We’ve all wondered why low income areas have higher rates of obesity and disease. The reasons are numerous but one factor that comes to mind is that exercising outdoors in these areas is, often times, not an option. Higher crime rates add an element of danger to early morning jogs. Dense traffic and criminal activity prevent many people from experiencing the simple workouts that a lot of us take for granted. Gyms offer a safe, well-lit area to workout but most families in low income neighborhoods can’t afford gym memberships. It comes as no surprise because I actually live in a great neighborhood but can’t afford it either. Thankfully, a non-profit group in the Boston area is taking it upon themselves to start a revolution.

Healthworks is a low-cost, women’s only gym with all the amenities including yoga and hip hop classes. Rumor has it, they are even adding a teaching kitchen to offer classes in nutritional eating and food preparation. The teaching kitchen is a fresh idea and I wonder why more traditional fitness facilities haven’t incorporated this yet. Healthworks seems to recognize that the purpose of a fitness facility extends beyond making the population beautiful and into educating the masses.

Membership dues are on a sliding scale, based on income. Nobody pays more than $30 a month and one woman only pays $10 for her membership. Doctors in the area even give patients free vouchers for Healthworks memberships. Americans are insanely unhealthy as a whole and it’s about time someone took this problem into their own hands.

If we can get fitness centers like this around the country, we might be able to start turning ourselves around.