A Beginner’s Guide To Choosing A Gym

When it comes to fitness, our choices are personal and unique. From what we do to where we do it, it varies from person to person. If you’ve chosen to join the gym, good for you! Now it’s time to think about the bigger questions, the biggest being: which should I join and why?

There are so many different types of gyms around the country and choosing the one that’s right for you can be overwhelming. Here at TRAIN for HER, we’ve decided to try and make the whole process a little easier. Hopefully, with a little time and a few Google searches, you’ll find your one true gym in no time by using the three C’s: cost, convenience and closing time.

Cost

Obviously, this is the first thing people look at. In the US, the average cost of a gym membership is between $50-$60 a month.

What is it you want from your gym? If you’re just looking for basic cardio machines and weights, then perhaps avoid the all-singing, all-dancing gyms. If you’re never going to use the pool or attend a fitness class, it’s a waste of your hard-earned money.

Alternatively, many gyms offer family and corporate discounts which may be worth looking into. Shop around and find the deal that’s best for what you can afford.

– RELATED: How To Overcome Your Gym Anxiety –

Convenience

One of the main reasons people don’t go to the gym is lack of time. Don’t be one of those people. Look for one that is either near your workplace or home, wherever you spend most of your time. Anywhere that takes you longer than 20 minutes to get to is no good.

When I joined a gym that was a half an hour drive away, I rarely went because there was no way I was going to spend an hour of my evening on travel alone. If the gym closest to you is $10 more expensive, it’s probably a worthy investment because it means you’re more unlikely to become one of the 80% of gym members that never go.

Closing time

If you can only workout after 8pm, because of work commitments, but your gym closes at 9pm, perhaps it’s not the right one for you. Ensuring your gym’s opening hours match up with your schedule is essential to guarantee you actually go.

Most gyms will close on public holidays and the average opening hours are between 6am and 10pm, but there are many 24 hour gyms popping up around the country. This is a great option for shift workers and parents.