An Exercise Guru's Guide To Choosing A Fitness Center

By Alta Alexander


If you are moving to a new area or are even just trying to get back in shape, you may be in the market for a gym. For experience exercisers, the choice may be easy to make but if you are not used to going to the gym, the idea of choosing a fitness center may be a very intimidating one. Here are some tips that will help you find a comfortable place where you can exercise and improve your health and fitness levels.

For many people, the idea of working out around members of the opposite sex is very intimidating. If you are a woman or man who has body image issues, you may feel more comfortable in a facility that is dedicated to one gender only. Some gyms will also have times or sections that are restricted to only men or only women. They may come with higher membership fees however so it is worthwhile to ask about pricing if mixed genders is a negotiable factor.

Some individuals have very specific preferences when it comes to how they work out. They may primarily be interested in weight lifting, for example, while other people may want to take yoga or aerobics classes. Still other people prefer to use machines such as stair climbers or treadmills. If you fall into this category, it is a good idea to make sure that you have access to them at any fitness facility that you join. If there is not a class or a machine that you like, you may want to find out if there are any plans to get them in the future.

If you are someone who likes to come up with excuses about not being able to make it to the gym, location of the facility is very important. Make sure it is near where you work or where you live. Also check out the hours to make sure that it is open when you have time to work out. Some will be open 24 hours a day, which will ensure that no matter when you work you will be able to exercise.

For families, choosing a center that is child-friendly may be very important. Kids classes make it easy for mom or dad to get in a work out even when the kids are not at school. For parents of very young children, an on-premises day care may also make it easier to get out of the house and fit in a workout no matter what is going on around them.

Some people love to swim and if this sounds like you it is important to make sure that the facility you choose has a pool on the premises. Not all gymnasiums will, especially if they are quite small. If you do not have access to a pool, you may want to decide if joining a pool-only facility would be cost-effective.

For some individuals, accountability is an issue. For others, it is knowledge of how to exercise safely and effectively. If either of these sounds like you, choosing a facility with personal trainers will be important. You want to make sure that there is someone there to keep you on track if you need some help.

Nothing beats actually attending a facility when it comes time to make your ultimate decision. Do not be afraid to ask about visitors passes or whether or not you can try the facility at a reduced rate. Most gyms will want to make sure that you are comfortable there.




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