By CD318156,
SparkPeople Blogger
12/3/2008
Over the next several weeks, gym enrollment across the country will hit a season high as many of us prepare to follow through with our New Year’s resolutions of finally getting in shape. But before you jump into any long term contracts, review a list of suggestions that may help you determine if the gym you choose is a good fit for you.
Visit the gym at the time you most likely will attend. By doing so you will have an idea on how busy the gym is at that particular time of day or evening. Generally the peak hours for most gyms are prior to 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
Is the gym close to your home or work? What are their hours of operation? If you have to drive quite a distance to get to the gym and the gym does not open early enough then there is a good chance you will not be an active member.
Check to see if the gym has any formal complaints filed against it with the Better Business Bureau or other consumer groups.
Ask if the gym offers a free trial period. This will allow you to visit the club at different times during the day. Keep in mind, January through March can be unusually busy so it may be difficult to know for certain what the club traffic is like. However, once March rolls around, many gyms are usually less crowded since research has shown that most gym goers abandon their memberships within 90 days of signing up.
Don’t feel pressure to sign a contract until you are ready. Consider whether a long term contract where you generally pay a larger sign up fee up front in exchange for cheaper monthly dues or paying a nominal sign up fee in exchange for higher monthly dues is best suited for you. Many times the month to month option allows you to cancel your membership within a given notice (say 30 days) with no penalties. Note that the terms and agreements vary from club to club so make sure you read the fine print before putting your name on anything. Do not rely on what the salesperson tells you. The area of club sales has a high turnover rate therefore the salesperson who sold you the membership may be long gone after you have obligated yourself to the terms. I have also been told never allow a club/gym to electronically draft your bank account for your monthly dues. Instead write a check or have the dues charged to a credit card. The reason--if you have any disputes with the gym they will not have access to your personal bank account.
Are there enough cardio machines available? Are you limited in the amount of time you have for each machine? In some clubs it isn’t unusual during peak hours to limit a client’s use to 30 minutes for popular cardio machines such as the treadmill and elliptical. If you are one who consistently needs 60 minutes for your workouts you may want to consider working out during non-peak hours when time limits are usually no issue.
Look at the cleanliness and working order of the machines and equipment. Are the machines well maintained or do you see signs that many are in need of repair? While equipment failure occurs in all gyms, if it takes a month or two to get the equipment replaced or repaired then the gym facilities may not be well maintained by the staff. Don’t hesitate to ask about their policy of equipment repair.
Does the gym supply sanitizing wipes to wipe down the equipment. In this day of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections, most gyms are now offering disinfecting wipes for use by their clients both before and after a workout.
Ask if the gym offers instructions on how to use the cardio and resistant training machines. Many clubs offer this service at no cost to the client, but don’t assume that this is true in all cases. Some clubs may even go so far as to offer one free personal training session with a certified personal trainer to guide you through the process, just make sure you ask.
Does the gym supply hand towels for use on the gym floor? I use towels on all workout benches and to wipe the sweat off my face after a good cardio and strength training session. Be sure to ask if this is something that is offered for a fee or is included with your membership.
How clean are the locker rooms? I once read that you can judge a lot from a club by how clean they keep their locker rooms, especially the showers. Does the gym provide lockers, towels, and blow dryers at no cost? One gym I belonged to made their clients pay a fee to rent a locker and charged a monthly fee for towels to use after showering.
Does the gym offer more than what you would use? For example the gym I attend offers two full basketball courts, four racquetball courts, indoor and outdoor pools, a steam room, dry sauna, two whirl pools, rock climbing, child care, a spa, and café, in addition to the normal gym goer’s equipment. I like having access to the extras even if I do not use them. These features are all included in my monthly membership. However, if all you want is a basic gym for less money you should keep looking.
Does the gym offer classes such as kick boxing, pilates, Spinning, aerobics, and yoga? While more and more gyms are diversifying into other areas of fitness not all offer these classes and many that do may charge a fee.
What is the atmosphere of the gym itself? Do you feel that you could walk onto the floor without being intimidated? Do you feel you would fit in with others working out? If you feel remotely uncomfortable time and time again, there is a good chance that you will not continue going. This is when a free trial period works toward your advantage.
Never ever feel pressured to sign up at that moment. Many salespeople, because they are commissioned based, will pull out all stops to get you to sign up on the spot, but take time to read the terms and agreements and know what you are signing. Little should change in a 24 hour time frame and if it does, then you know that club was not the one for you.
Take a look at the following SparkPeople article on 8 Tings to Consider When Choosing a Gym for more insightful information.
What features do you look for in a gym/club? Have you ever joined a gym only to regret it later? What reasons do you have for leaving/quitting a gym? How much would you be willing to pay to for a gym membership
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