How to find the right gym for you
Joining a health club may be one of the best ways to get the results you’re looking for, but joining the wrong one still remains one of the best ways to waste your hardearned dough.
These tips can save you from choosing the wrong gym instead of the right one for you. Time your drive to the gym Run a search for health clubs and the town you live and write down only those within a 15-minute radius from where you live. Why? Most experts agree that picking a gym that’s any farther than that reduces your chances of staying committed to exercise considerably. If you typically spend more time at work than at home and figure you’ll be leaving for the gym from work, then choose a gym that’s 15 minutes away from your workplace instead. Go on tour Some clubs will list dozens of features they offer to make them seem like the best choice. Do yourself a favour and make sure to get a list of everything the club claims it has to offer, then demand to check out each area personally.
During your tour, ask yourself these three important questions: 1. Do I really need this area? 2. Is this area really as impressive as their literature or salesperson claims?
3. Will I be charged separately to use this area or is this service free? Take a test drive Insist on getting a free one-day pass to check out the facilities for yourself. Some gyms will even offer you up to three days — or even a full week — to try them on for size. But if they don’t let you experience their facility for free, then don’t bother and walk out — that alone should clue you in on their poor business practices right from the start.
Once you get a pass, you may think the smartest plan would be to check out the gym during its busiest hours (5 to 7 p.m.) to see how crowded it gets. That’s fine, if that’s the time you would normally go, but not if you plan on exercising at a different time during the day. Instead, go at the time you would normally work out each day.
Don’t just keep track of how crowded it gets, but also pay attention to the atmosphere. It’s the atmosphere that can make or break your future workouts down the road, since the mood of a gym can be the deciding factor.
Hunt around for someone who looks like you
If you don’t see anyone around that’s your age or body type, there may be a reason for that. Certain gyms cater to specific communities, such as hardcore bodybuilders, serious aerobic junkies, or the over-50 crowd. If you do manage to find someone like you, ask them — when you’re trying out the gym for free — a few questions like, “Does this place always look this good?” “Is the staff always this friendly?” or “Does the equipment break down a lot?”
Watch how the staff treats the paying customers
Don’t be fooled by all the extraordinary attention you might get when checking out a new gym. If you’re walking around with the gym manager, the rest of the trainers and staff know you’re most likely a potential client, so trust us, they are on their best behaviour. Look around to see how they treat the rest of the people exercising around you. Check the legroom In an effort to pack the gym with as much equipment as possible, some gyms leave out one important thing: room to breathe. Look at how close machines and benches are to one another. Extra equipment is useless if you have to wait constantly for someone to finish on the machine next to you. Also, look for cleanliness. You may feel awkward taking a tour of the locker-room, but it can be the best place to visit if you’re curious about cleanliness. Question their longevity Ask how long they’ve been in business if you don’t already know the answer. If it’s a gym that’s been around for a while, odds are, you won’t have any problems with them suddenly shutting their doors down the road. If they’re new, ask about their history.
Check out their top trainers’ credentials
Any gym can buy the right equipment if they have enough cash, but a health club is only as good as its instructors. The problem is, anyone can also hang out a shingle and claim to be a personal trainer, massage therapist, or aerobics instructor. If you want to truly gauge how good the classes or personal instruction may be, ask about the background of their staff. Invest in yourself After you’ve picked your gym, try having a physical profile done either at the club — if they offer that service — or through your family doctor. Then, have another profile done after three months and compare the results. This way, you can see if your investment is paying off.