Choosing the Right Gym
June 13, 2009
So you have made up your mind to stay healthy, fit and lose those extra pounds. You have decided to take on professional help and start looking out for the ideal gym. Sounds good??? The problem today is that you have so many options to choose from. High end clubs, local gymnasium with basic amenities, every nook and corner has a gym or a fitness centre these days. Don’t sweat, don’t get confused. A little research and a little advice can help you get to your best option.
Step 1: Fitness Goals
Before going on a look-out for a gym, you should know what exactly you want to achieve by this gym membership. Are you looking to improve your overall health, build your stamina, lose those extra pounds or gain some body mass. Do you want to go for aerobics, strength training, yoga or other form of exercise? How much money are you ready to shed to reach your goal? If you aren’t sure what you want to do, take expert advice or chose an all-purpose gym where you find multiple activities under one roof.
Step 2: Personal Visit: Session with the gym representative
Once you have decided what you want and got answers for the questions mentioned above the next step is to go and visit the gyms you have shortlisted based on your requirement. Location should be a factor to shortlist the gym, make sure you join a facility close to home so that you become regular and it is convenient.
If a gym looks appealing speak to the manager/representative in detail and get your queries resolved. So of the answers that you might want to get are:
-Gym timing
-Membership fee. Is the billing cycle monthly/quarterly/annual?
-What is the option available if I want to close my membership?
-Are there any hidden charges?
-Parking Facility
-How often are the equipments replace?
-What activities do the offer?
-What are the number of people working out at the same time?
-How many trainers are available at a give point in time?
-How qualified are the trainers?
Step 3: Personal Visit: Inspect the gym
The representative you spoke to might have been trained to show the gym in the best light and might have hidden many things from you, your personal inspection will make the picture clear. For a personal trip you should visit the gym during the peak hours or during the time you would like to come for exercise, this gives you a better glimpse into reality. Things that you need to check are:
Equipments:
Equipments are the reason why you have chosen to step out from the comfort of your homes. You must check the equipments both on quality and quantity. Make sure there are enough number of cardiovascular equipments like treadmill, cross trainers, bikes, elliptical machines, rowing machines etc. Weights and other strength training equipments like benches, bar bells, etc. need to be checked next. Have a visit of the aerobics or the yoga room which if for nothing else would be used for stretching, floor exercise, lunges, skipping etc. Make sure all equipments are in good condition.
Trainer & Staff:
Equipments would hardly be useful if you don’t have a good trainer. A bulky person with huge muscles need not be the best trainer. Speak to the trainer in detail, if you haven’t done so yet. Make sure s/he is well qualified and knowledgeable. Check the other staff basis their experience and approach.
Clients:
Every fitness centre has a specific type of clientele; make sure you are comfortable with the kind of people the gym attracts. Speak to some people and find out details about trainers, customer friendliness, cleanliness, hours, availability of equipments, in short the overall reputation.
Cleanliness:
Unclean gyms may invite many diseases; hence this factor shouldn’t be ignored. Analyse the overall cleanliness and check if there is a fulltime cleaning staff available.
Changing rooms/Shower cubicles and lockers:
Ensure the lockers are safe and in working conditions. The changing rooms and shower cubicles should be clean. Make sure there are enough shower cubicles/changing rooms and lockers to cater to the number of clients. See if there is a sauna facility available. Check if the changing rooms are unisex or separate.
Step 4: Trial
It is of utmost importance to try the gym out before enrolling. Many centres will oblige you with a free workout but some of them might charge a nominal fee.
Step 5: Be Money wise
As one doesn’t judge a book by its cover you shouldn’t judge a gym by the membership fee it charges. High fees better result rule doesn’t apply here. Many decently priced small facility may provide good results, hence it is important to look at the bigger picture than just 1 aspect.
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