Charges
Joining a fitness club can be a big financial investment. Gym membership charges aren’t to be taken lightly and are often the main reason why people choose a specific gym. Inexpensive gym subscriptions may seem like a much better option in the beginning, but could be a poor choice if these gyms can’t accommodate your needs. The same thing goes for more costly fitness gyms. You may be paying too much for what you are receiving. Additionally, many fitness gyms will require a registration fee. You might simply wait for any special offer to save on these fees, but you may also speak to the staff. Suggest that you’re considering several other gyms as well and figure out what kind of offer they can present you with right away.
Services
Gym amenities and fees go hand in hand. If you are not planning on using much of the facilities the gym has to offer, you might be over paying. Alternatively, if you like a sauna or a decent swim after your regular workout, a less expensive gym without those amenities may not be right for you. Be sure to discover what the gym’s facilities are and how regularly you will be using these. Modern facilities can be a good way to get your attention to sign-up, but you have to be sure you will need all the gym has to provide. If you need specialized facilities such as no cost car parking, group classes or group classes, see whether they are included in your membership or whether you need to pay extra for these.
Membership contract
An excellent fitness club agreement exists in order to safeguard both your own and the fitness club’s interests. Find out how the personnel interact with you and if they can be pushy. If they expect you to join on the spot, walk away. Ideally you would want to carry the written agreement home with you, read it very carefully and think about it. Figure out just how long the written agreement is good for and if there are any concealed charges. Will your agreement carry over automatically? Hammer out a deal with the staff, view it as a sport and you can frequently get significantly lower rates. Request to try the facility before signing a binding agreement, but watch out for any paper that you need to sign. Less respectable fitness gyms could slip you a contract while saying it is a form for “liability purposes”. Always look into the terms and conditions of your membership contract.
Opening times
Will your favorite gym be open during the hours that you might be thinking of working out? Many people exercise in the morning, some prefer the evening hours and there are fitness gyms that are closed during the weekends. You want to look for a fitness club that will suit your hectic schedule. Otherwise, you will be paying for a gym you can’t get access to at times that suit you the most.
Staff
Excellent fitness gyms have good personnel, who are supportive, warm, friendly and skilled. The personnel should answer all of your questions, help you build-up fitness workout routines and even spot you during workout sessions. Make sure to ask about their accreditations and see how they treat you as a potential new member. In case you are struggling in getting your questions answered beforehand, be skeptical of the way they’re going to treat you when you’ve signed up with the gym. Friendliness is a big benefit. A depressed facial expression as a welcome to your fitness club can drain all of the energy away from you.
Regular members
What’s important is that you choose a gym where you will feel at ease exercising. You should not feel uncomfortable, threatened or confused. Find out what kind of folks are exercising at your fitness club of preference. Are they really your favorite type of people? If you want to exercise intensely, you will not like a fitness club where friendly chat is on the schedule. If you like meeting new folks, you are better off in a gym where there’s a great personal ambiance and where people interact effortlessly with each other. In case you don’t appreciate co-ed fitness gyms, you could choose a ladies only or men’s only gym near you.