As the New Year begins and resolutions are in full swing many people set out to find a gym or workout facility. One of the questions I frequently get is how do I choose a gym?
With so many gyms to choose from it makes the decision very overwhelming. Choosing a gym should be a process that takes time. After all, this is a huge commitment and one you want to be happy with. By choosing a gym you are happy with you will want to go, making it easier to reach the goals you set for yourself.
Let’s discuss the process you should consider before making your choice.
- Ask yourself some key questions
- Research local gyms
- Visit local gyms
- Experience local gyms with free passes and/or groupons/discounts
- Make a decision
Let’s discuss each one of these:
First, There are some key questions that you will want to ask yourself before you do your research and they include:
- What equipment/machines am I looking for?
- Do I want to take classes? If so, what types of classes/workouts am I looking to take?
- When do I plan to go and what hours of operation do I need?
- Do I need a membership for just myself or for other members of my family as well?
- What type of budget do I have?
- What other services if any am I looking for? Personal Training, Nutrition, Massage Therapy, Babysitting, etc.?
There may be other personal preferences you have so be sure to write them down and include them in your key questions.
Once you have answered these key questions you now can start to research local gyms based on the answers. Use the internet, referrals, ads and other means to see what gyms are in your area. Research each gyms services and offerings before heading there to see if it has all the elements you are looking for. Create a list of each gym you are interested in visiting for further research.
Now that you have made your list it is time to visit each gym and see what you think about it. Take a tour and ask any questions while you are there, make sure all of your key questions are answered. Find out if they will give you a free trial pass to try their gym out. Another good idea is to check Groupon and search the internet to see if any gym/facility you are interested in has any discounted offerings.
After you have visited each gym and narrowed down the ones that interest you the most, it is time to acquire any free passes or discounts you came across. Be sure not to get free trials all at the same time. Focus on one gym at a time and attend until the time your trial or discount runs out. Make sure you experience everything you plan to include in your daily workout routine while you are at that facility. Any classes, equipment or services you are interested in be sure to try it out.
Taking the time to experience all the gyms you are interested in will help in the final process of making your decision. Reflect back on all of your experiences and decide which gym includes all or most of the things that you want.
Following this process will ensure that you feel comfortable with the gym you choose. This in turn will lead to a more successful experience and hopefully a new healthy commitment to yourself.
Rosie Beckett
I am looking for a fitness center to join so that I can workout inside during the winter months and I did not realize that there are so many factors to consider. It is interesting that you say to first think about the equipment and classes that are most important and make sure the gym has those. Also, I will definitely go and visit potential gyms to see if the staff is friendly and the facility is clean because these are two things that are very important to me in a good gym.
Joy
Good luck on your journey to finding a fitness center. I hope you find the right fit for you. Hopefully, the tips I gave you will be helpful in making your decision.
Gary Puntman
I would love to find a gym to go to. I’ve been wanting to get back in shape. It would be nice to find some gyms that offer free trials, like you mentioned. That would help me choose one that works best for me.
James Nielson
Hitting the gym for a fit body is a common thing and nowadays, most of the people are heading to a gym to get back to their fitness. However, before joining a gym one should do proper research so as not to get involved in a gym whose workout routine doesn’t fit you or you are not satisfied with the equipments and the trainer. In order to avoid these kinds of situation, there are certain questions that you can ask yourself. Thanks to the author for coming up with these questions. It is better to do your own exercises than to join a gym where you are not satisfied with your own workout routine.