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Gym Membership or Yoga Studio?

Hi There 🙂

The Weekly Bite household got off to a late start this morning! Everyone (even M) slept in past 8:15 a.m. Tim and I couldn’t believe it! Guess we needed it to recover from our fun weekend 🙂

Since we woke up late, my plan to go to yoga was scratched. Plan B is to go for a run with M.

But… before I do that… here are some pics from our fun Weekend in West Chester, PA.

Tim’s best friend throws a big party every July. He’s been throwing this party for over ten years! And his parties always include these….
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There was plenty of booze…. but the signature drink was a watermelon champagne cocktail!
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The base mixture included pureed watermelon, vanilla vodka, triple sec, and mint. You pour the base mixture into a glass then top it with champagne! It was so delicious and refreshing! Perfect for a hot day 🙂

There were plenty more eats, but here are a few I snapped pics of….

Mediterranean Pasta Salad…

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Soft pretzel sticks….

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Veggie Tray…
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Crab dip mold! This was incredible!!!
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And of course the centerpiece…. along with steamed corn on the cob!
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Here’s Tim enjoying the food 🙂
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I might have had a couple of these margarita’s 😉 Since it was an all day party, I filled half the glass with margarita and topped it off with club soda 🙂
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It was a fantastic weekend!

Gym membership or Yoga Studio?

I’ve received several emails asking me if I go to the gym or just do yoga, or both. And, if I do both, do I have a gym membership and a yoga membership.

I think there’s value to both… but ultimately, it depends on what you love to do.

I love Bikram yoga and have practiced for over six years. But its expensive…. very expensive. When my husband and I made the decision for me to stay at home full-time with M, it was important for me keep a membership somewhere so I can exercise. The key for me was childcare. At the time, the only place that provided childcare was my gym… so I was ready to give up my beloved yoga and make the gym my new love because of childcare.

Then… about six weeks ago, my yoga studio sent an email out that they would be providing babysitting for the morning Bikram classes. I was so excited when I heard this news!!

I certainly see a huge value to having access to the gym and to the yoga studio. I obviously can’t afford both… but I feel I can find a balance between the too and not break our finances. We’re still figuring out how to make it work….

What do you think? If you had to choose between the two… would you pick the gym or the yoga studio?

  

23 Responses

  1. Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday said on July 12, 2010 at 10:28 am

    GYM

    There’s much more variety at a gym plus you have access to weights and cardio machines that you wouldn’t have at home. You can do yoga anywhere (okay, maybe not BIKRAM because of the temeprature requirements, but Bikram is always the same anyway and can get boring)

  2. Heather (Heather's Dish) said on July 12, 2010 at 10:28 am

    If i had to choose between the two, i would say gym membership. i love yoga, but i don’t practice it to the point where i’ve ever really been to a studio. i know i would use a gym in the winter when it snows and i can’t run outside, PLUS there are yoga and pilates classes at most gyms, so you kind of get the best of both worlds. i think it just depends on where your exercise passions lie though 🙂

  3. Jessica @ How Sweet said on July 12, 2010 at 10:31 am

    I would go with gym membership, but that is just because it’s what I love. I think you should do what you really like!

  4. Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick said on July 12, 2010 at 11:09 am

    I think I would choose the yoga membership, but you are right, it is very expensive. But I’m glad childcare is now offered for the morning class for you, how convenient! By the way, the watermelon champagne cocktail looks fantastic! Great pictures, as always!

  5. Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary said on July 12, 2010 at 11:43 am

    Looks like you guys had a great time !!

  6. Anne @ the doctor takes a wife said on July 12, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    I’m not a total yoga buff, so I would pick the gym. They actually have a really great yoga instructor at our gym, so it works for me (the beginner) but I could see where there would be lots of distractions for some, like the pounding music from spinning coming from the next room over.

  7. Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman said on July 12, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    I only have a gym membership but that’s because of cost. I’d love to join a yoga studio or take Pilates but those classes are way too expensive. It’s a shame, because the yoga and Pilates my gym offers is not the same.

  8. Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries said on July 12, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    The gym! And, is that a Sam Summer I spot in that photo? Only my favorite beer EVER.

