14 Places to Get in Shape for the New Year

With the New Year rolling in, one of the most popular resolutions involves weight loss and getting in shape. It’s not an easy task since less than half of the resolution makers keep at it after six months. It’s important to pick the right place to get in shape, so here’s a list of 14 places that change from martial arts to dance to regular gyms. 

Cheshire

The community pool located in Bartlem Park is one of the only seven olympic size 50-meter pools in the state. It is enclosed with a fabric bubble during the winter months to provide year-round swimming. The high school boys' and girls' swim team train and hold meets at the pool, as does the YMCA's Sea Dog Swim Club. The facility has open swim sessions and provides a number of recreational classes and swim lessons.

Fitness Xpress, a privately owned father-and-son club, is not to be confused with chain gyms of similar names. The gym opened four years ago and is the first private club in Connecticut to employ suspension training -- a unique method of developing core body strength.

JC Karate practices the 2,000 year old Tang Soo Do method of martial arts -- a combination of the classic Korean art with influences from the Tang. At JC, there are classes three days a week for Tiny Tigers and Little Dragons, (ages three through seven), and five days a week for Gups (ages six and above). For those 14 and older, there are spinning and cardio kickboxing offered in both the mornings and evenings. Bully defense classes and bully talks are available as well.

Physique Plus Fitness Center, located on Route 10, believes in providing the best workout around by ensuring that its members are comfortable and enjoying themselves. Physique offers tanning plans, personal coaching sessions and a fresh juice bar as well as appointments with a fat loss coach and group exercise classes.

This 11,000-square-foot location contains a modern health and wellness center and houses a Kid's Zone, a child-care service for members while they workout. Membership prices vary, with several different plans and financial assistance available for those who qualify.

For more fitness locations in Cheshire, check the Cheshire Patch Places section.

Hamden

: Academy of Kempo Martial Arts teaches physical and mental discipline through the martial arts. It focuses on the three parts of Kempo which include traditional, practical and competitive styles. There is a comfortable viewing/waiting room for parents and the academy sells clothing and workout apparel.

Bashta's Martial Arts offers martial arts training in a variety of fighting styles including, judo, tae kwon do and mixed martial arts. It offers free trial classes and participates in competitions.

  Located across from Hamden Storage on Raccio Park Road, Elite Fitness is family owned and operated by Hamden resident Gerald Raccio since it opened in 1991. It is a full gym with free weights and variety of cardio and weight machines. Its goal is to make working out fun. There are Pilates, Zumba and senior fitness classes.

Located in a 2,700-square-foot facility on Leeder Hill Drive, Elm City Cross Fit offers 40 classes to choose from weekly and is Connecticut's official USA Triathlon Club. Strength and stamina training and both group training sessions and individual training are offered. Cross Fit sponsors and participates in numerous events, races and competitions. 

Established in 1984, LA Fitness now has sports clubs nationwide offering a variety of activities and training to promote a healthy lifestyle. In addition to a full state of the art gym, it also offers a full menu of classes, including step, spin, kickboxing, yoga, cycling and more. This location offers basketball and racquetball leagues for members, and personal trainers are available to help you get fit. There is a pool at this location.

: Located on Marne Street next door to CT Works, Planet Fitness has a huge parking lot located across the street from the entrance. The gym itself offers a comfortable, relaxed "Judgment Free Zone" to get in shape. It has a great variety of free weights and machines to train on and have plenty of cardio-based machines like tread mills and stationary bikes. 

For more fitness locations in Hamden, check the Hamden Patch Places section.

North Haven

Club 24 is a fitness facility with the most flexible hours in North Haven. It is open 24 hours a day during the week. One has no excuse not to be able to find the time to come here. The equipment is all-new and the place just feels clean. Club 24 also offers personal training, and some virtual classes. 

This is one of two locations (the other is in West Haven, Connecticut) and is located on the end of a small strip mall with three other businesses. Gloria Jean's Studio of Dance has been in business since 1961. It offers dance education for children ages 3 and up. Weekday and Saturday classes are available.

North Haven Health & Racquet Club has been family-owned and -operated for more than 35 years. With more than 75,000 square feet on two floors, North Haven Health & Racquet features the latest in state-of-the-art cardio and weight training equipment. Featuring six tennis courts, five racquetball courts, a basketball court, jogging track and aerobics and spinning rooms.

For more fitness locations in North Haven, check the North Haven Patch Places section.