You Don’t Need to Lift Weights to be Active on The Danforth
by Luca Riggio
Image credits: Rock Oasis, The Pink Studio; illustration by Zoë Lehoux
My doctors and gym teachers have always told me that regular exercise is necessary for a healthy life, yet I have never been able to maintain a positive relationship with it. I’m unproductive in a typical weight room. I never know what to do with the free weights and dumbbells; their versatility paralyzes me. I spend more time staring at the rack of weights and contemplating my next workout than actually exercising, and the scarcity of available benches and lack of general cleanliness are enough to keep me away from that area entirely. Plus, no matter which cardio machine I’m on, I feel like a hamster running on a wheel. Needless to say, I am uncomfortable in a standard weight room, and I doubt that I’m the only one.
Thankfully, the Danforth community seems to have found the solution by hosting several facilities where you can exercise in a way that suits you. There are at least a dozen places to exercise on the Danforth, including standard weight rooms like Goodlife Fitness, Hone Fitness, and BOMB Fitness. Unfortunately, weight rooms can be intimidating, and people are often already discouraged before they sign up. The ones who are worse off, though, are the ones who become discouraged after they’ve signed up. The intimidation that an inexperienced gym-goer would feel is valid. Luckily, there are alternatives for those who are uncomfortable in a weight room.
Located at Danforth and Coxwell, Tidal Fitness was the first CrossFit gym I had ever stepped in. I initially noticed the lack of machines and the abundance of weights. It was a conundrum for me. There was no Smith machine or leg press, but there was a pile of weights, which begs the question: where do these 45lb iron plates go during my workout? Coach and general manager Jen Cho was kind enough to introduce me to CrossFit. Jen has been doing CrossFit since 2011. She explains that in CrossFit, “We teach you to lift the weight; you have to be able to manage and guide the weights.”
Another prominent feature of Tidal Fitness is a giant structure called “the rig,” which looks like the scaffolding on a construction site. The rig is a freestanding structure with several notable features, including several levels of bars to swing from, rings to grab, and ropes to climb. Jen explains how one of the main functions of the rig is to “teach you how to hang, which is a totally natural thing that kids do, and you do less and less as you get older.” Climbing and swinging from a metal structure may not be possible for new members, but Jen ensures that every workout they teach is modifiable based on your capabilities. Tidal offers a CrossFit program for teens and a “Legends” program that caters to members aged 55 and up. These programs share the same exercises, so the workouts are modified to suit the individual.
Just as Jen begins to speak about the community at Tidal, the sense of camaraderie is felt in the air as a wave of members come pouring in for their 4 p.m. class, embracing one another as they enter. Tidal will be turning 15 this year, and some members will have been there since the beginning. Jen explains how the “expectation and accountability that comes with working alongside your buddies” is motivation to show up and work hard.
Image credits: Luca Riggio
Another alternative to a weight room is The Pink Studio, a supportive place to achieve your fitness goals through dance. At Woodbine and Danforth, The Pink Studio offers a variety of dance classes, including Barre, Bollywood, Hip-Hop, Burlesque, and many more. The Pink Studio’s owner, Natalie Borch, considers dancing a “sneaky workout” because you don’t even realize how much you’ve been sweating while you focus on the choreography. Natalie defines dance as a “body and brain workout, because you can’t think about anything other than the steps right in front of you when you’re trying to pick up dance steps,” which can help you leave your stress behind as you enter that dance studio. At the gym, on the other hand, you can be halfway through your allotted time on the elliptical and think: “Oh shoot! I forgot to buy bread for lunch tomorrow.” Dance does not allow for such diversions. It is an excellent exercise if you’re stressed because you must stop worrying, turn off your brain, and follow the steps.
The Pink Room gets its members to keep showing up to dance by fostering a supportive and empowering community. As someone who hardly dances and has two pigeon-toed left feet, I was surprised to feel the urge to dance while visiting. Luckily for Natalie, I didn’t. However, she would have encouraged me, and I wouldn’t have felt embarrassed if I had chosen to participate. Natalie achieves this supportive atmosphere by including everyone: “We always try our best to use gender-neutral language. We’re a very queer-positive space, [and] we’ve never been women only. I know people think that because of our name.” The Pink Studio has had its doors open to everyone since day one.
I was dismissive of cardio machines earlier. However, I would be doing a disservice to the Danforth community if I did not mention the excellent spin classes offered at Loft Cycle Club, located at 452 Danforth Ave., and another location on Yonge. Perhaps community engagement will put some extra ride in your stride. And, unlike a typical weight room with exercise bikes, you are connected to a community in a spin class. Loft Cycle Club rounds out their members’ workout by offering more exercises off the exercise bike, such as Barre, Pilates, and yoga.
If still none of these exercises appeal to you, I suggest mountain climbing. It is both an exercise that requires your body and mind to work in unison to prevent falling to an inevitable demise, and a full-body workout that can stretch the boundaries of your capabilities. If you’re intrigued enough to consider this as an exercise, let me inform you that you don’t need to drive all the way to Blue Mountain. You can simulate the exhilarating experience without the life-threatening consequences right here in the Danforth area. A facility on Carlaw called Rock Oasis hosts an indoor rock-climbing experience, which lets you get strapped up with all the safety measures and work out your muscles as if you’re climbing on the side of a real mountain.
Now you know that the weight room is not your only option; many alternatives exist. I’m no longer uncomfortable at the thought of exercising because I’m aware of the many options I have. My high school gym teacher would be proud if he knew how excited I was to sweat through my t-shirt. And I’m sure my local laundromat doesn’t mind the extra business, either. The Danforth is a great place for you to find the exercise method that appeals to you. You can try CrossFit, dance, swimming, rock climbing, spin class, and more! A welcoming community awaits you with open arms behind every door.
