Random Post 1

 The Ultimate Battle of USC Gyms

    As someone who has finally started going to the gym consistently, I have a love-hate relationship with both the Lyon and Village gyms on campus. While they each have their perks for their intended gym-goers, there are also a good bit of cons. Here are the pros and cons for each of the gyms to help you decide which one is the better choice for you.

Village Gym

    There’s a lot to love about the Village gym. This newer facility is in the heart of the USC Village, making it an easy stop in your daily errand runs. It gets an edge over the Lyon Center for its newer equipment and shiny bathrooms (sorry, Lyon bathrooms suck). In addition to the traditional weight room equipment and cardio machines, it also has dedicated spaces for cycling and yoga group studios. Now, with all the perks also come the cons. Everyone and their mothers go to the Village Gym. I don’t think I’ve been to the gym once without bumping into at least one person that I know from class or elsewhere. So, if you don’t want your classmate from BUAD 302 to know that you can only bench press the bar, you might want to avoid the Village gym. The space is also just small in comparison to Lyon. The facility is only 30,000 square feet, compared to Lyon’s 80,000. That being said, it still does have all the machines and more that you need for your typical workout session.

Lyon Center

    The Lyon Center is honestly not that far from the Village as it’s off the Mcclintock entrance of campus. The facility comes with a variety of spaces including: a racquetball court, dance studio, basketball and volleyball courts, and even an aquatics center for those who want to take laps at the pool. Its multi-level building allows for people to be spread out when exercising. Compared to the Village, it definitely offers a larger range of options in case people prefer playing a sport instead of hitting the machines. I also notice that there are less people who gym at Lyon, so it can be easier to exercise on your wanted machines without having to wait or ask to work with someone else. That being said, the Lyon Center is intimidating. It wasn’t until this semester that I finally stepped foot into this gym. The main training area always feels filled with hardcore gym lovers who are squatting their body weights, if not more. On the flip side, I may claim that the Lyon Center is more for people who seem more intense in their training compared to those who go to the Village just for a casual cardio workout.

Final Thoughts

    As someone who goes to both facilities weekly, I find a charm in each gym. The Village Gym is a great introduction for gym newbies as it has easy to understand machines and plenty of cardio options to ease your way into things. Its newer facility also makes it more welcoming in my opinion. However, now that I’m getting more into strength training and want to incorporate more barbell exercises into my routine, the Lyon Center is better in ensuring I get the equipment I want without having to wait for an hour. At the end of the day, they are both great facilities to get your exercise in and your choice of gym is very dependent on what you are aiming to do!