How to Choose a Gym or Health Spa
Posted on January 12th, 2007 by garyPosted in Exercise, Fitness, Health
Some of the most popular new years resolutions involve losing weigh and getting in shape. For many people visiting a gym or health spa is the best choice. However if you’ve never used a gym before or it’s been a few years since you visited one things can be a little confusing. Here are some tips to help you make a more informed decision.
Your first and best source for information should be your family, friends and neighbors. See if any of them have any experiences good or bad with any local health facilities. The advice you get from people you trust is always going to be your best source. However if no one you know visits a gym you are going to have to do some research on your own. Watch for ads, coupons, or other promotional offers. You can find these on TV, radio, or your local newspaper, use these as a starting point. Go and visit the facility you are thinking about joining. Ask for a brief tour. If you come during a busy period they may ask you to schedule a visit later, don’t misinterpret that as a warning sign. One of the key things you should be looking for is cleanliness. Sure people will be using equipment and dumbbells and other equipment gets moved around, but things should generally look clean. Be sure to visit the showers, lockers bathroom area. These areas will really give you an idea of the overall cleanliness of the establishment.
When you speak with the person selling you the membership remember they will usually make a commission if you sign up, so they will always try to up sell you additional services. Additionally most gyms have between a 30 and 40% dropout rate in the first 90 days, so they will oversell in January knowing you might not me here at the end of March. Know what your monthly fees are, what they include, and how often you are billed. You should always ask about cancellations, what’s involved, how long it takes, are there fees and what gets refunded. Up until the point you sign the contract you have the advantage, negotiating down the road gets much more complicated. Never sign the contract without going home and reading all the fine print. It may not be fun but could save you money and headaches down the road. You should also investigate the gym with you local Better Business Bureau. It’s not unusual to have one or two complaints however a pattern of repeated complaints should be a definite warning sign.
Most gyms will want you to sign a long term contract for 12 months or more. Try to choose the shortest term contract that makes sense to you. Unless you have been going to the gym for a while it doesn’t make sense to sign a 24 month contract if the 6 month contract is only slightly more expensive per month. If everything is fine after the first 6 months then look into a longer term contract. A gym or health spa can be an excellent way to get in shape if you are willing to do your research before hand, and know what you are getting yourself involved in.
Popularity: 25% [?]
