What to Look for in a New Gym
Maybe you’re searching for gyms in Denver. Or perhaps you live in a smaller city where you don’t have as many options.
Regardless of where you live or what you’re looking for, it’s critical that you make an informed decision. After all, there’s no point in spending money on a gym membership if you’re never going to use it.
Note: you can always opt to build a home gym if it makes more sense for you.
While no two people are looking for the exact same thing in a new gym, there are many details to keep in mind as you begin your search.
Here are five things that deserve at least some of your attention:
1. Amenities
For many people, this is what a gym is all about. They don’t want to workout at home, so they’re seeking as much in return for their money as they can find. And that’s where amenities come into play.
This includes but is not limited to things such as classes, swimming pool, day care center, basketball courts, and a sauna.
Before you decide in favor of a gym, stop by for a closer look at what it has to offer. You’ll find one of two things to be true: it has all the amenities you’re looking for, or it is lacking in a particular area.
Even if you’re not looking for anything in particular, you should still consider which amenities are most important to you.
Tip: some gyms charge extra money or access to some amenities, so keep this in mind when making your decision.
2. Affordable Membership Fee
Entirely too many people join a gym and never use their membership. As a result, they end up wasting money, month after month.
No matter how much you’re paying, be sure that you’ll get your money’s worth. And if you don’t, cancel your membership and look into an alternative way of staying in shape.
As for the cost of a membership, take into consideration the average in your area as well as how much you’re willing to spend.
3. Location
Just the same as real estate, location is the name of the game when choosing a gym. Don’t choose a facility that’s so far out of the way that you’ll never make time to visit.
Start your search with the gyms that are closest to your home and/or office. This way, it’s more convenient for you to travel to and from.
This may not be a dealbreaker, but if you can’t decide which gym is best, the location may break the tie.
4. Cleanliness
This has always been important, but that’s even more so the case in today’s day and age.
There’s nothing worse than showing up at a gym, just to realize that it’s not nearly as clean as you had expected.
Not only does this put you off—which may send you heading for the exit—but it also puts your health at risk.
Tip: read online reviews to better understand how gyms in your local area are keeping up with cleaning and maintenance. You’re sure to find that some are doing better than others, and those are the ones that deserve your attention.
5. Capacity
There’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at the gym, just to find that it’s overly crowded and there’s not much space for you to workout.
Capacity isn’t everything, but do your best to find a larger gym that has a lot of the type of equipment that you’re most likely to use.
When capacity isn’t an issue, it’s much easier to get in and out of the gym in a timely manner, all while feeling good about the work you put in.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the many things to look for in a new gym. If you find yourself on the search, don’t hesitate to focus on these details, among any others that are important to you.
What do you consider the most important factors when choosing a gym? Have you ever made a change in the past because of something you weren’t getting in exchange for your money?