  9. One Healthy Apple said on July 12, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    So I’m clearly in the minority, but I vote for the yoga studio. While you can workout outside, do videos, buy your own free weights, there is no substitute for a good yoga instructor and studio.

    I just joined one and it’s been such a help to my quality of life, especially since I’m limited in what I can do. Good luck deciding!

  10. Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) said on July 12, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    I have a gym in my Apt building but I did just recently get a Yoga Membership. It is so expensive, but I love it and it is worth it to me! (And a block away so easy to get to!)

  11. Alyssa said on July 12, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    I just had to make the same decision! I chose the gym because it was a better deal and they also offer yoga. Not the same caliber of yoga, but I figure, yoga is yoga. You have the freedom to deepen your practice, so you should be able to do that anywhere, right!?!? Good luck with your decision!

    ~Alyssa

  12. Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly said on July 12, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    I can see benefits to both but for me a gym membership is more my style.

  13. Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) said on July 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    That’s a wonderful spread, everything looks amazing!

    I’d pick yoga studio. I feel you can get a good workout at home or outside, but yoga is kind of special.

    Jenn

  14. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said on July 12, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    “The key for me was childcare. At the time, the only place that provided childcare was my gym… so I was ready to give up my beloved yoga and make the gym my new love because of childcare.”—
    THAT IS ME!!! This is a question that unless you’re a mom, you cant even fully understand. CHILDCARE is the KEY to everything…it can be an awesome yoga studio or gym or whatever, but if there’s no childcare, the buck stops there.

    If i had childcare at both places, i would keep a very cheapie gym membership, i.e. 24.99 a month type place for my needs and do drop in at a yoga studio. It really depends on the person but childcare is first and foremost..great question!!!!!

    i also hate my cheapie gym but they are the only! one in the area w/ childcare. all the posh downtown gyms apparently cater to the gay men in my neighborhood who dont have kids…sigh. I want to work out in a posh place but daycare situ is non-existant!

  15. Fit Chick in the City said on July 12, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    The watermelon cocktail sounds amazing and I don’t even like watermelon.

    What a tough decision. I would go with the one that you couldn’t/ wouldn’t do at home on your own.

  16. Mo@MommyRD said on July 12, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    I agree with avery in that childcare is key. if you have access to childcare at the yoga studio, I would opt for that. It sounds like you have a good running routine so cardio is taken care of, but yoga is hard to get the same workout outside of a real studio.

  17. Nicole, RD said on July 12, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    Ahhh! Crab is my #1 favorite food! Looks delicious! I made a watermelon margarita last night — funny you had something so similar this weekend!

    I think I’d choose the gym, simply because I’ve never had a yoga studio membership and most gyms offer some type of yoga class. But, I’m also not a yogini like I’d like to be 🙂

  18. The Candid RD said on July 12, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    yum, was that Sam ADams Summer Ale I saw?! My FAVORITE summer brew! I would choose that over a watermelon champagne cocktail any day. I’m a crazy women.

    I gotta tell you that crab mold looks DISGUSTING, but hey, I’m glad it tasted better than it looked. The crabs look AWESOME!!! I want fresh crabs. Living in Ohio is rough. hehe, no it’s not, but fresh crab and/or lobster sounds really good!

  19. Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) said on July 13, 2010 at 2:03 am

    That food all looks so good! The watermelon cocktail definitely peaked my interest as well – sounds perfect for a summer BBQ out on my deck!

  20. Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) said on July 13, 2010 at 7:26 am

    I’m a gym girl all the way but I do appreciate the value of yoga. When I have a a steady income again, I’m bringing yoga back! 😉

  21. Beth @ DiningAndDishing said on July 13, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    I think when it comes to working out…do what you love! It should always be fun and not a chore. I feel like your heart is in yoga a little more :).

  22. The Healthy Apple said on July 22, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    I love eating fresh crabs; yum! What a fabulous summer meal.

  23. Hayabusa Gurl said on July 25, 2010 at 1:58 am

    You have a way with writing, but remember by and large, english is a tool for concealing the truth

    Sent via Blackberry

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