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St. Louis may be known for the Gateway Arch, but you'll be surprised to see how many fitness centers are in the city. If you are looking to start exercising, St. Louis has plenty of options for you. Fit City Gym Fit City Gym is at 1601 S. Jefferson Ave. in the Gate District. It is open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Fit City is a 24,000-square-foot facility loaded with brand-new, state-of-the-art workout equipment from wall to wall and a large selection of cardio machines. Fit City offers two memberships: basic and premium. Basic gives you access to the gym, locker rooms, sauna, and two free training sessions. The premium membership adds on unlimited tanning, access to a babysitting area, and half off smoothies. You can visit the gym for free on your first visit, and be sure to check out frequently changing enrollment specials. more Fitness Formula Fitness Formula is in the Central West End at 4630 Lindell Blvd. Hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This gym's focus is on group classes, but if that isn't your thing, you can use the facilities at your own pace. Some of the group classes include Formula Total Body, Strength and Cardio Core Blast. These classes are heart-rate monitored to make sure you are burning the most calories possible. Fitness Formula has many membership options, You can do open gym by the day, week, or month, purchase packs of classes, or opt for class memberships. Southtown Yoga Southtown Yoga can be found at 1905 Park Ave. in Lafayette Square. The class schedule varies, but they usually practice daily, sometimes beginning as early as 6 a.m. and as late at 8:30 p.m. The classes offered include aligned flow and meditation, beginners, underground yoga Buti style, yoga basics, and aligned flow. Southtown Yoga does have a unique class called Yogahour Give!, which gives half of the profits of that class to a local charity. Memberships to Southtown Yoga range from a $10 to $15 for a single drop-in session, $95 a month for unlimited classes, or $1,000 for an entire year of unlimited classes. Arch City CrossFit Arch City CrossFit is at 9228 Manchester Road and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Arch City has two CrossFit classes: XM Weightlifting and XM Sweat. XM Weightlifting focuses on strength and technique, while XM Sweat is a high-intensity workout. You can sign up for either eight classes a month at $120, 12 classes a month at $145, or $160 a month for unlimited classes. Arch City has one free Saturday a month where you can try out the gym. If you are feeling out of shape, then make your way to any of these gyms or studios and start a new routine. Your body will feel great once you start working out. Image via Flickr by ThoroughlyReviewed | CC BY 2.0.

As they're one of the most important components of your vehicle, you rely on your brakes every day. But how do you know if your brakes are in need of repair? We've put together this short list of some of the most common warning signs. Brake Pad Thickness Examine your car's brake pads periodically. You should be able to get a good look at them through the spokes of your wheels. As long as the pads are at least one-quarter of an inch thick, they are probably in good shape. If the pads are any thinner, though, they may have worn out beyond their useful lifespan and will need to be replaced. Checking the pads is one of the best ways to see how your brakes are doing because it involves clear visual evidence instead of the interpretation of mysterious noises. But sometimes you'll need to use your ears, too. more Squealing or Squeaking Brakes If you've ever applied your vehicle's brakes and heard a long, drawn-out squealing sound, you'll know exactly what we're talking about. There's good news and bad news about this particular noise, though. The good news is that your brakes probably aren't about to fail catastrophically. The squeaking noise you're hearing is generated by a small metal shim that's designed to make this noise when it's time for new brakes. The bad news, of course, is that it's time for new brakes. This little shim may be a non-vital brake component, but it's important to have your car serviced before anything more serious goes wrong. Decreased Performance Pay attention to how your brakes feel when you're using them. This is a more vague concept than listening for a squeal or checking the thickness of the pads, but it's equally important. Some major warning signs are longer stopping distances, a spongy or soft feeling when you brake, shuddering when braking, and the vehicle pulling to the side when braking. The longer you drive when encountering these symptoms, the more damage to your vehicle you're risking. Remember, braking is driven by a metal-on-metal contact action, and any mechanical problem with your brakes could have serious consequences. Scheduled Replacement The passage of time can be another reason to have your brakes replaced. Unfortunately, there is no universal rule when it comes to replacing your brakes on a regular schedule. Consider your driving habits; if you apply the brakes smoothly and gradually, you can prolong their lifespan. In contrast, riding the brakes and braking abruptly can wear them out more quickly. Traffic patterns are another element to keep in mind. If you drive in stop-and-go traffic, you'll be using the brakes more often. Finally, the materials from which the brakes are made can actually affect longevity. We recommend consulting your mechanic to establish a schedule. Routine maintenance is just one element of owning a vehicle, and brakes are one of the most important parts of any car. Follow these simple tips and pay careful attention to any warning signs you notice. Image via Flickr by aresauburn | CC BY-SA 2.0.