Choosing a Health Club
The most important thing when choosing a health club is its proximity. For most people the convenience of being able to roll out of bed and be at the club, coffee in hand in about 5 to 10 minutes, is crucial in perpetuating the desire to workout. You may have found the most wonderful “Wizard of Oz” workout Mecca, but are you ready to drive 15 to 20 minutes to get there? More importantly, can you see yourself getting up and doing that on a regular basis?
Time is always a key element in our workouts. People always seem to miscalculate just how much time they really have to do their routines, So being close to your club, on days when you’re crunched for time will make things easier on your unpredictable schedule, and while you can’t change the currency of time a good workout is supposed to help keep the stress level at a minimum, and not send your blood pressure through the roof.
Most clubs will offer you a free day trial, so that you don’t have to blindly commit to something that you are not certain about. It gives you the opportunity to see if the club is kept clean (if that is a concern) or are the machines in working order and are there a helpful staff to answer any questions, e.t.c. Most importantly it allows you to speak to other members concerning how they feel about the club.
Earlier we spoke about proximity of the club and why having a close by club is essential for most. Have you seen the gym during hours that you might attend? is it so crowded that you would need to wait for a treadmill. or a swimming lane. What hours are considered peak?
For some people music is essential, and although most people have their own headphones and IPODs, some clubs are very proud of their sound systems and will crank it up. It’s hard to hold a conversation with a friend or potential friend when Drake or Mettalica is loud enough to make your ears ring.
There are gyms out there that might not fit your personal needs in the sense that some clubs cater to a very “hardcore” group of people that eat metal for breakfast, or others that are yoga oriented. This is by no means a discouragement, but you need to be aware of places that de-emphasize what you might feel important.
Are there particular equipment or machines that you use available at the club?
If you are a swimmer does the gym have a well kempt pool? Are women required to wear water caps, and children, water Swimmies? Are the lifeguards attentive and willing to talk to you and not just the 20 year old babes that hang out? Are the locker rooms clean with enough space to feel that you have some type of privacy? What type of amenities are provided? (towels and breath mints?) Some health clubs allow you use of the sun deck which is usually adjacent to the indoor pool. Excellent for sunbathing before taking a dip in the pool, as well as provide a quiet place to read a book or play cards with friends.
The only thing that matters is that it matters to you.