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How To Choose Your Fitness Center
Author : Tom Kevin
A health club can be a great fitness motivator if you choose the right one. Before you sign on the dotted line, be sure the fitness center you choose suits your personal needs and fitness goals.
Keep in mind that if a traditional gym isn’t for you, you can definitely set up a home gym where you can get complete workouts all in the privacy of where you live. There are a number of home gym systems out there that include all the equipment you need to perform all the key lifts that should be included in any workout program.
The top 10 considerations when selecting a gym are:
1. Location
Pick a gym location that is convenient. Who really wants to spend twice as long driving to and from their gym as it takes them to do their workout? You will just have one more excuse not to work out if the club is out of your way. Sometimes the gym without the exact classes and equipment you want will be a better deal due to a convenient location where you are more likely to stop and workout.
2. Variety of Exercise Equipment
Nothing is more frustrating than getting to the gym after work to find out that there is not a single machine in sight available for you to use. Ask if they offer a sign-up list where you can write your name and time down to reserve a machine. This is a convenient solution that many gyms have now come up with to make sure their members can use the equipment.
3. Patron Demographic
Are you concerned your gym clothes or physique isn't quite worthy? These can be important factors in choosing the right fitness center.
4. Free Services
You may want to ask if the gym offers any additional services or benefits in conjunction with your basic membership and if there is a fee for these. Parents will often have the best chance of making their health club attendance a habit if childcare is available on site. Some gyms have liberal guest privileges, while for others there is a fee for bringing a guest, and are you limited to certain hours or numbers of guests?
5. Exercise Classes
If you like group fitness classes, see check when they are available. Make sure the classes you want to take are offered at convenient times. Do not choose a club that focuses on boot camp classes if you want to do yoga. When you take a class, see how you like the instructor, the pace of the class, and the music. Is the class overcrowded? For instance, if you are taking a dance class, is there enough room to move about, and mirrored wall?
6. Operating Hours
Always be sure to check the hours of operation of the fitness center. Are you a morning or evening exerciser? Likewise, some people who prefer exercising late at night, you will want to check the evening availability hours.
7. Specialized Personal Services
Having some good, qualified professional trainers on hand is critical to helping you realize your full fitness potential. Your program may fit your needs today, but consider that in a month down the road you might be peeking and in need of a check-up so to speak on your current regime. The availability of knowledgeable staff will be important at this time. Unfortunately many fitness centers hire almost anyone who has a basic interest in fitness, so be sure to ask around about the actual qualifications of the trainers.
8. Cleanliness
The entire facility should be safe and clean, clean and well maintained. Check the bathrooms and showers to make sure there are enough clean towels, lockers, and hot water. Verify that the equipment and floors are cleaned regularly and that there is enough room to workout without bumping into others. Be on the look out for dangerous items such as loose carpets, tiles, electrical cords, or other things you could trip and fall over.
9. Monthly Fees
Gym memberships can vary significantly in costs so it is a good idea to shop around before making that final commitment. What does the monthly membership fees cover? Do popular class, such as yoga or Pilates, cost extra? Also consider the length of your membership contract. Many gyms like to entice you to sign a contract for years and if you aren’t quite sure it’s going to be a long-term arrangement, you are better off signing something that is along the lines of a monthly contract. Additionally, if you can wait until around late summer or New Year to sign up, you will find that often many gyms will have special promotions going on at this time.
10. Contact Cancellation Plan
Finally take a look at the gym's cancellation policy. If you sign up for a 3 year membership and then end up changing jobs and moving, are you going to be partially refunded? It will be a bad situation if they offer no refund or transfer membership. Some gyms are good about this and some are not so you will have to weigh the probability of your terminating among other things that are discussed above when making your decision.
So, be sure you are considering all of these essential factors when selecting a health club. Not checking just one item could lead you to being less than happy with your workout facility and this could end up being the reason why you do not stick with your program.
Author's Resource Box
Learn the 10 principals to a leaner body at BetterExerciseNFitness.com. Slim Body Secrets provides better exercise and fitness alternatives and is your resource for healthy weight loss information.
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Tags: fitness center, health center, exercise gym, workout, personal trainer
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Submitted : 2009-09-08 Word Count : 974 Popularity: 99 Times Viewed: 56
