fitness

The greatest tiny gym in the world.

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If you are a reader of this blog, you know that I like to think that I am a connoisseur of gyms, as you could read here and here. You also know that I strive to stay fit, mentally, spiritually, and physically. This means that if I am going to have an extended stay somewhere where I am going to have some routine, I need a gym.

This is what happens when I visit my family in Madrid. For the last few years, when I come, I get myself a monthly membership at Synergym.

This is a great gym; it has a great vibe, a great staff, chill but helpful when needed, the definition of professional, led by their great manager, Paula. It has all the equipment and classes you need, all the requirements of a modern-day gym. Everything is managed by the Synergym App, including entry to the gym. It also helps that it is very reasonably priced.

There is one main issue with this gym: it is tiny. Yes, it has all the equipment: 5 treadmills, 1 staircase, a bicycle, and a handful of ellipticals for cardio, all the main weight machines, a squat rack, a cable machine, and of course, dumbbells, oh, and all the plates you could ever dream of —there are plates everywhere! The problem is that they are all in a tiny room. There is another room for fitness classes, changing rooms, showers, etc.

The trick is that if you go when there are many people, you do not have the luxury of waltzing from one station or machine to the other —unless you are very patient— so you must know your exercises well so you can get a good workout at any given station.

So if you are looking for a chill, neighborhood gym in Chamberí, you have a solid understanding of your workouts, and you are not too fussy, Synergym is for you! You are welcome.

Stay fit, listen to your body, and if it hurts, go to a physical therapist

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Wellness and fitness should be a critical component of your lifestyle, especially as you get older. I have often written about this; the importance of yoga, meditation, diet, and of course, physical fitness. I try to keep up with all this: I meditate and work out daily, one day resistance training, weights or a functional, bodyweight workout, and cardio the next, running on the beach or cycling in Summer, and of course running the San Silvestre Vallecana 10K every December 31st!

Once you integrate these elements into your life, they become routine and the problem then comes when you do not work out, or meditate, or go to yoga. For over a year and a half, my left elbow has bothered me. Originally it was a pinpoint pain when I did curls, I did not pay much attention and kept forcing it. Then the pain extended to all around my elbow, I could not straighten my arm without pain, it hurt when I slept, when I tried to grab something with my left hand.

A colleague at work recommended using the App Hinge. I tried it and they sent me some free stretch bands and a yoga mat, which was nice, but my pain did not go away, despite doing what appeared to be random stretches on the app every day.

I knew it was time to go to the pros.

Don’t you love discovering treasures? Hidden pearls? Well, my gym has one such treasure. If you walk by you would not know it, but inside is a Physical Therapist, not any old physician, Dr. José L. Matta and his colleague Jessica Prince are resolute professionals. I reached out to them with my elbow pain. Dr. Matta knew exactly what it was and how to fix it. I was suspicious, hesitant, but within three weeks my pain was gone! Not only that, but he reviewed my whole workout routine (the weightlifting part) and helped me to correct my form. Dr. Matta is amazing! Friendly, courteous, professional, reasonably priced, punctual, and trustworthy. He told me what my ailment was -sorry, I cannot spell it- he told me what was going to happen, ultrasound, stretches, reinforcement, ice, how much it was going to cost, and voila, pain gone.

If you are in the Boynton Beach area and need a physical therapist, look no further, call Dr. Matta, you will not regret it!

What makes the best gym? The Zoo

/ antonioyrocinante / 3 Comments

I once wrote about the best gym in the world, but it is in Naples Fl, so it is not a viable daily option as an everyday gym. Which prompts the question, which is the best gym?

As usual, I was a bit of a late bloomer into the gym scene, although I have done a lot of sports since childhood, they were mostly outdoors. With age, and Boston winters I “discovered” resistance training as a critical part of one’s fitness journey. Since those winter days of 2010 I have been to many gyms and now have decent criteria for choosing a gym.

The factors to consider when choosing a gym might be:

Convenience, it is easy to get to for you. Ideally you could walk. These were my gyms in Boston (city Sports), Madrid (Metropolitan, Synergym) and Chapel Hill. If it is at all inconvenient that becomes a great excuse not to go… it is too far, there is no parking, etc. etc.

Size is important, you want to be able to mix up your workouts. You need a variety of cardio machines and enough of them to be able to get one when you need one. For example, my apartment building has a gym which is only an elevator ride away (no, there are no stairs to get to it, ironic), but it is rather small and limited, so I have reduced options for workouts.

Ideally it should have staff to help you with anything from helping you with technique to helping you with anything you might need.

It is in this aspect that The Zoo in Boynton Beach shines! Yes, it is only a few minutes away from home and yes it has enough machines and weights and spaces to be able to always do a workout. But it is (as usual) the people who welcome you and make you feel at home that makes the difference. Jennifer is always there with a blinding smile that makes you feel that little bit better to face your workout, she is always quick with advice, wise beyond her years, encouragement or just chit chat to get you motivated. Lorenzo will gladly check your posture or technique, or if you ask him will give you advice on specific workouts -beware of what you ask, or he will kick your ass (in a good way). I have learnt to only ask if I am up to giving that little bit extra to finish off my workout! Since I always do my workouts in the afternoon / evening, I do not usually see Mario, but he wears a permanent smile as he welcomes you and checks you in.

Some gyms offer all the amenities -which do not get me wrong, are nice. The Zoo has golf lessons and physical therapy, but at the end of the day you are going to the gym to work on your fitness and wellness, do not focus on the superficial aspects of your workout.

What makes a good gym for you? let me know in the comments!

Happy New Year!! A New Year’s Eve tradition

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San Silvestre collage

This was my fifth San Silvestre Vallecana 10k (sorry I could not find a photo with the lime green shirt), and it was the most fun.

With no Covid restrictions, 40.000 runners and thousands of spectators participated in this year’s race, making it the most fun to run in. My phone timer says I did it in 1.01 but I am hoping the official time was under an hour so I can leave in a more competitive box next year -cross your fingers!

I am not going to write about the San Silvestre, I already did that here and here. But I am going to encourage you to make fitness one of your New Year’s resolutions. It does not have to be much, but set some objectives: walking a bit more, maybe running a 5k or a 10k like the San Silvestre, maybe hitting the gym, riding a bicycle, whatever. If you lack motivation or are out of shape, take it slow so you do not quit by February. First day just put on your running shoes, or drive to the gym -you don’t have to go in! But the next day go in and hang out for a while, and so on, and so on, so that before you know it, you are feeling better, and sleeping better, maybe losing some weight, maybe making new friends, whatever, the secret is in starting.

So, having said that: Happy New Year and if you run the San Silvestre next year, let me know and we can run together!