How to choose the right Gym for you: Choosing a gym for me can sometimes be a bit tough with all the various things to consider. In this post, I have compiled some things I feel are important when trying to find the right gym, so let’s get right into it.
Convenience
This is the most important one for me, the gym has to be within 10 minutes to my home or workplace. If its further away, chances are that i would be skipping days when i do not want to drive. I really hate driving as you can tell. I suspended my gym membership since i am training for a Marathon and hence less gym days, on days i want to workout at the gym, i use the gym in my community. The gym i was using was 5 minutes away from my daughter’s day care so once i drop her off, i head over there. Also, if its close to work, you could even sqeeze in a few minutes during lunch break or before and after work.
Price
Ahhhh this is so important too, i do not believe in paying premium for a gym when its for services i do not use or care for such as saunas, hot tub, massage area etc. So why pay close to 100 dollars a month for a gym membership when i would not use them? Some people use those things, so it will be worth it in that case. I wish i cared for those things though but oh well. I also avoid paying for extra features that they may try to push on me. Also, search for discounts, sometimes they run specials or even give discounts if you join with a friend or a partner or get a family plan.
Classes
I love gyms that offer a great range of classes such as spinning, yoga, body pump etc. Especially when they are offered at times that are reasonable for most people to attend.
Clientele
I decided to go with my gym instead of some others because of the clientele it served. For instance, i feel like gold’s gym is more geared towards guys, i might be wrong but the ones i visited while searchign for a gym seemed that way so i avoided it. I prefer a great balance of men and women. I also care about how busy it could get especially at peak times.
Equipment
The facilities the gym has is important, i like a gym with more cardio machines than usual since those fill up fast and it sucks having to wait for a long time to use them. Also, i make sure they have most of the equipment that i need for working out especially when it comes to the weight training area. More variety means more fun while working out.
Safety
The location of the gym is important, safety is a priority for me. It needs to be in a location that i can feel safe at all times.
Hours
Hours of operation are vital. You need a gym that has hours that suit your lifestyle especially your work hours. In the past, I used to workout very early in the morning and needed a gym that opened by 5 am. But now with my daughter and the work schedule of my husband, early workouts like that do not work anymore. So now, I really just need a gym that is open by 7 am and closes at midnight.
Cleanliness
A clean gym is inviting, if a gym is dirty, chances are you may not work out there on certain days. If the gym has not been maintained and cleaned on a regular basis, you will find yourself uncomfortable using the equipment. Make sure the bathrooms are clean, that they have fresh towels and also wipes to clean the machines.
Miscellaneous
These include things like daycare, I do not take my daughter with me to the gym, but in future, i might need to do that, so for me a daycare facility in the gym is important. I also like gyms with soaps etc so I can take a shower after working out. I do not care much for juice bars or snack bars in the gym.
Personal trainers
Personal trainers can be very expensive, so a gym that offers them is great. You can make use of them to ask quick questions, especially on workout forms.
Member privileges
Some gyms give privileges such as being able to use their sister gyms at other locations. This is great because they could have locations close to various places that are important to you so no excuses.
I would advise getting a guest pass first before signing up so you can have a feel of how it is so you have no regrets, also go during a busy period to get a real feel of it.
What are some things you look for when choosing a gym?
Thanks for sharing! I’m in the process of searching for a new gym so this info was super helpful and insightful! xx
I am so glad you found this useful. Good luck in finding the right gym for you!
Thank for your post, I’m looking for a gym!
I like that you mentioned that when it comes getting a personal trainer, that the best way to get the right one might be by going through a gym. It will be nice to be able to hire one without loosing a lot of money, and be able to get the most out of the workouts. This is something that I will look into more so that I will be able to get back to my ideal wait.