How to Choose a Fitness Center

STAFF
Published: April 17, 2008

Lifetime Center at AMC
   
What’s best for you?
 
  Getting the most out of a fitness center depends in large part on pucking the right venter in the first place. And that means the one right for you.

Are you looking for a bodybuilder’s gym where you can get inspiration and support to keep pumping iron? Or do you prefer a relaxed atmosphere where you can socialize after a class or saddle up to the juice bar? Do you need an experienced personal trainer to jelp you recover from injury?

Choices abound, from chain outlets to locally owned centers, from small centers to mammoth ones, from upscale operations to more family-friendly places, from single gender to co-educational facilities. Before signing a long-term commitment to a facility, so you don’t regret it in a month, consider the following:

Location, Location, Location

Convenience counts a great deal, fitness experts say. Just like real estate, the location of your prospective gym should be convenient, either to your workplace or to home. The easier it is for you to get to a center, the more likely you are to use it.

Finding a gym close to your place of employment can afford you the opportunity to exercise before or after work, or during lunch if time allows. If you hope to get the whole family active, choose a center near your home.

Affordability

The cost of working out varies with amenities, popularity and sometimes by franchise. Some also might require joining fees or extra charge for specialty classes. Compare centers’ fees and what you’re getting for your money. Pick a place that’s within your budget. Otherwise, if the membership fee puts a strain on your finances, you’ll soon have an excuse to drop out.

Personal Interests

Perhaps you have favorite fitness activities you enjoy or want to try, such as swimming, basketball or Pilates ??? a set of exercises focusing on strengthening and strerching the body. Maybe you are interested in hiring a personal trainer. An exercise program that works for one person may not work for another. A personal trainer will develop the most effective program for you based on your fitness evaluation results and personal goals. Find out if the center has the necessary services, facilities or equipment.

Facilities

Check out the exercise equipment, locker rooms and showers. Are they clean, or do they look like they need to be sanitized? This goes for the steam room or whirlpool, as well. Cleanliness defines the ownership and the membership. Is the equipment up-to-date and well-maintained, or are the benches ripped and taped back together? Are there enough machines to accommodate gym members even during peak training hours, or does circuit training include 20-minute breaks between each exercise while you wait in line?

Staffing

Fitness centers tend to be better staffed with people that can help you use equipment properly and answer your questions nowadays. Personal trainers may be on hand to give you individualized instruction and guidance. They are also a major source of motivation and encouragement. Ask about staffing. What kinds of help and how much one-on-one attention do staff members provide? What credentials and certifications do they have? Qualified staff and trainers can help you do more than work out efficiently. They can also help you through injury retraining and specific body work.

Classes

Fitness clubs and gyms offer a number or aerobic classes, including spinning, step, high and low impact aerobics, or kick-boxing. If you prefer exercising in a class setting, then you’ll want to make sure the class selection meets your needs and interests. Check into instructors’ qualifications. Ask to be allowed to attend one class session for free, or at least to observe one. Would you be at ease here? Notice if the instructor pays attention to people of all levels of ability and makes everyone feel comfortable. Does he or she make the class fun and motivating? Look at which each facility offers, and what, if any, additional costs are involved.

Two-thirds of people who join fitness centers stop going in the first 6 months, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. Some, of course, may decide to pursue fitness another way, such as working out at home or outdoors. Many, however, just drop out of pursuing physical fitness altogether. If fitness is important to you, and you follow some of the guidelines offered here for choosing a fitness center, you’ll boost the odds you’ll stick with a fitness program.