CHOOSING THE PERFECT GYM
When you join a gym, you’ll likely invest in it a good amount of time and money and sweat. So it makes sense to list out all the qualities you’re looking for. I’ve researched several sources to assist you in choosing a gym that will help get you to the fitness level you desire (not one that only cares about you keeping up with your membership dues).
Here are suggestions from two authors plus additional things to look for as a senior. First is Shannon Clark in her Bodybuilding.com article, Top 10 Things To Look For When Choosing A Gym:
Cost This is obviously an important factor for most. Many of us cannot afford the high priced memberships and personal training fees that some elite clubs offer. This does not mean you have to shy away altogether however. If you’re smart about it, you can often find ways to lower the cost. The first thing to consider is the season when buying your membership. Many gyms offer discounted rates at the peak joining times such as right after the New Year and in September when most students go back to school. Secondly, when you’ve found a gym that you feel comfortable with, don’t succumb to the pressures that the salespeople are going to try and get you to buy into.
Member Profile You may find yourself paying for extra privileges that you won’t ever use. Before signing the contract, have someone go through the entire membership, explaining all the terms (ex. guest fees, payment methods – some gyms have payment plan options available, membership renewals, etc). One thing that gyms are notorious for is trapping you into a long-term agreement where you sign a membership for a 1-3 year block. Thus, if you find yourself unhappy with the gym after a short period of time you’re basically locked in and will be paying regardless of whether you go or not.
More gyms these days are catering to a specific group of people. There are gyms that are targeting women only, seniors, or more competitive athletes [like CrossFit]. An advantage of specialized-population gyms is that they often offer programs that appeal more to the population they’re targeting. For example, gyms targeting seniors may offer more aqua classes, as this type of exercise is much easier on the joints.
Find out how many members there are and how busy it gets during peak times. You don’t want to spend your workout time standing around waiting for equipment so if you plan on hitting the gym right after work or in the morning before work (when the majority of the population does) you’ll want this information.
Equipment When looking for a gym, make sure to go inside and take a good walk around. There are many different types of equipment out there today and you’ll want to be sure that the gym has the ones you most often use.
If you mostly use dumbbells for your workout, you’ll want to check that they have multiple sets so you can continue even if someone else is utilizing the weight you normally use. When looking at weight machines, some of the higher end ones have options to put the emphasis of your lift on a certain phase of the exercise (for example the concentric phase). This may help you to vary your workout routine more and bust out of plateaus.
Another thing to look at is the stretching area. Many gyms surprisingly don’t have one, or only a small space for stretching. Stretching is an important part of your workout and should not be left out. If the area only accommodates one or two people, you likely won’t spend much time on this aspect ofyour fitness routine.
If you’re heavy into cardio, check that the machines are in good condition and offer the latest features. The treadmills should have inclines and many also have heart rate readers so you can track how hard you’re working. If you really enjoy mixing up your workouts, you may also want to see if they have alternate cardio machines such as ellipticals, rowers, and recumbent bikes.
Finally, when walking around the gym, make sure it’s not too crowded. Once it gets busy and people are all doing their own thing, you don’t want to be distracted during your workout and feel like you have limited space to work in.
Accessibility Where is the gym relative to your house? The farther away it is, the less likely you’ll find yourself going. Another option is considering how close it is to your work. This may be more convenient for you, so you can stop at the gym in the morning on your way to work or on your way home.
Cleanliness This may not seem like much of a consideration to begin with, but once you’re there and working out, if the gym has not been maintained and cleaned on a regular basis, you’ll find yourself uncomfortable using much of the equipment. Check for things like fresh towels, numerous spray bottles located around the gym to wipe equipment down after use, and ask how often it brings in maintenance people. Also, take a walk through the locker room to make sure it’s clean and well organized.
