Optimus Fitness Center – Gym in Santa Ana

by Ivo Henfling

Getting in shape is hard work but a lot of fun if you do it in the right place and with the right guides.

No matter where you live now, and if you are in good health or not, exercise is necessary when you get older, grow fat or don’t want to watch TV for the rest of your life. You will have several options to stay fit in Escazu and Santa Ana, high budget and low budget.

We do not only tell you about Santa Ana property for sale so today, I’d like to tell you about the Optimus Fitness Center in Santa Ana, in the MegaSuper building, across from Forum I on the highway San José – Caldera.   This fitness center is nothing fancy and their prices are very reasonable, at least they are for now, in October 2012 and I am very happy going there.

Quit the smoking and eat like crazy

I have done a lot of sports during my whole life and I have always be a skinny guy, so it was easy to stay in shape. Getting too busy working in Costa Rica real estate made it too difficult to stay with the sports and the smoking made sure my lungs went to hell. Until I quit a few years ago. I never understood why people go fat when they quit smoking, but I do now.

Before you know it you are tucking your shirt into your pants all day, which is when you realize you shouldn’t wear medium sized shirt but extra-large. I’m now almost back to my old sizes and I feel a lot better and healthier.

Join the gym

I decided to join my wife, Dany, at the gym twice or three times a week. Though Dany wasn’t happy about it, as a good Dutchman and following my ancestor’s customs of saving money when you can, I decided to share her personal trainer. And it actually works out well and she is used to it by now.

Having a personal trainer obliges you to work harder as you would on your own and to have a guide who knows what he is doing makes a lot of sense and is more fun too.

Optimus Fitness center

Optimus is a nice laidback gym where you won’t find all those people flexing their muscles in the mirrors. A lot of older guys and housewives, depending of course on the hour, go there. So my fat belly was not the only one there when I started. They have all the necessary cardio equipment, fitness equipment, weight and bars and offer additional classes like Pilates, Spinning, physical conditioning, TAE-BO, Aerobox and Kenpo Karate. Optimus Fitness Center has a Face book page and you can call them at 2582-0137.

The registration cost (one time) is ¢8,000 and the monthly fee is ¢21,000 per person ($42)

Trainer

Optimus Fitness Center in Santa Ana always has a trainer on the floor who can put together a program for you and help you when you need it. Personal trainers are available on request. Dany and I use the services of the best personal trainer in Costa Rica though: Pablo Herrera.

Pablo is from Alajuela and not only Liguista (you can Google that if you want to) but also a very capable personal trainer. You have to be if you want to seriously train both Dany and me at the same time.

Pablo has been in charge of putting me back into shape for the last 9 months and everybody tells me I look better.  I also feel better and that’s what really matters. Pablo charges $25/hour per person if you hire him at the gym and if you want Pablo to go to your house, he will charge $35 - $40 depending on where you live. Thanks Pablo for getting me back into shape.

Ask Pablo to use the TRX Suspension Trainer which is the stick with elastic string that I am using in the photo. You can call pablo on his cellphone 8326-7973 or email pabloherrera08@gmail.com

But if you want to purchase a home in Santa Ana, don't ask Pablo, contact me.