How to Choose a Gym or Health Club

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With the start of every New Year countless people decide to lose weight, get in shape, or just improve their overall health. Many people look to their local gym or health club to help them meet their goals. However if you’re nunfamiliar with joining a gym or not sure what to look for in a health club membership that went unused here are some helpful tips to help you make the right choice.

Word of Mouth
Your first line of research should always be friends, family members and relatives you can trust. Aunt Sally who hasn’t been to the gym since 1987 won’t be much help. See if anyone you know can get you a free or guest pass to visit and evaluate the gym on a first hand basis.

Budget
Everyone has a budget they need to stick to, and for many people price is the top factor in your decision making process. However you should ask yourself, am I better off going to a less well equipped gym with shorter hours, less classes and farther away, instead of paying a little more and regularly visiting a gym I enjoy. Price should be a factor in your decision, just not the primary factor.

Location
When you are looking for a gym, choosing one that’s easy, and convenient to get to is key. The farther away or more of a hassle it is to get to the gym, the less likely you will be to continue using it. Additionally take into consideration the neighborhood, is it safe and well lit at night, is there adequate parking?

Schedule
If you like to exercise in the morning, look for a gym that allows you to get in early enough to complete your workout, and get ready for school or work. If evenings are your preference make sure the gym is open late enough, that you don’t feel rushed when you are trying to exercise. A new trend with exercise facilities is 24 hour access, this does however come at a premium price. You probably won’t find many Yoga, Pilates or spinning classes at 2 am, so make sure this is something you’ll use before paying extra for it.

Childcare
Many health clubs now offer basic childcare facilities for busy mom and dads. You can drop your child off for playtime in a part of the facility while you’re exercising. Check to make sure there is at least one responsible adult supervising the children at all times, and the space is child friendly and meets up to your safety standards. At some clubs there is a nominal fee for this service.

Staff
Are the staff members you encounter pleasant, friendly and helpful? If the employees seem unconcerned or indifferent when you talk to them this may be a warning flag. Watch how they interact with each other and other club members. The staff should be willing to help you learn how to use or operate a machine safely, and answer basic questions. Remember the staff is not there to be your free personal trainer.

Management
As with all businesses management can make or break an organization. Is the management staff polite, friendly, and helpful? This attitude should remain consistent throughout the relationship, and not change once you have signed your membership.

Members
Do you feel comfortable with the type of people you see in the facility? If the gym is packed with bodybuilder types and you’re carrying a spare tire around your midsection, you might feel a little uncomfortable or intimidated. Is the gym packed with people and it’s difficult to move around? Try to visit close to the time you plan on using the gym, as the number of people will change throughout the day.

Atmosphere
When you look around and watch how the staff and other members interact with each other is it what you expect? How about how other members interact with each other? If you are looking for a serious workout and the gym is more a social gathering place would that bother you?

Cleanliness
If you are evaluating a busy or fairly active gym, understand things do have a tendency to get a little hectic during peak hours. However you should see members of the staff walking around gathering up loose equipment, straightening out free weights and dumbbells, and periodically wiping down the equipment. Looking at locker rooms, bathrooms and showers are a very good way to judge the cleanliness level of a facility.

Equipment
Make sure the gym you are looking at has enough of the equipment you are looking for. If you want to use the stair machine make sure there is more than one so you will have access to it without having to wait for someone to finish first. The equipment should also be arranged in a logical way, seven exercise bikes in a row shows organization, seven exercise bikes located randomly across the floor shows a lack of planning and organization.

Free Trial
If you find a gym you like inquire a free pass or two to give it a test drive. Almost every facility will give them away to entice new members to join. After your free passes are used don’t feel pressured to sign up on the spot. Many health clubs resort to high pressure sales tactics which leads to unused memberships. A free trial is a free trial, nothing more.

Memberships
Choose a membership length or level you are comfortable with. The best choice is a monthly membership as you are making a short term commitment. However once you find someplace you like, try a 6 or 12 month membership, longer term contracts will have lower monthly costs.

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