Spending time at home and doing simple workout routines might be cost-effective and convenient. But to attain the required motivation and drive needed to be at the peak of fitness, the controlled environment of a gym is a likely answer. And since the initial cost of setting up a personal home gym may be over the roof, subscription for membership at a gym would be the next feasible option.
With well over 30,000 gyms across the U.S., the broad scope of choice is likely to pose a challenge for intending gym users. This article will be pointing out five crucial factors to consider when choosing among good sports centers that fit your personal preference.
1.Proximity and ease of use
This should be the very first factor to consider when hunting for a fitness center. It is true that keeping fit will come with some amount of sacrifice and will require going out of your comfort zone. However, it is always advisable to subscribe to a gym not more than 15 minutes’ drive from your home. Checking online maps for local sports centers should help scale this hurdle. It would be equally helpful if a gym has attractive perks like a parking lot, daycare, consultant nutritionist, attending trainers, and even a snack bar.
2.Available equipment
After identifying several potential fits in your vicinity, paying an on-site visit to each gym is expedient. Check for the stuff they have available and do a quick assessment to check if they will be able to meet the requirements of your workout program.
The layout of the equipment is equally important; the gym should be spacious enough to allow room for stretching during workout breaks. It would be best if you also looked out for gyms with multiple sets of special equipment; this will eliminate the possibility of having to wait while others are using the lean number of available resources.
3.Cost
Depending on the terms stated on the gym subscription contracts, the cost implication of gym programs tends to vary; even plans with different features, access, and benefits at the same gym come at different prices. It is, therefore, vital to assess your budget before finally deciding in favor of a particular gym. Subscribing to gyms during peak seasons (January and September) is also advisable, subscriptions are often discounted during this period of the year.
4.Hygiene
Being observant on your first visit to a fitness center will save you a lot of hassle, check how often the equipment is cleaned. Ask the gym’s PR person how regularly the equipment in the facility is maintained and the policy the gym puts in place concerning the cleaning of equipment after use. Being aware of this provision will help protect yourself from getting infected going through your fitness regime.
5.User population and demography
It will not harm to ask the managers of a gym the population of their active subscribers and their demography too (male/female). Ask for the peak times of the facility and compare the figures given to the number of equipment you see at the location during your visit.
The five factors highlighted above are to be judged relative to your personal preference. Finally, after deciding on the best fit of the gym, read the contract carefully before signing up for a subscription.