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Fitness Topics
After months, or perhaps years, of contemplating joining a health club, you have finally made the decision to take that bold step. Now what? What do you seek in a health club experience and how do you get your money's worth?
In order to know whether or not you will get your money's worth from a given prospective health club, the first step is not to ask a salesperson (on commission) how much a membership costs? Instead, first consider what your goals are. Know and understand fully what it is that you want to accomplish by joining any health club. In other words, establish your goals in a clear and concise manner. Being mindful of who you are, along with what goals you hope to attain, will make the rest of your search much easier and successful.
Next, in lieu of shopping for the cheapest price, seek the highest quality of services possible for your money. Avoid the temptation of judging by price alone. Before comparing prices, understand the value of the services being offered. Paying $50 for something worth $20 is a significantly greater loss than paying $100 for an item or service worth at least that much.
Be certain that the staff is professional, particularly the trainers. It is the personal trainer with whom you will benefit most from. If you are truly an expert in exercise science and are highly self-motivated 100% of the time, then having quality trainers should be of no concern to you. However, if ever you will be in need of so much as some advice or even simply a spot, then it would behoove you to be sure that your prospective gym has seasoned professionals at your service (my next article will discuss how to find a quality trainer).
Be wary of what, in some cases, may turn out to be "pretty gyms." Pretty is good, as long as the pretty is not at the expense of functionality. There are some instances where gym owners replace well-designed older machines for newer ones that may be less functional, but look better. The purpose for joining a gym should not be to visit a pretty place as much as it is to get the best possible results from working out. Granted, atmosphere is important in a workout environment. But not at the expense of function. If you want pretty, go to the museum!
Last, but not least, is the consideration of location. As any experienced exerciser knows, the most difficult part of most workouts is getting to the gym. Once you've made it to the gym and have begun to move your body, you'll begin to sense a heightened level of alertness and energy, as well as increased strength. But if you must travel far to get there, then you will be more likely to miss many opportunities to even get to that point of feeling more energized. Granted, if you have a fabulous trainer or a superior facility in a distant part of town, then perhaps it would be worth the trip. However, if you have two similar options, then, by all means, select the more convenient of the two.
So there you have it, the criteria most important in selecting a health club in order of significance.
1. A match with your personality and with your goals.
2. Good quality of services that includes educated, professional staff.
3. Reasonable pricing
4. Proximity to work or home.
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