I go to yoga twice a week at a studio that I love. It is a very spiritual and warm atmosphere - yea, the whole incense and candles deal. The classes are all Ashtanga prep but one night a week we do the advanced first series class which I absolutely love. That night is further painted in beauty by the wonderful live guitar music of B. Once a week the option is open to do yoga followed by dinner served to you on the patio -- no hokey pokey dinner either...we're talking wonderful gourmet, healthy food. Along with yoga, I ride my bike with The Daughter about 5-6 miles twice a week.

The Husband has a lifetime $5 per month membership to 24 Hour Fitness (the gym Cindy Crawford advertises for). He goes 2-3x a week to work out and surfs in his other spare time.

A few days ago some of the moms on the street were telling me about the new gym. It sounded lovely. Even the childcare program sounded amazing -- all wooden toys and credentialed teachers instead of low-paid daycare workers like most gyms. One of the Ashtanga teachers I had heard of before was teaching the Ashtanga classes and it sounded really interesting. 3 pools - including a family pool and an infant pool with mushroom waterfall :) Lots of classes - nutrition, wine tasting, massage. Lots of workout opportunities - yoga, step classes, cycling classes, spinning, regular workout room, pilates. Many of the families are going as families and spending the afternoon there hanging out by the pool or doing things together - tennis, racquetball, squash.

So, I got intrigued. We inquired about price and were extremely shocked to find out that it is actually $5 cheaper per month than I pay for my current yoga studio for 11 classes (which is roughtly a month and a half unless I go more frequently which means the classes go sooner). They also offer swim lessons and I'm currently paying out in the yin yang (no, really, think expensive) for The Son & The Daughter's lessons. I went to the Ashtanga class this morning and really enjoyed it even though I'm so congested I thought my head might explode. It is different in that there is *no* spiritual element to it -- no guided visualizations, no meditation before savasana, no head & foot massage (think 1 minute each here) and certainly no life guitar music or really really really awesome friends I've made (though I know many people at the gym from my neighborhood).

The childcare *was* awesome... all wooden Waldorf-style toys, an art program, an outside program... an actual "program" that seems extremely child-led and really well run including a no-exceptions sick policy that *ANY* sign of sickness sends a child home (which I appreciate).

So, now I have to decide...give up yoga at the studio I've been going to and pay the same price for a full-fledged athletic club that can provide our whole family with activities including family activities. I've never used childcare before but if The Daughter liked it - and she probably would as all our neighborhood kids would be there and she absolutely loves going to The Son's preschool - I could workout more often if I wanted.

Half of me wants to do it and half of me doesn't. On the one hand, I hate the whole gym scene. I hate the "social scene" aspect but, then again, it might be nice to meet active families in my area. I really do want to work out more so this would be a good thing in that regard. I would miss the spiritual component of yoga but, then again, I should be able to find it no matter where I'm doing yoga -- it's all inner work anyway, right? I would most certainly miss B and the guitar playing... there is nothing that compares to that relationship.

Usually I have a gut feeling on issues but on this one I simply don't. ARG.