Gyms

If you want to get into good physical condition, build muscle mass, lose excess weight and develop healthy cardiovascular conditioning, it is crucial to workout on a consistent basis. A gym membership is a fantastic motivation to encourage you to get active on a regular basis to get value for money. Nothing quite compares to the exhilarating natural high you feel after a really good workout, but before you sign any contracts, be mindful of a few factors.

Walk around a couple of gyms to see which type you like best and where you feel the most comfortable.

During your walk-through, observe the following:

• What are the members like?
• Do you feel you would fit in, in this environment?
• Is the equipment new and well maintained?
• How crowded is the gym, maybe ask about crowd flow during the time you will be using the gym.
• Do the instructors come across as professional.
• What are the changing facilities like? Are they clean?
• Do you need something specific,for example a crèche.

If you have never been to a gym before then it is quite possible you aren’t sure how to tell a good gym from one that may not suit you. Many of the things you should look for are simply common sense, while other things are not so obvious. It is up to you to choose what is important. It is always a good idea to try out a facility at the time you are planning to work out at so you know what sort of conditions you will be facing before you sign up for membership.

Here are a few things to bear in mind.

Location: Is the gym near your home or work? If it isn’t then it may become inconvenient very fast. Even the most dedicated of trainers would have a hard time commuting 45 minutes both ways to get to a gym.

Price: As with most things, shop around. Check the prices of a few different gyms and compare. A lot of gyms have some very good deals in place especially for first-time sign up’s.

ALWAYS read the small print on the contract.

Quality of the facility: If the gym is dirty and the equipment is falling apart then chances are it is not a good choice. Look for well-maintained equipment and a clean facility.

Qualified and friendly staff: Anybody can throw on a T-shirt and sit at a desk.