CHOOSING YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP
When you're deciding what type of gym membership you want, you need to ask what facilities you are REALLY going to use: Free spa's, squash courts, fitness classes and personal trainers, or maybe you only need the basics of exercise machines and weights? You should consider these important points before you spend what can be serious amounts of cash on your membership and possibly a joining fee on your new health kick.
To point you in the right direction, we've got a list of questions you should be asking both yourself, and any health club you are looking to join:
- What facilities do I really need? (racquets, swimming pool, personal trainers etc.)
- What are my aims in joining? (general fitness, weight loss, social sports etc.)
- What times suit me going to the gym? (early mornings and daytime, or evenings and weekends?)
- Do I want professional advice? (taylored fitness plans, nutrition etc.)
- How often will I go to the gym? (membership Vs pay each time)
- How will I get there? (car, bus, walking distance etc.)
Once you have worked out exactly what you seek to achieve, and have realistically answered the above questions, you need to work out which gym provides the right facilities at the right price - factoring in things like costs of getting there, joining fees, whether they provide towels etc. Here are a list of questions you could take with you when you go to look at a prospective gym:
- How much is it to join?
- Is there a one-off joining fee as well as monthly fees?
- What is included in the basic membership cost?
- What is the minimum contract period?
- What is not included? (e.g. crèche,sunbeds,towels etc)
- How many members are there and do you have a limit?
- Do you have a trial period to try out the facilities?
- Is there car parking?
- How much is it to bring a non-member?
- What are your opening hours?
- Are there professionally qualified fitness instructors here?
- Do I get professional advice on using the equipment when I join?
- Do I get a free personal health & fitness check up when I join?
- Are there periodic reviews of my programme and fitness?
- How often can you have a professional trainer advise you on your programme?
- What qualifications do the gym staff have? (e.g. first aid, nutrition etc.)
- What (fitness) classes do you have?
- When are these run and are they always full?
- Do you have a sprung aerobics studio floor?
- Do you have air conditioning?
- Are there plans for additional services?
- Is there a separate ladies gym?
- What changing facilities are there?
It's important to get answers to the questions relevant to what you need from the gym, but also to be totally honest about whether you'll use the facilities - don't waste money on novelties that you may use once, but won't do again.
Once you have got all of this information for all of the local Gyms and Health Clubs, work out what you can afford - there's no point looking good if you can't then afford to go out and show off your new healthy body! The difference between £40 per month and £60 per month may not seem a lot, but £240 per year can buy you a nice short break, or a new outfit - it DOES add up. If gyms do a short term membership, it may be more expensive, but well worth using in short bursts when you feel you really need to beast yourself back into shape for a couple of weeks, then leave it for a few months, go jogging, ride your bike, then go back again for another short burst when you feel you need it.