Choosing the Right Gym
Ben Jardine provides advice on some key points to consider when choosing a gym.
It is often said that gym membership sign-ups surge between January and February every year. However, by August, many gyms become somewhat deserted by either paying members or those opting for short-term gym memberships. We will explore some vital attributes that should help you sustain a healthy relationship with your gym.
The 'feel' of the gym
No one likes to go to a gym that reminds them of their secondary school gym. Therefore before choosing the right gym for you, make sure you get a good vibe from the moment you walk in through the gym door to the moment you come out. It's all about making you feel good. The point here is that you need to find those special features that will make you come back. It could be simple things such as a friendly greeting by the gym staff, a café for you to sit in and relax after a big workout, a swimming pool, a spa, other sports facilities such as tennis, rock climbing walls and the list goes on.
Go local
According to a report released in 2016 by the UK Fitness Industry, there are 6,435 fitness facilities in the UK. Therefore, there is bound to be a gym near you in the UK. If there isn't one near you, consider one up to five miles from your home, and should you need to drive to a gym, make sure you choose one that offers ample parking spaces. The nearer the gym to your home, the more regularly you are likely to go. Perhaps, choosing a gym that does not offer as many yoga and Zumba sessions or a gym that does not have a swimming pool will make you get your trainers on and work out more regularly.
Routine
Choosing when to go is very important, so if you are busy during the working week you might find that going early in the morning will get you going as the gym is often emptier, which means you have more choice of machines to use. If you are not a morning person, dropping into your local gym after work will work. The latter is the preferred choice of many gym members as it turns out that waking up early in the morning isn't the thing to do for most people! Many choose to go to a gym next to their workplace. They have fewer excuses to make by the time they get back home from a long commute on a train or after taking a gamble on whether or not they get stuck in traffic on the A1.
Check for dust
No one likes to work out on a machine covered in layers of dust. It indicates a lack of cleaning on behalf of the gym staff, which unfortunately means that your gym becomes a hotbed for germs. A good sign of a clean gym is a gym where you often notice staff cleaning the treadmills, weights, and, more importantly, during working hours.
Contract
Ensure that the amount agreed upon when you signed up for a monthly membership is reflected in your monthly statement. Some members might find additional charges such as cleaning, credit card fees, and more added to their contract for no apparent reason. Like any other regular monthly debit charge, you should ensure your amount does not increase without your prior knowledge.
Be accountable
In some circumstances, it might be worth spending more on weekly classes, especially group sessions, as they mean that you are invested in being there every week. It also gives you the chance to get to know other members and maybe work together outside of the sessions, increasing your accountability.
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- JARDINE, B. (2018) Choosing the right Gym [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article367.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Ben Jardine has been writing for some years now, predominantly focusing on the health benefits of introducing yoga, mindfulness, and vegan diets to competitive sports. Most of his topics are related to soccer, and he also enjoys writing about tennis and cricket.