Recession-Hit Gym Rats Find Cheaper Ways to Work Out

Americans trying to cut back on both flab and expenditures are finding ways to go without costly gym memberships and exercise equipment, reports the Wall Street Journal. Sales of exercise DVDs and simple exercise equipment like yoga mats are booming. Experts say fitness is more important than ever in a recession as stress levels rise. And getting or staying in shape doesn't have to cost a fortune.

"I think this side of fitness, where people leave the gyms and workout at home, will continue to grow," says a personal trainer who acknowledges her clients are cutting back. Some are even finding ways to get exercise classes on the cheap. A group in Los Angeles calling itself "The Guys on the Corner" hires a personal trainer every Sunday to put them through a workout in a liquor store parking lot.