweating more than running 10 miles. No joke. Dudes don't often take his Wednesday evening Bangin' Body class because they see mostly chicks working out to Beyonc, Backstreet Boys, and R. Kelly. I get it. They'd rather bench press and be among men staring stonily at the wall, not in the girls' class with club hits blaring. But occasionally, I'll see a dude (a fit one, mind you) come in all confident, thinking the class will be a cakewalk. In the middle of the workout, same dude will be grunting and groaning with a shocked look on his face because he has received a rude awakening from Tiny Dancer. Dancers, you see, practice for hours and can tolerate insane amounts of pain doing the same movements over and over again. They use every muscle in their bodies. That's why they make excellent trainers. One time, Jaime had us do 100 squats, 100 lunges, 100 pushups, 100 shoulder presses, 100 chest flys, 100 tricep dips, and God knows a hundred of what else in A SINGLE CLASS. He's a great fan of jump squats, jump lunges, dive bombers, side planks, and anything else that will create a pit of dread in your stomach. Some exercises are so hard I laugh or shake my head as he demonstrates them, but I try them anyway. Tiny Dancer's classes are so goddamn hard and agonizing, but they're so effective. You feel a real sense of accomplishment when you finish. During nights when my ambition exceeds my good sense, I take his abs class after Bangin' Body. At least you're on the floor the whole time, thank God. Jaime also offers two Saturday morning bootcamps. The 11 AM class is crazy packed to the point where you nearly kick someone. The 9 AM class is slightly less jammed. Either way, after one class, my butt was sore until Friday--that's the kind of pain Tiny Dancer inflicts and that's why I keep coming back. Dudes, I dare you to take Tiny Dancer's classes. Your asses will be handed to you. WPF, stop having Jaime go to the lame Southport branch. Keep him in WP where he belongs.

Good luck trying to get a refund after you move. They will just make up rules about freezing your account and how that counts against your balance even when you just renewed your membership and had months left on it. They will simply add up all the time they froze it since you ever started, regardless if you just paid, and tell you that "you get nothing". Not to mention that they don't have good showers or enough equipment during peak times. Be careful with these folks, they are friendly until you actually need something from them.

It's a great neighborhood gym with a variety of machines and weights. I usually just stick to the squat rack for most of my workout. The times I go usually aren't busy so that's a plus! I enjoy taking classes, too, and from the ones I've taken they are pretty kick ass. I just took Monday night yoga and it was great! They should add more classes. I'd like to see more variety. The people at the desk are really sweet, too!

This is my first and last year as a member. I wish I had opted for the monthly option so I could have cancelled it sooner. What I find most troubling is how little attention is payed to maintenence and daily dealings. Paper towels are not refilled, antibacterial spray is frequently unavailable, treadmills are not serviced frequently, etc. What i found most frustrating is how the staff sitting at the front desk simply let any non memberwalk in. A homeless youth was disturbing patrons workouts and no effort was made to redirect him!! I really wish I had looked into all of these small things before signing up for my membership here. I will not be returning next year.

Great staff and I really like this gym. The thing I just hate is that people here do not clean their machines off. Sometimes during a 30 minute period I will see typically around 3 people not wiping down their machines. This happens a couple times EVERY NIGHT. Not cool. So gross. I get it, you worked hard, you sweat all over, you are so tired you can't do anything else. Well. Do one more thing. Wipe off your machine cause you are disgusting! And if you leave a Lake Michigan sized pool of sweat on the bike seat that is just totally disgusting for the next person so be decent & WIPE. Even if you just get on it for 5-10 minutes. I think quite a few people go to the gym to look good so remember - you look anything but attractive when you are being a gross freak. Anyway, I love working out here but I always clean my machine before I hop on because I know what has been there before me.

I hate to even review WPF because I would hate for more people to come and take my treadmill or stair master spot! But I'm all about sharing is caring so I decided to stop being selfish and tell you how amazing WPF is. I found WPF 2 years ago when I was doing the whole long distance thing with my bf. I was on a fitness kick and couldn't think of missing 4 days of working out while visiting. I also didn't know what to do since I didn't want to pay for a full fledged membership somewhere when I was only going to be coming a few days once a month. I contacted them through their website and heard back from Ted Risk. They were able to get me a deal and allowed me to keep on top of my workout goals. Fast forward 2 years and here I am living in Chicago in Wicker Park and desperate to get that fitness thing going again. There was no doubt in my mind that once I got my motivation to join a gym, it wouldn't be anywhere else except for WPF. I have been going almost everyday and I have yet to have to wait for a machine. Granted, I do have a little bit different hours as I work in retail, but even by 6:30 it's been no problem to get my workout in. I can't wait to try out the classes and possibly a couple personal trainer sessions- I always see their trainers working with clients and it seems like a great way to change up my workout a bit. Keep up the great work!!

