Picking a health/fitness club pointers

While I have never been very big about joining health or fitness clubs I do know that many people enjoy their memberships and use them very effectively. My advice about fitness and working out is simply do it in the atmosphere that makes you feel good and if a health club is the place for you then do it. In light of that advice I would also offer some advice on how to choose a club.

My first piece of advice would be to chose a location that is a near to your home as possible. With the cost of fuel these days it should be cost efficient to travel to the work out area. Also, the site might be close enough that you could do a short run or bike to the club to do the rest of the work out, i.e. weights, yoga, steam room, massage, etc. Like anything else I would encourage you to visit more than one health club so you could compare what they have to offer, the costs and how each compare to each other. In years past there were not as many to choose from as there are now, so the choice is yours and take the time to seek them out. When shopping for these facilities be sure to go during their prime time so you can see just how busy and crowded they may be. This can tell you if you will have to wait for a long period of time before using the work out area, i.e. weights, treadmills, etc. It will also give you an idea on how the staff treats the customers during prime time. On membership costs always ask if they have a free trial program and then what is the cost after that, plus check to see if they limit the number of members they will take at any given time. Most clubs sell memberships with no limit, then they hope that they will have many no shows. Many clubs now offer the 24 hour open feature, and I would certainly consider that as an option, since it gives a person more flexibility and can fit any work obligations. The contract that is offered must be properly presented and signed by all parties concerned. I have noticed some clubs offering a “no contract, no obligation” deal and I would stay away from those. If you enter into some kind of agreement here with no obligation than how do you do anything about poor service, etc.? In writing agreements spell out the obligations of both parties and are very appropriate, in my opinion. Some clubs will also offer financing plans, and I would say to just check out the interest rates and cancellation policies. Another credibility check for a club would be to see if they are registered with the Secretary of State’s Office in you state. In most states the club will have to have an operator’s certificate of registration and post a $20,000.00 to $50,000.00 security deposit with the SOS, depending on the size of its’ membership. In a nutshell; location, availability of services, cost, and professional registration with the state are the most important things you can look for in a fitness/health club facility.

Happy clubbing,

Mike Greer