The VIP Fitness Area Nobody's Using
Happy Easter. Let's talk about the most slept-on perk at West Coast Fitness. No, not the bouldering wall or filtered water that tastes like it's poured out of glaciers. We're talking about the outdoor fitness paradise that premium members have access to but are mysteriously skipping out on more than leg day.
With sunny days making their comeback tour, it's time to introduce (or reintroduce) you to the outdoor space that's basically a playground for adults who like their gains served with a side of vitamin D.
What's Actually Out There
Leave the indoors (and your cares) behind because this area is fully loaded:
Monkey bars and climbing rope, your inner middle schooler redemption
Incline, flat, and decline bench presses for chest day with a sunroof
Smith machines because it's a little easier to flirt with failure when you've got an exit strategy
Cardio equipment because it's 2025 and we'll take any excuse to be walking on sunshine
Yoga mats to stretch out while working on your tan
Punching bags, our favorite form of aggression
TRX setups for suspension training that hits muscles you forgot existed
And more equipment that would make most home gym setups look like a single resistance band and a dream
The best part? Most members haven't caught on yet, so you'll likely have the whole space to yourself.
Membership Flex: Who Gets What
Premium members: Full access to the outdoor fitness wonderland described above. Consider this your VIP pass to the most exclusive "club" in town—one where the dress code is athletic wear and the music is your own playlist. Plus you'll get entry to the indoor barbell cage, for those days when Portland weather remembers it's Portland weather.
Premium+ Movement members: All of the above, plus access to the hot studio for yoga and barre classes where you can stretch and relax or get beach ready at lightspeed.
Why Working Out Outside Hits Different
Besides the obvious flex of posting a workout pic with actual natural lighting, training outdoors comes with benefits that science actually backs up:
1. Vitamin D: The Supplement You Don't Have to Remember to Take
Just 10-15 minutes of sun exposure during your workout helps your body produce vitamin D, which supports everything from bone health to immune function. The easiest way to take your supplement is by not taking it at all.
2. Mood Boost That Doesn't Come in Powder Form
Research shows exercising in natural environments significantly reduces anxiety, stress, and negative feelings while boosting positive ones. That post-workout high? Amplified when you add fresh air and natural light to the mix.
3. Burn More Calories Without Extra Effort
Studies found that outdoor workouts typically burn 5-10% more calories than the same workout done indoors. The varying terrain, temperature regulation, and wind resistance make your body work harder without feeling like it.
4. Better Sleep That Night
Outdoor morning exercise helps regulate your circadian rhythm, with research showing significant improvements in sleep quality. Bench pressing under the morning sun might be the solution to your 3 AM doom-scrolling habit.
5. The Mental Reset Nobody Told You About
Training outside has been shown to improve attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility better than identical indoor workouts. Reboot your brain while upgrading your body.
How to Get The Most Out of This Oasis
Since this space is basically the gym's hidden easter egg, here's how to use it like you've been there all along:
Grab a key from the front desk. Like any well-kept secret, this one is protected by the guardians at the front desk. Luckily they're terribly kind and will be just as excited as you are when you ask for it.
Bring a workout buddy for bench press sessions. Not just for the spot, but for the compliments (and so you don't accidentally get trapped under the barbell for hours).
Check the weather app first. Nothing ends a workout faster than unexpected rain turning your training log into papier-mâché.
Plan your hydration. The outdoor area isn't equipped with those glacier geyser water fountains that count how many plastic bottles you've saved.
Respect the vibe. If you've discovered this magical low-traffic zone, don't blast your music at max volume. It's likely our neighbors have 0 chill.
Pro Tips for Maximum Outdoor Gains
Early mornings and late afternoons offer the best lighting for both your workout and the inevitable social proof that you did, in fact, exercise today.
Circuit training is a breeze when nobody's watching you like a hawk to swoop in as soon as you set your weights down.
Supersets become super-easy because you can hog your equipment as long as you want when you're by yourself.
Meditation or mobility work after your session is better with a sprinkle of sunlight.
The Bottom Line
The outdoor fitness area is essentially the VIP room of West Coast Fitness that most VIPs haven't even discovered yet. Weird though, because who wouldn't want a better mood, more vitamin D, improved sleep, and the smug satisfaction of using a premium feature that others are overlooking.
So next time the sun makes an appearance, skip the packed indoor floor and head out to your semi-private fitness paradise. Your body, mind, and social media aesthetic will thank you.
Catch you outside,
Your West Coast Fitness Family
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