Why I Alchemy | by: Erin Jones
I’d been a member of the same gym for as long as I can remember. My mom, my dad, and all three of my siblings belonged to the same one, too. It was really all I knew in terms of staying fit and exercising and it never really bothered me. That is, until recently.
Although I had been an athlete all through high school and a bit of college, at 26 any fitness regimes I had learned at the ripe old age of 16 had all but faded away and I often found myself wandering helplessly around the gym. On a good day, I ran on the treadmill, maybe got in a few sit-ups or two, fumbled around on a few weight machiens, and then called it quits.
I wanted someone to tell me what to do, how many times to do it, and when to do it. So, last summer, at the same gym, I somehow found myself paying a good chunk of money for a half hour personal training session once a week. I told myself, “You need to invest in yourself. This is what it costs to be healthy. It will pay off eventually.”
Fall came. And then winter. And I wasn’t noticing a difference. And I don’t mean just physically-mentally too. I was bored, uninspired, and not the in-shape person that I really wanted to be. On top of everything else, I had really taken advantage of the good food that the holiday season brings. My body was feeling it. And when I say feeling it, it was feeeeeeling it. My clothes were tighter, my mind was foggy, and my skin and outlook on fitness were the same incredible shade of blah.
Then, one night in early January my friend texted me asking if I wanted to do a free week at Alchemy. YES. I was desperate to do anything to get my body moving that didn’t involve a dark and robotical gym. Besides, my Spotify playlist was getting old and repetitive anyway.
Our first class was an A10 and it was hard. It was a pull-up and burpee day and I just about died.
But for some reason I wanted to come back. And I did. Again and again and again until my free week was over. I knew I had arrived at a crossroads-I had to decide if I wanted to keep my gym membership and let Alchemy be a hazy memory or ditch the gym and join a place that had brought my dull, January self back to life. Clearly, a difficult choice!
Surprise. I joined Alchemy and I am so happy with my decision. The community it provides is infectious and both the instructors and the members are inspiring. The music is always good (so long, old Spotify playlist!) and I never leave feeling like I just went to the gym to stare at a pair of dumbbells. Alchemy has pushed me to do things I would have never pushed myself to do at my old gym. Now, I am working towards a full pull-up and can make it through quite a few burpees without feeling like I want to pass out (baby steps, people).Maybe I am selling myself short, but there’s something to be said about working out with others who are passionate and invigorated by life.
To me, the physical fitness aspect of Alchemy is merely a bonus. What has really made me fall in love is the magical, happy, shiny feeling it has given me. I look forward to every class when I arrive and leave every class looking forward to whatever life has to throw at me. I will probably always find a way to be active, whether that’s at a gym, running outside, or doing yoga, but the feeling that Alchemy has given me is a rare one and I’d be a fool to ever want to give that up.
Erin is an Alchemy Member and all around rockstar. No matter how busy her life is, she’s pursuing her legend each and every day. Want to workout with her? Catch her crushing it at Alchemy Highland Park – we bet she’ll be happy to share her buddy passes with you!
