|
|
|
|
The
7 Things To Look For When Joining A Gym
|
|
by: Ray
Kelly
|
You’ve
finally committed to getting fit and you want to
join a gym, but which one? Unless you’ve been a
regular at gyms in the past you really don’t
know a good one from a bad one.
A good fitness center has their members as their
number one priority. They are customer service
oriented. A bad fitness center is only looking at
your dollar value. Once you join they will not
want to know you.
Telling the difference can be as simple as
following this simple checklist:
Equipment
Take a walk around the gym and have a good look at
each piece of equipment. Get on and use some. If
they grind, or seem loose or unstable then
that’s a sure sign that the equipment is not
serviced often. Any gym that doesn’t service
their equipment is not going to service you.
Cleaning
This is a great way of seeing how important the
owner’s business is to them. If it’s not
cleaned daily then they’re probably cutting
costs, which isn’t good for a prospective
member. When you’re walking around have a good
look at how clean the machines are. If they’re
covered in dust, they are probably not cared for.
Service
If you don’t know much about exercise and
nutrition, this is the most important of all. A
quality gym will want to help you in any way they
can. You should be given a new program every 4-6
weeks and another fitness assessment every 8-12
weeks. There should always be someone around to
answer your queries. The staff should also be
friendly and easy to talk to.
Type of Gym
What type of people use the gym at the times you
will be training? Unless you’re into
bodybuilding you probably want to stay away from
‘muscle head’ gyms after 3pm. These gyms are
easy to identify. They have loads of weights, no
aerobic classes, and no (or very old) bikes and
treadmills.
Ethics
Are they constantly trying to push their products?
This is often done with nutrition supplements.
There’s nothing wrong with selling these
products as some are quite good if you need them
but some unethical centers try to push supplements
onto all new members. If the salesperson or
instructor seems pushy with their products, run
for cover!
Staff
Whilst qualifications are important, it’s not
everything. The most important trait in a good
fitness instructor is that they must care. If they
are tertiary qualified as well then you have
yourself a great trainer, but even the most
knowledgeable person in the industry is of no
value if they’re not interested in helping you.
It’s easy to identify staff that care because
they are friendly, courteous, and listen! (They
may even remember your name)
Membership Price
Every region is different but the membership price
should reflect the service, equipment, and
instructors. You shouldn't judge a fitness center
on price alone (this is why they rarely give
prices over the telephone!). Have a look at a few
gyms in your area and compare each one. That is
the only reliable way to measure true value.
About the author:
Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years
experience in the health and fitness industry.
Sign up for his free 7 Day Weight Loss Course at http://www.free-online-health.com
Circulated by Article
Emporium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
