Choosing a Gym

When most people begin working out they want to join a gym.  While a gym is not a mandatory part of a fitness routine it can be a great way to get access at an affordable price to equipment you would not otherwise have access to.

But all to often people let low introductory prices influence which gym they join.  Then once they join the gym, they hate it and never go.  Here are a few thing you should consider before joining.

Obviously price is a big motivator for many of us.  If you find a low price at one gym but like another tell them about the lower priced offer and see if they can match it.  Also be aware some gyms offer low prices to start but once your trial period is over, the price goes up.  Many gyms automatically deduct the money from your account and it is non refundable so make sure you read the fine print.


Location.  Is the gym in a location you will actually work out at?  If it is a twenty minute drive from your house will the drive act as a deterrent to you actually going to workout?  Someplace close by or on your way home from work is usually the best bet.

If the gym offers multiple locations make sure the plan you are signing up for allows you access to the different locations.  Some gyms charge more for this option.

What equipment do they have.  Take a look around.  Some gyms, even huge ones offer only a few pieces of certain types of equipment and it may be the equipment you want to use.  Nothing is more frustrating than wanting to use a squat rack but finding they are all taken up by guys who want to stand around and talk.  Some gyms also offer things like tanning or yoga.  If those are options you would use find a gym that offers them.

Hours are big thing I see people often overlook.  With todays 24 hour world a lot of us do not work 9-5 anymore.  Make sure the gym hours suit your work schedule.  Some gyms offer 24 hours access these days so make sure you check.

And do not overlook the clientele.  I know we should not judge a book by its cover, but lets face it we all do.  If you want to do yoga and the gym is full of a bunch of 20 year old meat heads it may not be a good fit for you.  So try to get an idea of the type of people who workout there.  While I am not one to go to the gym to socialize the clientele can be frustrating at time.

I used to have to be careful about what time I went to the gym because at 5 pm all the guys I would talk to at the barber shop would go to the gym.  So that meant they wanted to talk and socialize and I would spend an hour and a half doing nothing.  I love those guys, but I did not want to talk during my workout.  So it becomes a balancing act.

Just make sure you join a gym you will love going to so it is enjoyable and not a chore so you will be consistent.