Hobby

This is the year that you will get fit and you are scouring the telephone book for a gym to join. As you study the pages that display hunky guys with rippling muscles and wasp-waisted waifs with long blond hair, you wonder if there is a gym for you out there, you know regular people who are not built like that. You being to feel hopeless and wonder if you need to join a gym and trim down before you can join any of those gyms and mingle with the hunks and babes.

Don’t despair! Here are some great tips on choosing a gym that suits your fitness goals and will allow you to be comfortable in the process!

• First of all, think about what you want from a gym. Sure, you want to get fit, but do you want to work out mostly on machines, such as stair climbers and stationary bikes, or are you looking for a facility that will allow you to play racquetball? Do you want something that offers lessons in cardio kickboxing or maybe aerobics? Write down the kinds of exercises you enjoy and review your list. Bring it with you when you look around the different gyms to see how many items on your list would have to be crossed off if you were to join that particular gym.
• Think about the amenities you will need. Do you want to shower on the premises? Ask to see the locker rooms and the shower. If there are a small number of showers, and you exercise during a busy time of the day, it is likely that you will have to wait your turn and this may cut into the time you will have for exercising. Similarly, if you are concerned about on-site childcare, take a look at the childcare facility and ask about the safety procedures. Do not be afraid to get on your hands and knees and look at the place from a child’s eye level…is it clean, safe, and fun? Do the attendants talk to each other instead of interacting with the kids? Is there a distinct barrier that will separate toddler and older children from the infants?
• When you visit the gym, take a look around and see if it is clean, the paint is fresh, and the machines are new. If there is dirt in the corners, the paint is chipped in a number of places, and the machines are rusty, old, or have “out of order” signs, then it is best to move on.
• Location is important! Do not join a gym that is too far off the beaten path and requires you to drive out of your way to get there. Odds are, when the novelty has worn off, you will not drive out of your way anymore. Similarly, check into the hours. Do they suit you? Different gyms offer different hours, and it is important to keep these in mind when choosing the right gym for you. It should be open for business when you are ready to give it some!
• Take a look at the contract before you sign on the dotted line. If the sales rep says that you cannot take the contract home with you to read the fine print, or if you must make a decisions right there, right now, to get that super-duper special discount rate, then it is time to move on. Such high pressure sales tactics are not only unethical, but consider if you really want to do business with someone who pretty much forces your hand. Check out the contract for specified cancellations policies, rate increases, etc.
• If you are very self-conscious about your look and worry about exercising in front of others, you may wish to join a same-sex gym rather than a co-ed one.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of gyms out there, and each has its special features, and perhaps a drawback or two. A little bit of research before you join will go a long way, and will ensure that you will enjoy many pleasant workouts in an environment conducive to your exercise goals.