Choosing a Gym. My Experience and Tips

Choosing a gym

Choosing a gym can be a pretty straight forward process or a bit of a pain. Depending on if you are looking to simply keep fit and do that little extra after work, or training for a competitive reason your route to signing up to a gym can be very different. In the past year I have been a member at five different gyms, each with their own pros and cons. Now leaving some of these gyms have not all been because I didn't enjoy training there but because of relocating or other unforeseen reasons. Take a look at some advice on how to choose a gym for yourself and your needs without jumping around and switching too often.

Cost

An obvious one to start with. Gyms charge a range of rates, a lot of which depend on the type of membership you buy. Obviously the lower the price the better in most circumstances. However many gyms offer classes or programmes included in a higher tier membership. While this may not be for the veterans it can be very valuable for a novice trying to get in shape.

Make sure you are getting what you pay for! By this I mean if you are paying a premium rate, then you should be getting a clean, tidy gym, friendly staff and also opening times that are suitable for you and your needs.

From a personal point of view, stay clear of lock-in contracts. A deal may sometimes sound too good to be true. Unless you know that you are going to get the most out of a gym that offers year long contracts (that can't be cancelled without paying off the membership) go for a week to week or month to month plan. Yes if you are dedicated or have a long term goal which you will stick to then a year contract may be beneficial. However circumstances do change and not being able to cancel your contract sucks! Therefore I have found that paying monthly or bi-weekly works in your favour in case you need a break or are unable to use the facility for a period of time such as a holiday or other commitments elsewhere, or you feel you cannot reach your goal at that facility. For example one particular gym I was a member of had limited free weights and their dumbbells did not go up to weights I now needed to progress. I was able to leave the gym with no dramas or ordeals by having to break a contract.

Gym Type

The fitness industry is at its biggest at the moment and sometimes we are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a facility. Choosing somewhere appropriate to work out is key to make the most of your training. There is no point joining a serious bodybuilding gym full of free weights and iron with very little cardio access if you are training for an endurance sport. Be sure of your goal first, know what you want a need. If you are just wanting to get fit or need a little help, finding a gym with personal trainers or classes will be advantageous to you, sometimes these will be included in your payment, however some gyms offer these as add ons and can become quite expensive.

Another trend I now try to stay away from is the 'boutique gym' with limited memberships. This is not to be mistaken with a personal training facility. From experiences I have had being a member of a boutique gym I found that their marketing was not particularly true. Claiming that there are a limited number of memberships and then going into an overcrowded, cramped gym isn't what I had in mind, especially for the price I was paying. I understand a gym is a business and won't turn away people willing to pay and join, my point is be aware and do your own research to avoid dissapointment.

Inside the Gym

One of the first things I look for when visiting a gym before joining is the cleanliness and tidiness of the place. Some gyms that have old machines and weights can be mistaken for being dirty but this isn't always the case. Looking around a gym and noticing dirty floors, mirror and especially showers and toilets ring alarm bells for me. This shows that the staff and sometimes owners do not care about the place and therefore don't care about you! My advice is always have a tour of the gym first and see if it is looked after. If they can't be bothered cleaning then more than likely they can't be bothered servicing their equipment, this is where accidents can and will happen.

The Gym Culture

I must say that I personally like a gym where there are a range of different people working towards different goals. This can be effective as you can learn from others by experiencing training techniques you would have otherwise not been a custom to. I also like a gym where people will talk to each other or train together. There's nothing worse than a gym full of unfriendly blokes staring at each other and trying to out do each other, usually with poor form and/or little respect for the equipment, resulting in damages which can effect everyone in there. Most gyms will allow you to have a free session to see if you enjoy it there and if it is going to be a good fit for you. Take note if they don't offer this, they may be trying to hide something!

Location and Hours

Picking a gym close to home is a safer bet then joining a gym elsewhere as you are more likely to use it. I have had this problem before, choosing a gym close to my place of work instead. A great idea at the time but did not play out. After work and before the gym you may have a few pieces of adulting to do. In my case meaning going home first, this meant a long drive back which I wasn't a fan of. Also having to go quite a few miles out of the way on your days off when you could walk around the corner, to a gym near home, was just frustrating.

In relation to the location, take into account the opening hours. I prefer to go to the gym around midday or later in the evening, as a generalisation this is when the gym will be quite quiet. Nevertheless you will find some gyms (usually smaller gyms) do shut during the day for this reason, limiting the availability to train and also meaning it will probably be quite crowded when you do go.

Your Goals

Take what you need! The whole purpose for joining a gym, in one way or another, is to grow, progress and become/feel better. If a gym is not totally equipped for what you want to get out of going to a gym, then it isn't a great fit! Similarly, if you can't get onto machine, or in some cases even into the gym because of over crowding then your goals are not going to be reached. This isn't an over exaggeration, one gym a few years back, was very small but gave out memberships as if they were a sports arena. Getting to the gym and having to wait in a lobby before you can train is not a great situation, especially when you have jogged there to warm up and then have to wait an hour, needless to say I dropped that membership shortly after!

Final Thought

So now the next time you are in the market for a new gym membership, take these tips and experiences into account. Check that gym gym suits your training types and times. Above all make sure you feel comfortable there and are able to enjoy your time exercising!

Karl Seaward

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