Curves is a blast! It really does take only half an hour, which often makes it way easier to overcome those "I don't feel like it blahs." And it works: I saw visible results within the first month.
The workout consists of a series of resistance-training machines, alternating with "recovery stations", at which you can walk, jog, dance, or whatever works for you. Because it's resistance-based, you're controlling the intensity of the workout, and there are regular pulse-counts to help you determine if you need to take it easy or punch it up. You're strongly encouraged to stretch out and drink lots of water at the end of your workout.
At your initial visit, you'll sit down with a staff-member to detmine some realistic goals for youself. Once a month, you'll chart your progress towards those goals. They'll also show you how to use each machine, and spot you through your first few workouts to make sure you're doing the exercises correctly.
Daily trivia, bingo, seasonal decorations, birthdays of the month, etc. help keep the atmosphere light and fun.
The sign-up fee, if I remember correctly, was about $112, which I thought was a little steep. The monthly is only $29, though, and I actually *use* my membership.
There's a real sense of community at the North Everett location, and everybody's very supportive.
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