HOW TO FIND A GYM AND START EXERCISING
There is hardly a week that passes without an article or study touting
benefits of exercise. Exercise to cure cancer, exercise to lose weight, feel better, livelonger, and stop dementia, list appears endless. The benefits of exercise sound fantastic but there is just one problem. You have to exercise to gain benefits! For many, this is a big problem.
So, what can you do to get yourself motivated to join wonderful world of exercising? A great solution is to join a gym where you are in company of like-minded people. Joining a gym for first time or after a period of inactivity can be a little scary. I hope this article will make your fitness journey a little easier.
Aren’t all gyms pretty much same? The short answer would be. ……. NO. Every gym has it’s own personality both in equipment and type of people it attracts. Some gyms cater to weight lifters with lots of free weights and little else, while other facilities might cater to working women and offer activities such as yoga, spinning or aerobics. There are locally owned gyms and nationwide chains. Small gyms as well as mega fitness centers. There is a gym for everybody but it will take a little footwork to find your perfect fit.
What’s most important feature when looking for a gym?
In my opinion, location must be considered before anything else. Absence will not make heart grow fonder. A gym more than 10 minutes from your home or office will end up not getting used. If you like to work out in morning you might want to stick with gyms close to home. If you’re a lunchtime sweat maven then a gym near work could be a better option. Some of larger chains may have facilities by both work and home. In addition, if you travel, gyms with multiple locations may let you work out for FREE, or at a discount, if they have a facility at your travel destination.
Other Features to Consider
Membership Clientele – Check out other patrons in gym you are considering. Each gym has it’s own personality. Is it mostly women or men? Is everybody wearing fashionable workout gear or is it a shorts and t-shirt crowd? Does it cater to families or is it an adult’s only gym?
Equipment - The quality and variety of equipment is very important if you plan on starting a comprehensive fitness program. Is equipment well maintained? Check to see how many machines are “out of order”. Check to see if free weights are offered as well as machines. Is there an adequate cardio section with plenty of bikes, climbers and treadmills? These tend to be high use pieces of equipment so it is important that facility have several.
