This post is sponsored by Next Gen Health and Lifestyle Clubs
One of the secret silver linings of having children is using them as an excuse for not doing stuff you don’t want to do. Want to leave the party early? Sorry, the kids need to get to bed. Don’t feel like leaving the house? Kids are acting up. Don’t want to go to the gym? Sorrynotimegotkids.
For me, going to the gym is a bit like camping. I’m super keen to camp. As long as there’s wifi and a TV and, like, a five star hotel at the camping site. I’m not fussy, I swear, I just don’t like sleeping on the floor or eating stuff with dirt on it or being outdoors.
Similarly, going to the gym sounds amazing. I just don’t want to touch other people’s sweat, or smell sweat, or sweat myself. I’d really prefer it if I could just watch TV, drink wine and let the kids run around while my bum magically hikes itself back up to where it used to be. Have I mentioned I don’t gym?
So when I was invited to try out the Next Gen Lifestyle club I didn’t exactly start planning my new mummy fitness blog #fitspo. Although, now I think about it, I wouldn’t be opposed to adopting the activewear lifestyle #lycra #leggingsaspants.
I went along and took detailed notes as I was shown the 28 world-class tennis courts where Nick Kyrgios plays. I showed my appreciation for the state of the art equipment on the gym floor. I admired the indoor and outdoor heated pools and the spa, sauna and zen garden. We chatted about the classes and the private training sessions. I nodded and smiled as they detailed the tennis and swimming lessons.
I tried not to show that none of this was really impressing me because I didn’t want to admit that I’m not exactly a gym bunny.
But then they showed me a couple of things that made me want to say, “um, you really buried the lead there!”
You see, there are some things people like me want when they go to a gym. All that exercise stuff is great I suppose and I’m truly impressed if you’re keen to workout (high five emoji, bicep emoji), but mums with small kids have slightly different needs. We’re desperate to do things for ourselves but unfortunately we come as a package deal so we need a little bit of extra motivation.
- Lack of meathead. Don’t get me wrong, a sneaky perve now and then is an added bonus, but being the ‘mum’ who walks into the weights room and picks up a 2.5kg dumbbell is not high on my list of confidence builders. I prefer to share a weights room with a mix of ‘befores’ and ‘afters’. This place has a distinct family vibe (i.e. dad and mum bods errwhere).
- TV. I don’t mind a session on the treadmill but I seriously don’t want to stare at the wall and contemplate the meaning of life while I trudge the conveyor belt to nowhere. So the TVs attached to all the machines that stream Netflix was embarrassingly exciting for me.
- Wine. Not even joking. Please give me wine. The bar with the food and the wine makes this place a bit more like a country club than a gym and that makes me feel like I’m living in an American sitcom.
- Somewhere for my kids. Gyms aren’t usually a destination for kids, but if I have to go, they have to come with me so anywhere that encourages you to bring your kid and actually works to entertain them is going straight to the top of my list. Soft play room in the café? Tick. Crèche with qualified carers for the baby? Tick. Actual gym classes for the kids??? TICK! (OMG the 2-5yr old Cub Club is the absolute cutest).
- Homework club. I didn’t even know this was a thing I wanted until I discovered Next Gen has one. You pick up your kids from school, you all go to the club, you drop them off at Homework Club where someone else will help them do their work while you go and chill in the spa or go for a swim or do a yoga class or just hide in the changerooms because even I know your kids would rather do their homework with anyone else in the world but you. A club that does my kids’ homework with them, lets me go zen in the spa workout AND can feed the family afterwards? Yeah that sounds alright. Extra points for the wine.
You know that single friend of yours who makes a really special effort to show interest in your kids? Even if they have no interest in having their own children, they act like your kids are awesome and it makes you love them so much more for trying to include your tribe? Next Gen’s a bit like that friend. I don’t like gyms but this club acts like my children are just as important as me and it makes me love them a little bit. Plus they serve wine.
Join by 28 February and enjoy the flexibility of a low commitment membership at no extra cost
9 comments
This looks way more enticing than the pilates roller currently collecting dust in my closet. Mostly because my closet doesn’t have wine.
I don’t like gyms and I don’t have kids but that spa situation is looking very enticing.
Something for everyone Tracey! I’m in love with that spa.
Homework club would sell any parent right?
I would think so. I’ve never heard a parent say, “my god I adore doing homework with the kids. It’s the most relaxing part of my day”
Ah-may-zing.
The homework thing. GENIUS!
Right!? I don’t even need it yet but I can appreciate how awesome that is.
I’m in. Just get them to come to Melbs inner west. Please
Indeed Kassey! Victoria is in need.