Here are additional recommendations from Sean Hyson in his schwarzenegger.com (yes Arnold has his own multi-subject website), Six Things Your Gym Must Have:
Quality Trainers Even if you’re not interested in personal training, it’s smart to work out in a place that employs people who know what the hell they’re doing. It makes for a better atmosphere, and gives you the opportunity to get sound advice if you ever do want or need it.
A trainer should be certified, preferably through an organization like the NSCA, ACSM, NASM, or ISSA. These are the leading fitness education groups in the industry, and while their philosophies all have their flaws, a cert from them proves at least two things—the trainer took the time to read books and pass a challenging exam, and he/she is serious and passionate about training, not just eager to make a quick buck handing a client his or her own workout.
More important than certification, however, is experience, track record, and mentorship. If a trainer has a long list of testimonials from successful clients, or (if the trainer is young) has interned with somebody who does, you’ve found your guy. [I’ll talk more about choosing the right trainer in a future blog.]
The Intimidation Factor Going to the gym should never feel like you’re going home. You don’t want it to be that comfortable. It’s tempting to choose a gym because it’s quiet and never gets crowded. That way, you can coast through your workout, slip out undetected, and tell yourself you trained that day. Believe me, this is the worst mistake you can make, and no program, diet, or supplement can make up for it, no matter how effective. When you enter a gym, you should feel a lot of positive energy and a little bit of anxiety—that’s the mindset you need for focused, intense workouts.
Like-Minded People Camaraderie: Without it, you can do everything right and get good results. With it, you can do everything wrong and get great results. Think of how many people you see in the gym that don’t know what they’re doing. Their form is awful, they have no clear plan for their workouts, and they probably don’t even eat healthy when they get home. To add insult to injury, they’re in way better shape than you are. The reason is usually because they bust their asses. And they have the drive to do that because they train with like-minded people who share the same goals, discipline, and ravenous appetite to make gains.
Even when you aren’t directly competing with other gym goers, just knowing there is somebody else is in the room that cares about your training as well as his/her own is an incentive. I said above that a good gym shouldn’t make you feel at home, but it should be populated with your kind of people.
[Let me add in here: If you like taking group classes—yoga, pilates, Spinning, Zumba, tai chi, etc—you should make sure the ones you’re interested in are offered. And on days and at times which will work for you. For instance, I go to the Ventura YMCA where I take Body Pump classes, which are offered enough times a week so I don’t miss out.]
Finally, I’ll add in items from a checklist put out by the International Council on Active Aging, the world’s largest senior fitness association. Here are questions (that weren’t covered above) to ask about from their article, How to select an age-friendly fitness facility:
Is the facility well lit on the outside and inside?
Does the facility have nonslip flooring?
Does the facility offer free trial memberships?
Will the facility pro-rate your membership fee, based on how much of the facility is accessible to you?
Is the music acceptable and set at a reasonable level?
Does the organization belong to a professional fitness association that specializes in older adult fitness?
Does the facility have a warm pool?
Is the equipment area uncluttered?
Can the facility’s strength building equipment be easily entered and exited by individuals with a variety of functional abilities and disabilities?
Does the facility offer programs designed to meet the needs of those with a variety of chronic conditions? i.e. osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, balance abnormalities, muscular weakness.
Do the classes have different levels of intensity, duration and size?
Is there an extensive screening and assessment process? i.e. Balance, functional abilities, osteoporosis?
Will the staff work hand-in-hand with your physician if you have a health issue?
Has the staff asked you about your goals, created a plan to help you reach them, and showed you this plan?
Is the staff certified by a nationally recognized senior fitness organization to work with people who have various health issues that may arise with age?
Do staff members ask you about your health history and which movements cause pain, fatigue or other symptoms, and which activities or exercises are feasible for you?
Is the staff properly rained to identify the warning signs of fatigue or distress and to handle emergencies that may arise?
Do staff members have CPR and first aid training?
Is the staff knowledgeable about the impact that medication can have on exercise ability?
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you in your search for the perfect fitness facility. There are plenty of gyms out there, if you find one lacking just move on to the next. Good luck!