Arenal Fitness is a CrossFit affiliate in Pikesville. I became acquainted with them through a…read moreGroupon offer, and I'm really glad I gave them a try. Treadmills and typical group classes weren't cutting it for me; it all felt like a boring waste of time. CrossFit is a pretty intense experience, but they emphasize scaling things to your current level and make it doable for yourself (but not easy! Never easy!).
It's a stripped-down style of training, focusing heavily on using good form and developing functional strength (probably why it's so popular with military, police officers, and firefighters). The equipment is all very simple - free weights, jump ropes, barbells, kettlebells, plyo boxes, etc. Every day, there is a different WOD (workout of the day) to keep your body guessing. Typical activities include body-weight work (pull-ups, push-ups, dips, squats), weight lifting, running, jumping. All of the trainers are knowledgeable, SUPER friendly, and encouraging, but they don't let you get away with bad form or half-assed efforts. Everybody cheers you on to get yourself up there for that that last pull-up. The goal is to leave having surprised yourself with what you were able to do.
I think the recent Groupon deal brought in a surge of new members, so if you're new to this sort of workout, don't be shy about showing up for a demo or the Basics class sessions. There will be tons of newbies there figuring things out with you. There are also plenty of serious athletes who work out here; it's cool to see them do amazing things and imagine getting up to that level someday.
Arenal is located at the far end of the The Shops at Quarry Lake, so if you get there super early or have the wherewithal after class, you could run errands. There's tons of free parking as well, and easily accessible from 695. Price-wise, Arenal seems comparable to other CrossFit gyms in the area (leaning toward cheaper, actually) and describes its pricing as "a la carte". They have many levels of membership, from pay-per-class to monthly unlimited classes to full 24/7 access if you're comfortable training on your own.
Every review has to include some cons. The locker room situation isn't the best. There are 3 unisex changing rooms, 2 of which have shower stalls. For stashing your stuff, there is only a small bank of lockers. Most of us pile our stuff on the floor in a corner. I'm lucky to have time to change at home before class; otherwise, my nice work clothes could get pretty crumpled. Also, the gym seems pretty full these days, so be prepared to share equipment, alternate sets with people, and wait a little while for your turn. That's not THAT big a deal, though, is it? Pretty standard gym stuff.
Long story short (too late!), Arenal is a great, diverse gym for people looking to challenge themselves. Definitely worth a look.
