I recently joined a university-based fitness facility seeking a greater variety of activities and equipment that you can't get from exercising at home or outdoors, in hope of revitalizing a few sets of muscles that have been largely dormant for the last 20 years. The variety of equipment and activities offered at this facility has been a nice change of pace. I'm enjoying the freshness of new workout routines and am also discovering that the setting is good for the mind. Being around others who have a common interest in staying active brings a sense of social cohesion that you don't usually obtain from a workout in your basement or living room. Although everyone is intent on getting the workout done there isn't much discourse between exercisers, in some odd way being in the company of others who have a common interest, ie., remaining active, gives one the sense of belonging.

To read this column, go to: http://www.ncpad.org/783/4161/The~Social~Dimension~of~Fitness~Centers.