Love this gym, but love leaving it even more! I have been working out at WPF for 1.5 years now and I continue to go even though I now live a 20-minute walk away in Ukrainian Village. I usually hate working out and I only do it to stay fit and refreshed (and let's be real, so I can eat more), but this is as good as it gets for someone who doesn't live for the gym life and wants to get in and out as soon as possible. Don't get me wrong though, I definitely get a good and invigorating workout here. Much better than I could get running around my block. The machines are great and individual TVs always work. I shopped around a lot in the Wicker Park vicinity for a well-located, affordable gym, and I am still confident I made the best choice. Yes, it's tiny, but I've noticed everyone is incredibly accommodating considering we all experience at one point or another a crowded gym floor when all you want to do is get those 100 crunches in to finish off a workout and GTFO. People slide over for you and are super careful not to injure anyone with a flying weight or limb. It's only bad Monday-Thursday after work though. You come in on a weekday afternoon and a whole row of treadmills will be all yours. A few more plusses: locker rooms and showers are always clean (I noticed not many people shower here, but whenever I do, I never feel the least bit grossed out), employees are kind and non-meathead-ish/they don't judge you for dropping by 1-2 times a week at best, the late hours are great, and the class schedule is accommodating. Classes are reliably intense, but that's a good thing. I only wish they had spinning classes. All in all, great place, cozy space, perfect bang for your buck. And the best part is, no monthly payments! I absolutely love having my gym bills paid for the next year. And now that I've delayed going to the gym long enough by writing this, I'm off to WPF!

I'm super glad I joined Wicker Park Fitness. As an ex-XSport member, I was looking for a smaller, less meathead, and friendlier gym to join when I moved from Lakeview to West Town. Sure, the 24/7 availability of XSport was always convenient, but it just wasn't worth not looking forward to gymming it on a daily basis. (See my previous review about XSport...and the other 281239932.) Back to WPF: as other reviewers have stated, it's small (and therefore doesn't have a lot of room for a ton of equipment) and the place gets pretty packed during peak hours (what gym doesn't, though?)--those are the only drawbacks I see, which are minor for me. The staff is extremely friendly and not at all salesy, I actually have never waited to use a cardio machine (I think their current treadmill count is either 8 or 10, same for ellipticals, and 2 stairmasters), their studio is perfect for ab work and cool-down stretching when there's not a class going on, the locker room is always clean, and the price...just, the price. I can't vouch for the group fitness options, since I have yet to attend a class, but the schedule looks varied and fun. Extra perks: when you sign on with WPF, you can also visit Southport Fitness (a little bigger than WPF) and Logan Square Fitness (haven't yet been); treadmills are in front of large windows that are perfect for people watching (make your workout go by really quickly, depending on the volume of pedestrians), and I have yet to encounter a meathead situation.

I joined WPF at the new year, and overall I think it's completely adequate for general workouts. Plenty of cardio equipment (I hear it gets crowded, but I'm a weekday-morning goer), all of the requisite weight machines, and just enough space to cram in some free weight benches. Unfortunately, as others have said, this gym is far too small. There is just enough space to fit everything in, but you will feel the coziness. I've noticed there is an open storefront next to them now, I would hope that the owners look into expanding into it. The price cannot be beat - I joined up for 10 months at $30 a month; in my opinion that is fantastic! There is a cooler with sports drinks and water, as well as some protein bars for sale. I believe bottles of water are $1.00, everything else is between $3.00-5.00. I do have a couple requests/complaints: - Whenever there are more than 3 or 4 people using the cardio equipment, the entire gym turns into a sauna. This is completely unacceptable - you would think that with a space this small, it would not be cost prohibitive to adequately ventilate... - Both the hand- and body towels are made of some sort of cotton-sandpaper hybrid. Also, unless your waist is about 28 inches, the body towels are too small to actually cover you up in the locker room. Also - an afterthought: I'm not an apple guy, but I noticed other reviews praising the "apples on the counter daily". I've been here almost daily since the beginning of January, and I haven't seen any apples yet; this practice may have been discontinued.

Very small and too crowded, wish it was 24 hours. I don't like going to gyms that are too crowded or have limits on cardio machines (30 minutes limit during peak hours). Other than that they do have good customer service but wish the gym was larger.

