Guide to Gyms

By Waylon Li, Vidyuth Sridhar & Aaron Zhou Staf Writers

Whether it’s training for athletics, hanging out with friends or fulfilling New Year’s resolutions, many members of the MSJ community choose to spend their time in gyms. To increase exposure to this community resource and promote an active lifestyle, the SmokeSignal compiled a list of public gyms throughout Fremont.

24 Hour Fitness

With two locations in Fremont at 4500 Auto Mall Pkwy and 39300 Paseo Padre Pkwy respectively, 24 Hour Fitness is one of the community’s most popular gyms. From treadmills to plyometrics boxes and weight-training machines, members enjoy unlimited use of a variety of fitness equipment. The Auto Mall location also contains a basketball court, indoor pool, and sauna for use as a “Super-Sport Gym’’. Dependent on their interests, members can attend specialized group classes throughout the week, such as Zumba and pilates. 24 Hour Fitness also includes a variety of different difficulty and duration workouts that cater to people of all fitness levels on its 24GO app, as well as offering one-on-one personal training sessions with staff members, who are known as “Fitness Coaches."

Prices are split into two tiers of membership with the added option of paying both monthly and annually. Monthly memberships start at $41.99 per person, and annual memberships cost a onetime payment of $299.99. The Auto Mall location is open 24 hours, whilst the Paseo Padre location opens from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday, and from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. on the weekends.

As one of the nation’s most well-known fitness brands with two Fremont locations at 39161 Farwell Drive and 35630 Fremont Blvd., Planet Fitness is the preferred low-cost, introductory gym for many. Championing a motto of a “Judgment Free Zone”, the facility provides amenities such as small-group classes and a 30-minute express circuit specializing in catering to beginner and novice gym-goers. Locations also offer standard fitness equipment, such as dumbbells, cardio machines, and barbell squat

Mission Hills Racquet & Swim Club

Located on 10 E Las Palmas Ave., Mission Hills Racquet and Swim Club specializes in tennis, but also has a full weight room, entertainment room, and pool. With 13 freshly painted courts with luminous bright lights in the evening, members can rally with other players and attend discounted tennis lessons. The clubhouse features a full weight room with two squat racks, and a variety of dumbbells and fitness equipment. Along the inside of the club

CrossFit of Fremont

Unlike most typical gyms, CrossFit of Fremont specializes in professional fitness training and physical therapy programs. For new customers, the gym offers an interactive introduction session and proposes workout plans based on the customer’s athletic background, physical condition, and available budget. The gym contains a wide range of designated program categories, including pain relief, strength building, and endurance training.

sits numerous gym machines as well as a full studio room for dance and yoga. Outside the club is a heated swimming pool without lanes open to all members.

The club is open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. from Monday through Friday and 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Monthly pricing is $39.99 for a single gym membership, $59.99 for a couple, and $79.99 for a family membership.

Located at 46650 Landing Pkwy, Bay Club Fremont offers expansive fitness and comfort spaces across a large facility. Inside the facility, members enjoy free access to a wide range of high-quality equipment from brands such as Technogym and NordicTrack. In addition to playing courts for basketball, badminton, tennis, and squash, members also have access to individual hot showers, heated lap pools, and a jacuzzi. The club’s fitness

The weight room contains several different barbell racks with gymnastic rings for calisthenic workouts.

The gym is open for eight hours from Monday through Friday (time frames vary per weekday), from 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Saturdays, and closes on Sundays. Pricing for the training programs are relatively high, as access for the cheapest courses offered stand at more than $100.

Located at 39153 Farwell Dr, City Sports Club Fremont contains a two-story facility with a well-rounded selection of leisures for members.

The club runs a heated indoor pool with three lap lanes, as well as saunas and whirlpool spas near its entrance. Heading into the facility, the first floor offers a wide selection of strength and conditioning equipment. Rows of barbell squats face an assortment of gym machines training every part of the body. Next to the squat racks lies an array of dumbbells, ranging in size and up to over 100 pounds.

Planet Fitness

racks.

