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♦ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006
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How To Choose A
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It’s that time again. Whether it’s
a New Years Resolution or just a
post-holiday bulge that has you
searching the Yellow Pages for a
health club, here are a few simple
rules on picking one that’s right for
you.
Picking a health club can be a
frightening experience - there’s all
those buff people inside and intimi
dating machinery. But, if you have
a game plan, it’ll be no sweat (until
you get there).
These facilities, like people, come
in many different shapes and sizes.
Your key consideration should
be finding a club that meets your
needs. Are you interested in rac
quetball, weightlifting, aerobic
classes, swimming? Make sure the
club you pick has the equipment,
classes, and facilities you want.
Check them out:
Shop around; nothings stop
ping you. Many gyms have trial or
monthly memberships. So, what are
you waiting for, try out all of the
local gyms in your area to see which
one fits your style and personality.
Location:
Location is everything. After work
ing eight (or more) hours a day, no
one wants to drive long distances
just to workout. So, pick a gym
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that’s a reasonable drive away. Make
sure the facility is well-lit and feels
safe, especially if you’ll be working
out after work.
Pricing:
Like their equipment, health clubs
come in a wide-range of prices and
options. Although price should be
considered, remember what your
mother always said, ‘You get what
you pay for.’ And, with gyms, this
adage is true, the better the equip
ment, the more staff and classes
offered, the higher the price. Check
out monthly and annual member
ships, often times you can get a
discount off an annual member
ship, which are usually lower than
monthly fees.
Hours:
While this concept may seem obvi
ous, the hours of operation should
be an important factor in consider
ing a gym. Some people want the
luxury of pumping iron at mid
night or on a holiday, or early in
the morning. If that person is you,
definitely check into the hours of
operation.
Equipment:
If the gym you are pondering has
sub-par equipment, make a quick
360 degree turn for the door. Old
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equipment is one thing, but faulty
equipment is dangerous. Make sure
that the equipment has been prop
erly maintained. Phis should be one
of the most important factors in
your decision.
Atmosphere and Clientele. Take
a good look around the gym. Are
people dressing the way you would
if you belonged? Some gyms may
strike you as too competitive or too
materialistic. Look for a gym that
fits your unique personality. The
last thing a person wants to do is
feel inferior or out of place while
working out.
Membership Content and Volume.
Some women only like to workout
amongst other women, while some
women like to check out available
guys and socialize with both sexes.
Keep this in mind, when selecting
a gym. Some gyms are for women
only.
Also, look at the volume of mem
bership. If you don’t want hundreds
of people staring at your butt, then
don’t become a member of a high
volume gym. Ask the management
when peak workout times begin and
avoid the gym at this time or select
a gym with a smaller membership
base. Many people workout in the
evening after work, so to avoid long
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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
lines for workout equipment, create
a morning workout routine.
Extras. Many gyms offer lounges,
juice bars, snack areas, intense exer
cise classes, etc. If you’re interested
in these things, fine, but if not, why
pay for them?
Attitude is everything. If the man
agement does not seem particularly
pleasant on your first visit, chances
are they aren’t. Pick a gym, where
the management caters to your
needs. They should, after all, that’s
why you are paying them. At the
same time, check out what type
of training and certifications the
staff have acquired. If you’re serious
about developing a fitness program,
make sure the staff can teach you
properly.
Five Most Important Rules
for How to Pick a Gym:
1 - Don’t select a gym out of your
price range.
2 - Make sure the location is con
venient.
3 - Make sure that the gym hours
fit into your schedule.
4 - Don’t pay for extras that you’ll
never use.
5 - Make sure that equipment is
state of the art and high quality.
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