I've been a member of Wicker Park Fitness since 2013 and work out there several times a week, so here are some observations: First, the positives: WPF is an incredibly affordable gym that has just about everything you could want or need. Seriously, I researched and toured some of the other options in the area, and everything else was literally twice as expensive. This gym has wall-to-wall machines and free weights and wall-to-wall mirrors, which is nice so you can easily watch your form and make sure you're not in anyone's way. The staff is very friendly, and the clientele is much like the neighborhood: mostly 20s and 30s. I haven't seen a whole lot of mingling among gym-goers, but I've never seen any issues, either. Everyone pretty much keeps to themselves and is fairly considerate of one another. So I'd say the DQ (douche quotient) is fairly low, if that matters to you. The downsides? The gym is relatively small, so if you're someone who can only work out on weekdays after work, you'll need to be patient and get a little creative in terms of getting your workout in. My schedule allows me to go in the mid-afternoon a lot, but I've been there a few times in the early evening, and that's when a simple trip to the water fountain requires walking through a maze of humanity. If you're incredibly shy or afraid of people, this could be an issue for you. As far as cleanliness goes, this gym gets top marks. Almost every time I go, there's at least one staff member wiping or mopping down something, usually for hours on end. I will say that I've been turned off by one male trainer who never washes his hands after using the restroom, but that's also just the way of the world. Most guys don't wash their hands after using the restroom, ladies (gross, but true). In my opinion, if you're going to be touching clients as you show them proper form and technique, you should be washing your hands after taking a crap, especially during flu season. But like I said, I think the gym overall is extremely clean, and I'm someone who washes my hands several times during a workout anyway. Overall, WPF is a nice, clean, friendly neighborhood gym. I'd recommend it - especially for the price - and will continue to be a member as long as I live in the area.

Pros: Friendly staff, super clean place for a very affordable price. Clean towels, clean locker rooms, state of the art equipment. Cons: SO SMALL!!! Unless you're okay with doing abs in small corners, tripping over other members, this isn't the right place for you. Their weekend hours aren't the greatest either, I wish they could stay open late every day! Sometimes I can't get a full workout because there aren't enough machines available.

I signed up due to the variety of classes that they offered. I have attended quite a few classes and was not a big fan only because the class size was so small (3 people on average). Joanna, one of their class teachers was great and seemed to pay attention to bracing and injury prevention. The yoga teacher was not that great, she kept on yelling out pose names and having tried yoga once before the class left me confused.

Honestly- I haven't even been to the gym yet- yeah, true story, but hear me out, Yelp. I was on the fence about 1- rejoining a gym in general and 2- joining WPF due to the size. I had the normal concerns- will there be enough space? is it going to be too packed? etc. etc.- I sent an email inquiry, half expecting to either not hear back at all, or hear back in a few days with a super generic response. To my surprise, however, not only did i hear back like ASAP, I got a message with detailed information and you could tell it was actually sent by a human! That human was Ted Risk. Ted was so helpful, answered all of my questions and even extended to me a deal that had just expired over the weekend. So- while I'm hoping for the best with the actual GOING to the club (according to the reviews however, I think I'll be OK!), Ted was fantastic to work with- got me all set up super quickly and even made me laugh. 🙂 (Stay Gold, Ted) Now I have to get myself out the door and actually work out *gasp*- I wonder if Ted can help me with that too? Thanks so much for the friendly customer service!

They're getting a sister gym in Logan square! So excited about this. Love this gym. Everything I need.

This is a good no frills gym. The machines are all in good working order & they have everything I need for a complete workout. The front desk people are friendly and not pretentious, which is something I really appreciate in a gym. They have done a good job of keeping the floors pretty clean- even with all the snow, slush and salt constantly being tracked in. Two complaints: 1) People (fellow gym goers) don't seem to be too diligent about wiping things down- mostly in the weight area and the mats where people do abs. Perhaps an extra bottle of cleaner and some paper towels in the classroom would be a good way to prompt people to wipe their sweat off the foam mats. 2) There is no sauna. I knew that when I signed up but now it's freezing and I want a sauna. All in all, I am very happy here and glad I chose WPF.

I've been a member of this gym since January. And it's pretty awesome. 1.) Price in this area CANNOT BE BEAT. 2.) I'm usually a morning gym girl, and the group ex class offered at 6:00AM (Bosu Body Blast) taught by Jaime is seriously THE BEST. He's totally a can of butt-whuppin and will make you look awesome in six weeks. He's amazing. 3.) It's true, the facility is spare, But if you're a poor 20-something like me, then who cares? I don't need a spa or a pool. I need a treadmill (these one's even have TVs on them and you can hook up your iPod), some free weights, and a few machines. 4.) Don't Go between 5:00 and 8:00 PM. It gets crazy, because everyone gets off of work and heads to the gym and you'll have to wait to use anything. It's obnoxious, but understandable. This is a super young area, and my peers don't tend to be early birds like me. BOTTOM LINE: If you're an early-bird fitness nut on a budget, sign up. And come see Jaime Monday/Wednesday at 6:00 AM. I'll be the red head in the back of the class, sweating my butt off and trying to breathe.

