How to Select a Gym

Top Reasons People Join a Gym

1. Reduce body weight

2. Improve stamina and energy levels.

3. Improve posture.

4. Improve Body Image and become physically attractive.

5. Control high blood pressure and other chronic diseases.

6. To socialize.

7. Control muscle aches and joint pain brought on by natural aging process.

It is always wise to shop around a bit and find out what kind of services are available in the fitness industry before you fill the membership form.

Here are certain things you should consider before you decide to join a gym.

Proximity Choose a gym that is situated close to your home or office. If a gym is located out of your way, you might not take the trouble to go there often.

Equipment Check whether the gym regularly upgrades its exercise equipments. Ensure that the free weights, dumbbells, treadmills, and other exercise gear are in usable condition. The gym should also have enough equipment to cater to all its members.

Staff Join a gym where the staff is polite and friendly. The staff also need to be well trained and qualified enough to offer you advise on various exercise regiments.

The coach or fitness instructor should be able to suggest customized exercise routines for you based on your body composition, personal fitness goals, and health status. The instructor should be able to understand that fitness goals differ. One person might want to reduce body weight and get in shape. Another person might want to control blood pressure and deal with the threat of heart disease that runs in the family.

Do not join a gym where the instructors indiscriminately recommend the same exercise routine to every member.

The staff should also know what kind of first aid to administer when accidents occur. Members can sometimes pull a muscle or experience painful cramps.

Membership Fee This is often a huge deciding factor. It is always better to join a gym where you can choose from a list of available membership options. For example, a silver membership package could grant you access to just the gym. A gold pack will enable you to use the gym, the pool and the steam room. A platinum pack will provide access to the gym, the pool, the sauna, a personal fitness instructor, access to free health related seminars and classes etc.

In this case you can purchase the lowest package first and can upgrade if you are satisfied with the quality of service offered. Certain gyms also offer a free trial period before they ask you to opt for paid membership.

Cleanliness Check to see that the place is kept clean, well-ventilated and well-lighted. Check that the toilets are well-maintained as well.

Other Facilities The locker should be large enough for your things. It should also be secure since you might leave your wallet, watch, cell-phone etc in here. Find out if the gym has faced the problem of petty thefts in the past. Enquire if access to a locker is free or whether members are required to pay extra to rent a locker.

You might also be interested in other facilities like a sauna and pool. Not all gyms provide these. So ask before you sign up. Certain gyms will grant you access to free massage therapy at nominal rates. Enquire about all additional perks.

If you live in a crowded city, make sure the gym has enough parking space available for its members.

Privacy Want to shower in privacy after a sweaty work out? See that the shower rooms have doors that can be locked or have shower curtains that are not transparent. Many gyms do not have private shower rooms, just open shower heads. Some gyms do not have shower facility at all. Therefore if this is important to you, please check.

And when you are at it, check the water pressure as well. Showering under a little dribble of hesitantly flowing water is just annoying.

Do not register in haste. Take a week or two to make up your mind. Finally, choose a place that will improve your health, without harming your wallet.