How-To Guides

10 Exercises for Choosing a Good Gym

By Saikat ⋅ August 21, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅ Post a comment

If Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t enough when I was growing up, now I have Page 3 models to gawk at and feel a bit woebegone about the muscular state of my appendages. Agreed that the gym has become a temple for many, but I hadn’t ever managed to really put myself through the grind. But looking at the stress levels that working in the modern sweatshops bring, a gym membership was certainly on top my list.

For me, the bottom-line was fitness and not the buffed up ‘Conan’ look. I am more of a Jackie Chan fan myself. Flexibility and overall fitness rather than wow-what-a-build was what I was searching for. And so started my search for a good local gym. Before I started to shop for a suitable gym, I did some groundwork. Here are some I considered (and I am sharing now) before I even bought my first pair of sneakers.

• Do I really need a gym?

I looked at my motivating factors. I am abysmal as a loner, so an exercise mat at home was a nada. The gym seemed a communal way to get fit.

• Joining for fitness’ sake.

I didn’t want to join on an impulse. I attempted to clarify my reasons and decided that I would proceed slowly with my fitness plans rather than go all out for the 50 bench presses.

• The nearer the better.

Accessibility and convenience were a prime consideration. I didn’t want to waste gallons of precious crude or sweat just to get there. Also, the workout hours were important for me…but most gyms usually have comfortable timings as their business depends on it.

• It’s all in the research.

I researched the gyms on my shortlist. I waggled a guest pass from some of my colleagues, heard their recommendations, and tried a few out.

• Putting the members before the membership.

I took a dekko at the clientele at the prospective gyms. I guess it is important to feel comfortable with your brother members.

• Looking at the fitness equipment.

Avoid looking at the pretty receptionist or the handsome physical trainer, lest they muddle you into a wrong decision. Look at the gym equipment and around at the gym facilities. Are they hygienic? Are they state of the art or at least modern? Safety of use should also be an area of concern. Do they offer any supplementary facilities like showers and sauna? A good rub down service could turn a vote.

• Now look at the trainer.

Is the training staff competent enough to advise properly? I am a work in progress so I needed someone who could put me through the proper fitness drills and advice me on the right kind of diets too. A decent gym should not only have properly trained staff but preferably certified ones. Here’s a scary bit of info - the American Heart Association says that almost one-third of sudden cardiac arrests outside homes and hospitals occur in fitness clubs or sports facilities. I wanted to fall into the right hands lest I got felled by a stroke.

• Giving up the dough.

Talk over the payment structures. Do they require deposits? Is it an annual or a monthly subscription? I checked around before about the average rates in town. I was more comfortable with a bi-monthly or a monthly schedule, but that’s just me…the bloke who just might run out of the fitness fad.

• For the traveling salesman.

I live out of a suitcase sometimes. The gym I narrowed down did have some affiliate partnerships with others around the country. It is a rarity, but is one aspect that could be worth exploring as this could keep one fit while fleeting from one place to the other.

• Tying up some loose pointers.

If you plan to bring the family to the exercise club check the environs with regards to the children. With loose weights lying around is it a safe place? Do they have separate hours and instructions for males and females? Talk to some of the current members about their experiences before narrowing down on the yeah.

And finally after so much of mental exercise, I managed to take my first steps towards a healthy albeit a less ‘wealthy’ lifestyle. I think I will just give myself a pat on the back for a job well done.

Do you have some suggestions of your own? Do share them here.

Image:Flickr.com

Tags: exercise, fitness, gym, health