I've been going to WPF for about 3 years (off and on). I won't give it a 5 because it's obviously more of a "bare bones" type gym. However, they have all the machines I need and they offer classes which I really should try more often. The staff is absolutely awesome. I forget hair ties a lot and they always have a supply for me...maybe that's standard at gyms? I'm not sure, but it makes me feel special so don't tell me if it is! If you want a gym that gives you the most bang for your buck- definitely try it out. You won't have a swimming pool, steam room, or a state of the art locker room...but whatever. It's like $30-ish a month when you break it down, so I really don't care. Plus, they always have a fresh supply of free apples! Give 'em a shot 😀

Been going here for almost a year now. As many of the reviews state, it's small. There is only one power rack, so if you're a lifter you may need to readjust your lifting schedule if you squat and deadlift a lot. Things get especially tight when there is a class going on and everyone who wants to stretch and do abs gets pushed to the front, or when a trainer decides to set up CrossFit stations for their clients, but it's not that big a deal. That said, it's still one of the best gyms in the city. The equipment is always working, the gym is always clean, and the staff are always great. Most importantly, the rates are without question the best in the city. I renewed at the discounted rate up front, and on average I paid about $27 a month. It's a very laid back place, they even don't mind if you use chalk as long as you don't throw it all over the place. The hours are also unbeatable, the fact that they are open until midnight means I can wait out rush hour if I can't get there during the day. And the later weekend hours mean I don't have to adjust my day to get to the gym before it closes. So yes, it's small, but the tradeoffs regarding the staff, maintenance, rates, and hours make it well worth it.

Joined this gym a few months ago and I'm really enjoying it here. It is one of the cheapest memberships in the area, includes fitness classes, and the staff is very friendly and supportive. However.... The workout room doesn't seem very clean... I have never seen the yoga mats wiped down or the sweaty-guy-next-to-me's sweat get wiped up off the floor. It sort of smells in there and the space is very tiny. But considering I shower after working out anyways, its something I guess I will put up with considering the value in membership and its right next door. (Also, I wish there were morning classes offered Thursdays and Fridays.) Free apples!

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Wicker Park Fitness - 17 Photos & 88 Reviews - Trainers ...

Shannon Gallagher The Enterprise SGallagher_ENT

EAST BRIDGEWATER After 12 weeks of ups and downs, working together to overcome cancer, the six Livestrong program participants came together for a final class session on Tuesday, May 23 to celebrate their accomplishments.

Theres been a lot of progress in the group, fitness instructor Helen Byrne said. This group really clicked so well.

The participants all said they couldnt agree more with Brynes assessment.

Leslie Palmer, a cancer survivor from Bridgewater, thought back to where she was just a few months ago, her voice wavering with emotion.

When I was sitting on my couch in the middle of chemo, I never thought Id be here, Palmer said. Its amazing, its been really such a gift.

Palmer and the other participants say theyve grown over the past three months.

Were really bonded so well, Marian Flammio of Rockland said. I think we feel better about ourselves.

The group has already made plans to stay in touch and continue meeting for fitness classes at the YMCA together.

The program instructors said they were impressed with how far the group has progressed over the past weeks.

Its really great to see from an instructors point of view, to see the progress, fitness instructor Courtney Sullivan said. Looking back to week one, Marion had trouble in the beginning getting up and down from the floor. And this week: She got up, she got down no problem.

Its moments like that that make it all worthwhile, Bryne said.

During the first week of the program, the instructors led each participant in a series of baseline tests, measuring their balance, flexibility, ability to lift weights and how many laps they were able to complete.

By week 12, the group had collectively improved in all areas. After week one, the group completed just 83 walking laps and was able to manage 1,474 combined pounds.

After 12 weeks, the group completed 115 laps and was able to lift 1,630 pounds.

Its been challenging, Palmer said. I didnt realize how hard it would be to get back and into it after the chemo. But so worth it.

All six participants plan to continue working out regularly on their own.

Im committed to feeling good and getting better, said Jan Nascarella.

As the group instructors say goodbye to this group of Livestrong program participants, theyre looking ahead to helping others just like them.

We already have over 40 calls from people that want to take the class in the summer, Bryne said, noting thats far and beyond how many sign-ups they typically receive for a session. But were going to get creative. I have a few ideas. Were not turning anyone away.

Shannon Gallagher may be reached at sgallagher@enterprisenews.com.

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