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Choosing a Gym Membership: What to Look For (Part 1)

Back when I was working in local health clubs, we used to have to brace ourselves for the influx of newChoosing_a_gym_membershipbuyer_bewa  memberships during January and to tell you the truth most people just signed up for the sake of joining a gym.

This year don't just go with the flow and choose the gym your friends or coworkers are going to. Instead, pick a place that suits your individual style and above all, make it a place where you see yourself actually using.

To make sure you're choosing the right health club for you, remember to follow these 5 steps:

1. Pay careful attention to the front desk person as you enter the gym. Were they courteous and attentive as you walked through the door? If not, then you may be looking at a club that doesn't pride themselves on service. A great gym makes sure that everyone from the manager down to the front desk staff is always available to its members.

2. How was the sales tour? Were all your questions answered? Was the sale person dressed neatly and did they conduct the tour in a professional manner? Cleanliness and professionalism shows great attention to detail which is an important part of choosing the right club.

3. How did the locker rooms look? If there were towels lying all over the floor, a mildew smell, or any other cleanliness issue, skip over this club and on to the next. There is no excuse for a club to overlook this aspect of their facility.

4. Did the sales tour end with a hard closing sale pitch or did they concentrate more on how you can achieve your goals through any number of their programs? It's hard to believe, but the majority of health clubs don't necessarily cater to their member's "health."


5. How was the overall vibe of the club? Did you feel welcome and comfortable? One of the biggest factors in member usage is how comfortable the members feel working out on the fitness floor. Make sure you choose a club that you can see yourself working out at.

If you follow these 5 simple steps you should be well on your way to investing in a club that meets your specific criteria for the New Year.

In Part 2 tomorrow, I will outline a few ideas about how to get the most out of your initial membership. Stay tuned!

COMMENTS:

Posted by: Carl | Jan 7, 2008 2:14:24 PM

I'm looking for a circuit workout at a gym to go along with my daily 30 min. treadmill workout. My dodtor said this was fine as long as it involved lght weights and fast repititons. Is there a ready made workout for this.

Thanks Carl

Posted by: Peter | Jan 3, 2008 6:02:05 AM

Great article valuable info.. Just some info for some of the other readers I used a website transfermymembership.com to find a discounted membership to trial it before I committed for the whole 12 month period. It was worth it.

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