Choosing a Commercial Gym that's Right for You 

Finding the right fitness facility is crucial to the overall success of your weight training program, and should be considered a high priority.  The reason that it such an important decision is because finding the right gym or heath club may ultimately determine whether you succeed, or fail to reach your individual fitness goals.   With so many Fitness clubs and gym’s to choose from, and numerous criteria to consider, choosing the one that is right for you can be more challenging then you might think. 

This article will guide you through the process of choosing the fitness facility that best fits your individual needs.

3 Easy Steps to Choosing a Commercial Gym

Choosing a commercial gym that is right for you is easy if you use the following three steps:

Step 1:  Determine which health clubs and gym’s are within a reasonable distance from your home or workplace.  Ten to fifteen minutes driving or walking time is ideal.  Any longer, and you may find yourself making excuses to skip workouts. Finding a gym that is an equal distance from your home and work is also a plus.   

Step 2:  Take a tour of each health club and/or gym, and ask questions to the staff during your walk through.  Then obtain a free one week pass from each of the gym’s that you are considering.  Use the pass at each of the facilities for the full week for a “test run”.  This will help you get a feel for each location.  You will quickly figure out what you like and dislike about each of the clubs.   

During you one week pass, don’t forget to:  

IMPORTANT! Remember to visit each health club / gym during prime time (usually between 5pm – 7pm).  This way you will be able to see how busy the club gets, and whether there is enough equipment to go around.  

Step 3:  Evaluate the following aspects of each of the the facilities you have chosen:

Equipment

It is important that the health club or gym that you are considering has a variety of quality equipment, and that the equipment meets your specific needs.  This will ensure you get the most out of each and every workout.   

No matter what your specific goals are, you will likely need to use a combination of weight machines, free weights, and cardiovascular equipment (exercise bike, rowing machine, treadmill etc.) during your workouts.  Unfortunately, many Facilities may fall short in one or more of these areas. When you are at each club, ask yourself the following questions to determine whether the club meets your specific needs:

When choosing a health club or gym, the atmosphere and surroundings are an important factor that should not be overlooked.  Remember, you may be training three to four times each and every week.  Choose a health club or gym with a motivating, uplifting atmosphere will ensure that you get the most out of each of your training sessions.  

Be sure to consider each of the following points when evaluating the atmosphere and surrounding of a health club or gym:  

A Note On Cleanlines

The cleanliness of the health club or gym that you are considering is very important, but is often overlooked.  Remember that in order to reach your fitness goals you must stay healthy.  When you are sick, you may have to skip a workout, or even worse, miss weeks at a time .This will ultimately slow your progress!  

The health club or gym should have spray bottles and paper towels readily available and easily accessible so that machines can be wiped down after use.  This will decrease the likelihood of spreading germs.  

Be sure to check the bathrooms for general cleanliness, and make sure the soap dispensers are full, and are refilled on a regular basis.

Location and Hours

The location of the health club or gym should be a major consideration in the back of your mind. Try to find a location located between your home, and work, and one that is no longer than fifteen minutes drive time. Any longer and you might find yourself making excuses to skip workouts more often than you should!  

Many health and fitness clubs also offer access to multiple locations, which can be very beneficial. There may be a location near your home, and one near work.  You also may find that training at the same fitness or health club day in and day out is becoming repetitive and your workouts are suffering because of this.   Alternating locations should eliminate this problem by adding variety and refreshing your mind.  

The hours of the health club or gym are also important to consider.  Some gym’s are open twenty four hours a day, while others have more traditional hours (6am – 11pm).  Be sure that the health club or gym that you choose has hours that are suitable for your schedule!  

Staff 

Having friendly, knowledgeable staff at the health club or gym you choose goes a long way.  You may have questions, would like a fitness evaluation, or simply need a spot when there are no members around.  Helpful staff members that know what they are doing is simply a must!   

Make sure that the staff members hold CPR certifications, and preferable some fitness certifications. Although not a necessity, an Educational backgrounds in the health sciences as a major bonus.  There should also be enough members on staff throughout the day to meet the demands of the health club or gym’s members. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right fitness club or gym that meets your specific needs is an excellent investment, and an important decision.  The facility that has a combination of the right environment, equipment and location, will inspire you to successfully reach your goals.