HOW TO FIND A GYM AND START EXERCISING
There is hardly a week that passes without an article or study
touting the benefits of exercise. Exercise to cure cancer,
exercise to lose weight, feel better, livelonger, and stop
dementia, the list appears endless. The benefits of exercise
sound fantastic but there is just one problem. You have to
exercise to gain the benefits! For many, this is a big problem.
So, what can you do to get yourself motivated to join the
wonderful world of exercising? A great solution is to join a gym
where you are in the company of like-minded people. Joining a
gym for the first time or after a period of inactivity can be a
little scary. I hope this article will make your fitness journey
a little easier.
Aren’t all gyms pretty much the same? The short answer would be.
……. NO. Every gym has it’s own personality both in the equipment
and the type of people it attracts. Some gyms cater to weight
lifters with lots of free weights and little else, while other
facilities might cater to working women and offer activities
such as yoga, spinning or aerobics. There are locally owned gyms
and nationwide chains. Small gyms as well as mega fitness
centers. There is a gym for everybody but it will take a little
footwork to find your perfect fit.
What’s the most important feature when looking for a gym?
In my opinion, location must be considered before anything else.
Absence will not make the heart grow fonder. A gym more than 10
minutes from your home or office will end up not getting used.
If you like to work out in the morning you might want to stick
with gyms close to home. If you’re a lunchtime sweat maven then
a gym near work could be a better option. Some of the larger
chains may have facilities by both work and home. In addition,
if you travel, gyms with multiple locations may let you work out
for FREE, or at a discount, if they have a facility at your
travel destination.
Other Features to Consider
Membership Clientele – Check out the other patrons in the gym
you are considering. Each gym has it’s own personality. Is it
mostly women or men? Is everybody wearing fashionable workout
gear or is it a shorts and t-shirt crowd? Does it cater to
families or is it an adult’s only gym?
Equipment - The quality and variety of equipment is very
important if you plan on starting a comprehensive fitness
program. Is the equipment well maintained? Check to see how many
machines are “out of order”. Check to see if free weights are
offered as well as machines. Is there an adequate cardio section
with plenty of bikes, climbers and treadmills? These tend to be
high use pieces of equipment so it is important that the
facility have several.
Hours - Everybody has different times for his or her workouts.
Make sure the gym you choose will accommodate your schedule. If
you are an early bird and your gym opens at 10:00 a.m. then you
are probably going to end up not using it despite the other
features you find appealing.
Price - Don’t get fooled by a low-ball price. Make sure the
membership includes the use of everything of interest to you.
Some gyms have a low membership fee and then charge extra for
using the tennis courts, pool, classes etc. Read the fine print.
Also, there are all-inclusive low priced gyms that are in the
business of selling memberships and don’t really care what
happens after you sign up. You may find that half your town has
a membership and you have to wait in line to use the equipment.
Management - Is there an active owner or manager on the
premises? What is there policy regarding restacking your weights
and the playing of loud music? In some gyms, anything goes and
you may hear 3 or 4 different stereos playing at the same time,
weights are thrown around and you can never find the equipment
you would like to use. This is a sign of poor and inattentive
management and should probably be removed from consideration.
Everybody is different and there is not a single solution for
picking the ideal gym. The key is to find a place that you feel
comfortable and that you will use on a regular basis. Working
out is a habit that takes time to form. Don’t make an impulsive
decision that will cause you to lose your desire to get in shape.
Before making a commitment, visit and workout at a few gyms that
you are considering. Most facilities will let you try them out
for a few days. Make sure you go at the times you would if you
were to join. This will give you a feel for how crowded the
equipment is at that time. Now, the only thing left to do is
just go out and GET STARTED!!
Here is a list of several gyms with nationwide locations. These
will offer a good starting point on your quest for the perfect
gym. Check for locations in your area.
http://www.powerhousegym.com/
http://www.goldsgym.com/
http://www.worldgym.com/
http://www.ballyfitness.com/
http://www.24hourfitness.com/
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