TOP 5 CONSIDERATIONS

So you’ve been thinking about joining a gym. Good for you! While I firmly believe that you can have an effective workout at home, especially with a certified personal trainer like myself (I bring everything you need!), a gym is a great step towards achieving your fitness goals. The intention behind this blog post is to provide some suggestions on what to look for when shopping around.

#5 Cost

This one may seem obvious but here’s why this matter’s. Will you be showering at your gym before work? Do you want the convenience of having towel service? Is your motivation to workout a nice relaxing steam or dip in a hot tub after the workout? What about the availability of on-site therapeutic services? Typically, these amenities mean you are paying more for a gym membership.

I’m Mr. Cheap with gyms typically, as long as it has adequate weights and is nearby, I’m sold. However, when I was in the rat race of an 8-5 job, I really appreciated getting my workout done in the morning at a clean, mid to upper level gym that offered towel service. This enabled me to get an efficient workout done, get ready for work at the gym, and not have to lug around wet towels all over Chicago.

#4 Proximity

I strongly believe that a gym that is convenient to get to will make you more likely to go. When I lived in Chicago, there were not so nice gyms within walking distance and much nicer gyms farther away. On days when my literal and figurative gas tank was low, I really appreciated being able to walk to World’s Gym in Uptown (R.I.P World’s Gym). It was a fuerzas but it got the job done.

#3 Time of Day

Most gyms will gladly offer you a free tour, or a free guest pass to try out their facility. I highly recommend you take advantage of these freebies and check out the gym when you plan to workout normally.

A big deal breaker for me is a packed gym. Typically gyms are the busiest between 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm. However, some gyms may seem busy at this time but it could be that most members are flocking to group fitness classes at that those times. If you are not planning on attending these classes, it could mean that the gym floor and cardio equipment is not so busy. You won’t know until you visit on your preferred time of day.

#2 Equipment

It should have what you need. This can vary depending on your program and your interests. Do you tire flip? Do you need a field-house type facility with an open area to shadow box or do walking lunges? Or do you prefer using machines and don’t care about having a large open area?

I’ve been to gyms where they appear to have everything I needed, but once I joined I realized that finding available free weights was a challenge. Make a note of the type of equipment available when you take a free tour! Also, notice if you need to bring your own lock or if they are already integrated into the lockers.

#1 Customer Service

When you first walk into a gym and are met with apathy from the front desk or if they make you feel like you are bothering the staff for inquiring about the facility that is a BIG red flag. On the other end there is the pushy sales-person. If some swole dude is bullying you to sign up; that is not good customer service, that is intimidation. The gym should do everything they can to make you feel comfortable. Also, the customer service you receive really makes a difference when you need to freeze, cancel, or change your membership. As always, make sure you read the fine print before you commit to anything!

FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE!

I can’t even list the number of gyms or studios I’ve visited over the years. Let me tell you, they vary greatly! I have horror stories from my gym bag being stolen in a locked locker to earning enough points for a free one-hour massage just from regular gym check-ins.

One of my goals since starting EXHALO FORTIS is to continue trying out new facilities or studios so I can recommend them to my clients! I don’t see this as competition, I see this as a means to get my clients to find something they truly enjoy. I also like to meet other proprietors in this industry by trying them out - It’s basically a vibe check.

For example, I have a client who was curious about a particular large group fitness chain that I was familiar with but had not tried myself. So I tried them out! After trying it out, I determined that yes, this is something they could definitely do safely and is in line with their fitness goals. A different client on the other hand, I would strongly advise to stay far away from that setting as it would be contraindicated to their goals and they did not have sufficient training yet to safely perform some of the movements.

IN CONCLUSION: HIRE A TRAINER ;)

When you join a new gym, I highly recommend hiring a personal trainer. They should be certified and be able to provide you with different types of exercises with appropriate modifications. I also recommend you take advantage of your new gym’s group fitness classes such as indoor cycling, yoga, Zumba, HIIT, or whatever seems interesting to you! You won’t know until you try. If you are in the Tucson, AZ and aren’t sure about a gym membership yet, contact EXHALO FORTIS. We can set something up privately and maybe even help you find the right studio/gym for you once you’ve completed some foundational training.