Prices start at $10 per month for its “Classic” plan, with an additional annual and startup fee. The Farwell Drive location is open from 5 a.m.-12 a.m. on Monday, 24 hours from Tuesday to Thursday, 12 a.m-9 p.m. on Friday, and from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on the weekends. The Fremont Boulevard location operates 24 hours a day on Monday through Thursday, and is open from 12 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fridays, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m on the weekends.

Bay Club Fremont

programs are also run by professional instructors who offer hourly classes, one-on-one nutrition planning, and specialized athletic training.

The club is open from 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. during the weekends. Monthly memberships are priced at $182 for individuals, $300 for couples, and $380 for a family of up to six people.

City Sports Club

The second floor contains dozens of treadmills and other cardio workout machines overlooking the facility. In addition, the club also contains fullsize indoor racquetball and basketball courts. The gym is open from 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. on Fridays, and from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on weekends. Pricing per person runs at an initiation fee of $99 followed by a monthly membership fee of $39.99, or a monthly membership fee of $49.99 without initial costs.

By Tushara Devapatla & Chahak Gupta Staff Writers

The Smoke Signal compiled a list of local libraries and bookstores to appreciate the services they provide to the community, from peaceful study spots to literary hubs.

Fremont Main Library

on 2400 Stevenson Blvd., the Fremont Main Library, part of the Alameda County Library branch, offers a two-story literary haven less than four miles from MSJ. The library’s minimalistic decor contributes to its spacious feel, with secluded seating areas located near vast windows that overlook Central Park and Lake Elizabeth. In addition to a diverse selection of fiction and non-fiction works, the library also offers printing, scanning and faxing services. “I [like] the familiarity of [Fremont Main Library], especially if you’ve been [there] since you were a kid. You know where your favorite books are and where to sit,” Senior Bhavana Bandla said.

Centerville Library

Located half a mile from American High School, the Centerville Library, an Alameda County Library branch, is nestled within the lively Brookvale Neighborhood Park. Its vibrant orange-yellow carpeting, warm wooden ceiling, bold decor, abundant flora, and exterior bird feeding areas add to the welcoming atmosphere. “There [are] audio books, music, [and] magazines; there’s something for everybody. Don’t narrow your thinking about the library to some dry, stale place, it’s much more dynamic than that,” Centerville Library Assistant Manager Kirk Hammond said.

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Half-Price Books

Located at 39152 Fremont Hub, Half-Price Books, one of Fremont’s largest bookstores, sells a diverse array of novels. With shelves filled with books organized in sections for specific topics such as poetry, history, and foreign language, the store manages to feel spacious while enhancing its categorization of books. In addition to its books, the store sells a wide variety of vinyl, CDs, and games, making it a great place to find something new. “Half-Price Books is really close by, and has cheaper books than other places, so if I’m looking to purchase a book that I’m really looking forward to reading, then that’s my go-to place,” Senior Kaylee Wei said.

Banter Bookshop

Situated at 3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Banter Bookshop is an independent bookstore, carrying a variety of novels for readers of all ages. The store’s soft lighting, neatly organized shelves, and comfortable seating areas make it the perfect place to sit down while you choose a new book. The bookstore focuses on the Fremont community, spotlighting books by local authors and hosting story times for children. “This year we’ve been trying to expand to do more local things like work with more local authors, or [work with] a lot of local teachers,” Banter Bookshop Worker Mallika Saoji said. “[Banter Bookshop] is very organized and has a lot of new arrivals…It’s pretty close to where I live,” Freshman Sanjana Srivasta said.

Rumi Bookstore

Rumi Bookstore, a small family-owned bookshop on 4050 Peralta Blvd, opened its doors to the public around 24 years ago and has sold everything from religious texts and poetry titles to hijabs and gifts. Named after 13th-century Persian poet & Islamic scholar Rumi, the store offers children’s books, notebooks, religious texts in English, Farsi, and Arabic, and poem collections including those by the store’s namesake author. The shop boasts aisles of Islamic home decor, plates, and pendants. “Even if you’re not interested in religious books, there’s a lot of good poetry books here. We also have a kids section…[and] CDs, so you can listen to books,” a Rumi Bookstore employee said.

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