Vignettes of Poughkeepsie: Mike Arteaga’s Health and Fitness Center, Monday, January 30, 6:15 p.m.

It’s 6:30 p.m. at Mike Arteaga’s Health and Fitness Center. The gym is crowded with men and women just out of work determined to reach their fitness goals before heading home. The atmosphere is loud with friends engaging in conversation, music playing, weights dropping on the floor and men grunting as they try to finish their last set. Almost every cardio machine is taken, but luckily I found a spot on the indoor bicycles.

On the bicycles to the right of me sit two high school girls who gossip about a boy they have a crush on at school. Behind me I overhear two older men making Super Bowl plans with one another while walking on the treadmill.

In the big group fitness room I watch an intense Zumba class taking place. I see some people who look exhausted as they are taking a short break for water. Others are very into the music and look as though they are having the time of their life without a sweat.

I notice a lot of multitasking going on. I see a teacher grading papers, a woman reading a book, a women watching music videos on her cell phone, and a whole lot of texting.

In the cardio area where I am sitting their are two big televisions. One television has the Duke and Notre Dame basketball game on while the other has CNN talking about President Donald Trump’s executive orders. I overhear a few people arguing about politics while others pay it no mind.

Even though the gym was crowded, the overall atmosphere was motivating as I watched men and women sweat and push themselves with determination to reach their fitness goals.