Coping with Calories: Fitness places around Taft

Thursday nights for Lasallians are known for being that time of the week to lay low by visiting nearby places around Taft Avenue for relaxation. Just a short walk away from campus are various restaurants and hangout locations that cater to the demand of hungry and tired Lasallians.

Add that to the tons of schoolwork to be done, engaging in food trips or even just sleeping for the rest of the day are among the different coping mechanisms many use to counter stress. Bumming around may be fun for some, but it should be noted that this comes with negative effects that are felt by the human body sooner or later.

With that being said, The LaSallian brings to you a list of fitness places around the Taft Avenue area that can cater to your healthy lifestyle needs and help you shed a few pounds.

Enrique M. Razon Sports Center

First on the list is La Salle’s very own Enrique M. Razon Sports Center along Agno Street. Established in January 2003, the sports center houses an Olympic-sized swimming pool on the ground floor, two basketball courts on the 7th floor, an oval for running on the 8th floor, and two gyms found on the 9th and 10th floors.

The gym on the 9th floor is strictly for varsity players whereas the one upstairs can be used by students with a corresponding P2300 monthly fee. The rate may come off as expensive at first, but it comes with a free trainer and privacy as only Lasallians can train there. Aside from the gym, the other facilities mentioned are free to use, although borrowing sports equipment requires you to surrender your ID.

2471 Fitness Center

Along Leon Guinto Street at the Providence building lies the 2471 Fitness Center. 2471 offers a fully functioning gym that could cater to the most basic needs of a Crossfit enthusiast. “Malapit yung place, tapos medyo kumpleto (facilities) pero medyo masikip,” shares member Stephen San Pedro (III, BS STAT) on his choice to sign-up at the place.

The gym has two floors filled with a various array of equipment and showers are also available to wash off the sweat after an exhausting workout. The gym offers a flat rate of P1000 per month wherein new members are given free guidance. For those who just want to try the place first, the gym also offers single sessions at P200 each. 2471 also offers a personal training package which costs P500 per hour on an appointment basis.

Elorde Boxing Gym

Located at the fourth floor of the Fernandez Building, which is right beside DLS-CSB and just across DLSU’s South Gate, is the Elorde Boxing Gym. Unlike the other gyms found on this list, the Elorde Gym lacks the workout equipment that is necessary for bodybuilding. Instead, the gym offers Boxing and Muay Thai sessions for interested students. Inside the gym are two Boxing rings, heavy bags, speed bags, double end bags, and many other boxing equipment needed for a fruitful training session.

The rates include P350 for boxing, P380 for Muay Thai, and P400 for Strength and Conditioning per session. Luckily, the gym offers special packages like their most prestigious one, the Platinum Package, which includes unlimited sessions valid for 30 days for a cost of only P3000 for boxing and P3500 for Muay Thai, saving you as much as P6000 if you plan to train regularly.