Finally: a gym that's not just out to make money and make me feel fat!
The folks behind Rainier Health and Fitness realized that the Rainier Valley did not have any (not a one!) options for people looking to get in shape and learn about how to be healthy. Keeping in mind that the community is largely low-income and doesn't have a lot of access to health services or nutritional education, they opened a non-profit gym right on Rainier.
Its current location is tiny (about 800 square feet) and is not a "commuter gym", meaning that it does not have showers or locker rooms. What it does have, however, is a sliding scale for payment with great prices; personal training (based on core strength and supplemented with cardio); friendly staff; sponsored events with free team training (such as the STP and Danskin Triathlon); women-only events and hours; and everything you need for a good workout, besides a pool.
The great news is, in time for the New Year they are planning to open a space five times the size of their current building just a couple of miles down the road. Their new 4,000 square foot building will open the opportunity to add classes, more machinery, and staff to their program. A great gym with a great mission.
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