Good space for your pace: Ramstein Northside Fitness Center

Editor’s Note: During the coming months, the KA will profile fitness centers in the KMC. Be sure to check the sports section regularly for the skinny on how to use local fitness centers to shape up.

The lowdown:
In its heyday, the Ramstein Northside Fitness Center was the place for the KMC’s fittest to see and be seen. Then the new Southside Fitness Center opened up earlier this year. “Our population has been pretty much cut in half,” said Tech. Sgt. Tommy Bush, NCOIC for the Northside Fitness Center. “But it is a great relief on the existing equipment.”
The population loss is your gain. Other than the morning hours between 5:30 to 7:30 when many squadron PT sessions are taking place, long rows of equipment sit waiting for fitness-hungry patrons to use.
So if you tire of the gleaming crowds down south, check out the former glory at the Northside Fitness Center. It’s still pretty glorious.

The gear:
The Ramstein Northside Fitness Center has lots of cardio machines – more than 20 bikes, 16 elliptical trainers, more than a dozen treadmills and a handful of stair climbers. The place also offers a number of Life Fitness weight machines and has a freeweight room, where aspiring Rockys can check their guns in the mirrors. There are also plenty of exercise balls, resistance bands and mats for ab training.

The activities:
Kuk Sool Won martial arts classes are offered, and five therapists offer massage and reflexology sessions. There is also a squadron PT reservation system, and the Juice Bar near the cardio machines slings healthy snacks during opening hours.

Must-know fact:
If you want to register for Fitlinxx, it must be done at the Ramstein Northside Fitness Center.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed holidays and goal days

The bottom line:
Big space and plenty of machines mean great opportunities for fitness at your pace.