Basics Fitness Center

My mother and father have so benefited from basics lifeline. (87, 96)
When we visit from out of town, I am impressed — and doubt that I could keep up! The classes are wonderful for balance and cardio and strength and stretching.

We had been members at Basics Fitness for many years. It is a family owned and run business. The owners and the staff are professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. The facility is visually pleasing, has an open floor plan, and is very clean. The owners are quietly creative – that is, they don’t spend money quickly or lavishly, rather they make small changes such as massage options, Casco Bay Physical Therapy sessions, and juice bar drinks.
Up until this year, I concentrated mainly on individual exercising; I used the cardio machines and the strength machines. Then I decided to try Peter’s «Lifeline» classes. I was the youngest and newest member of the very crowded classes. The core group (mostly women) has followed Peter from USM. I will forewarn anyone who is either younger than 65, vivacious, outgoing, has had a dance background, or outwardly expresses joy to be a part of a structured class, to be cautious about participating in Peter’s «Lifeline» classes (Mondays, Wednesday’s, & Friday’s). All the men in the classes, are very friendly kind. However, there is a small group of 2 – 4 older, surly women who are extremely unkind to newcomers. They border on vicious; they snicker like 2^nd graders, they push chairs aside so newcomers cannot sit near them, and they use nasty tones when they speak. Perhaps the tone of voice they customarily use on their husbands and children. This classroom environment is neither supportive nor nurturing to ‘outsiders.’ Other than these few unpleasant women (kinder words than they deserve), Basics might be a good choice in a city with so few choices.

Basics Fitness Center is a warm, friendly, CLEAN gym with caring and committed staff. Everyone learns your name at Basics and you receive lots of individual attention including your own 3 personal orientation sessions. At Basics you can come as you are without feeling intimidated. It is the nicest gym around the Portland area.