Place
If you prefer a fitness club on the other side of your town, will you be able to remain motivated and make an effort to visit regularly? Presumably not. Especially on those days when your determination is on a minimum and your work agenda is beyond busy. A good fitness club location will ideally be someplace between your home and your job. Having a fitness club in the area is going to reduce your stress level, keep you doing exercises and save you a lot of travel time.
Charges
Joining a fitness club can be a big financial expense. Gym membership costs are not to be taken lightly and are often the main reason why people choose a specific gym. Inexpensive gym subscriptions may seem like a much better option in the beginning but could be a poor choice if these gyms cannot accommodate your needs. The same thing goes for more costly gyms. You may be paying too much for what you are receiving. Additionally, many fitness gyms will require a registration fee. You may simply wait for any special offer to save on these fees, but you may also speak to the staff. Suggest that you’re considering several other gyms as well and figure out what kind of offer they can present you with right away.
Services
Gym facilities and fees go hand in hand. If you are not planning on using much of the amenities the gym has to offer, you might be overpaying. Alternately, if you like a sauna or a decent swim after your regular workout, a less expensive gym without those amenities may not be right for you. Be sure to discover what the gym’s facilities are and how regularly you will be using these. Modern facilities can be a good way to get your attention to sign-up, but you have to be sure you will need all the gym has to provide. If you need specialized facilities such as no-cost car parking, group classes or group classes, see whether they are included in your membership or whether you need to pay extra for these.
Membership contract
An excellent fitness club agreement exists to safeguard both your own and the fitness club’s interests. Find out how the person interacts with you and if they can be pushy. If they expect you to join on the spot, walk away. Ideally, you would want to carry the written agreement home with you, read it very carefully and think about it. Figure out just how long the written agreement is good for and if there are any concealed charges. Will your agreement carry over automatically? Hammer out a deal with the staff, view it as a sport and you can frequently get significantly lower rates. Request to try the facility before signing a binding agreement, but watch out for any paper that you need to sign. Less respectable fitness gyms could slip you a contract while saying it is a form for “liability purposes”. Always look into the terms and conditions of your membership contract.
Opening times
Will your favourite gym be open during the hours that you might be thinking of working out? Many people exercise in the morning, some prefer the evening hours and there are fitness gyms that are closed during the weekends. You want to look for a fitness club that will suit your hectic schedule. Otherwise, you will be paying for a gym you can not get access to at times that suit you the most.
Staff
Excellent fitness gyms have good staff, who are supportive, warm, friendly and skilled. The person should answer all of your questions, help you build-up fitness workout routines and even spot you during workout sessions. Make sure to ask about their credentials and see how they treat you as a potential new member. In case you are struggling in getting your questions answered beforehand, be sceptical of the way they’re going to treat you when you’ve signed up with the gym. Friendliness is a big benefit. A depressed facial expression as a welcome to your fitness club can drain all of the energy away from you.
Regular members
What’s important is that you choose a gym where you will feel at ease with exercising. You should not feel uncomfortable, threatened or confused. Find out what kind of folks are exercising at your fitness club of preference. Are they your favourite type of people? If you want to exercise intensely, you will not like a fitness club where a friendly chat is on the schedule. If you like meeting new folks, you are better off in a gym where there’s a great personal ambience and where people interact effortlessly with each other. In case you do not appreciate co-ed fitness gyms, you could choose a ladies only or men’s only gym near you.
Gym equipment
Whenever you visit a fitness club of your choice, make sure to take a look around. Exactly what do you notice? Are there sufficient machines, weight plates and hand weights for everyone? Make an effort to find out if members are waiting around in line for well-liked fitness equipment and exercises. Some gyms are famous for using time limits on fitness cardio equipment. If you’re intending to do a lot of cardio, this time limit will not be good for you. If you are a serious bodybuilder or want to turn into one, make sure that the available dumbbells, weight loads and weight plates satisfy your desires.
Care
There is absolutely nothing worse than a fitness club without any hygiene requirements. You’ll want to sign up for a gym where they have clean fitness equipment, locker rooms, bathrooms and toilets. Look around on your initial visit. Are there sufficient towels to clean the gym equipment after each use? Also, make sure that staff members enforce these requirements. While you happen to be there, take a look at the locker room, showers and lavatories. If you do not appreciate what you’re seeing, you can bet your money that hygiene standards are not being enforced in that club.
Good friends
Consult people you’re friends with and ask where they’ve been keeping fit and if they’re pleased. Many times, your friends and folks you already know can give you a great insight into great community fitness gyms and warn you for gyms you must avoid.