I’m Christine, I’ve been going to 212 since 2018, and I’m cheap. Free haircuts from cosmetology students, discounted teeth cleaning from dental students, and only shopping the sales - it’s who I am. Although I’ve grown a bit since, now paying for my haircuts and dental care (I highly recommend fully qualified dentists), that ingrained need to save a penny will never leave me. And it’s why it took me so long to enter 212.
Before moving to Providence, I didn’t own a car (cars are money pits, after all). So to get anywhere, I relied on my own two feet or my bicycle, and it kept my lifestyle inherently active. I also ran a few half marathons, one marathon (one is enough for a lifetime), and participated in free outdoor fitness groups. Soon after arriving to Providence, I realized I needed a formal fitness program in order to maintain the level of activity I was accustomed to. And, of course, I didn’t want to pay for it.
I took advantage of every new member promotion offered by gyms in a 15mi radius. I drove as far as Warwick, Lincoln, and Seekonk in order to find a gym that was worth it’s monthly fee. I stuck to a few gyms for a bit too - one for half a year and another for 9 months - but eventually I decided that the service wasn’t worth the cost. I had been eyeing 212, but naturally, the membership fee made me hesitate. After meeting two members who sang 212’s praises, and really after exhausting all other gyms in RI and southern MA, I called 212 and gave it a try.
And here I am, still eagerly going, years later. This gym is something special, and I know - I’ve been to a lot of them. 212 created a community in a city that still didn’t feel like home, helped ease the difficulties of pregnancy, and allowed an escape in early motherhood. Going to 212 is an investment - both in my health and in my community - that I will happily partake in. Supporting a small business where my dollars have a direct impact on my neighbors, instead of lining some millionaire’s pocket, is important to me. I’m still cheap - and 212 is worth every penny.