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So you want to join a gym?

Awesome. 

Welcome to my church…

But are you looking for a church with 50 foot high ceilings, stained glass windows, and an ornate steeple?

Or do you like a simple yet beautiful patch of earth where you can kneel and pray?

The choice is yours.  Allow this article to be your guide on selecting a gym that suits you.

Location

As a former fitness facility owner, I can tell you that the vast majority of a gym’s clients live or work within a 3 mile radius of where the gym is located.  Especially if you are new to fitness training, you want to make going to the gym as convenient as possible.  But if you are a die-hard fitness freak (I use that term with much love), you may be more than happy to travel extra miles to find that obscure kettlebell class, Crossfit box, yoga studio, or dungeon-style powerlifting mecca.

Something else to consider is parking availability.  Most large corporate gyms will have plentiful parking.  But your small independently owned gym might be a bit sparse (parking sucked at my first location).

Atmosphere

Call it atmosphere, vibe, energy, or style.  Every gym has an intangible quality that makes it feel like your home away from home or being caught in hell somewhere between standing in line at the post office and waiting to get your driver’s license renewed.

A big part of the atmosphere is the number of people training.  Some people like a packed gym and feed off of the energy.  Other people like the crowd sparse (that would be me) and love it when they are the only one in the gym.  The important thing is to visit the gym at the time of day you will be using it.  Also try to see what it’s like on a Monday, as that is usually the busiest day of the week for gyms.

If the gym you’re considering has a website, checking it out can give you a hint of the atmosphere.  But nothing beats checking it out in person.  When I moved to Austin, I selected my neighborhood specifically because it was close to a gym that had great reviews online as being known for no-nonsense training and they had all the equipment I could ever want (several power racks, Olympic lifting platforms, lots of dumbbells, and very few machines).

But when I went there for a week on a free pass, I hated it.  The “vibe” there made it a common occurrence for people to talk to me between sets and offer unsolicited advice on my technique.  Don’t get me wrong, no one was rude or condescending – I just didn’t feel comfortable with the vibe and culture of that gym.

Admittedly, I am one anti-social mofo when it comes to my gym time.  I ended up signing up with a national corporate chain gym that I absolutely love in large part because when my earbuds are in and I’m standing in the power rack, nobody says a peep to me.

Equipment

Speaking of power racks, does your gym have one?

If not, run like hell!

I’ve previously gone as far as saying that if you are not using a power rack at the gym, you might as well stay home for training.  That’s not me being “hardcore” or a “meat head”, that’s me being practical.

You can get a set of dumbbells and a door frame pull up bar that will cost you much less than a year’s worth of gym fees and train at home.  But a power rack, barbell, and plates can get a little pricey.  And even if you are willing to drop the coin or scan Craig’s List and find a killer deal (very possible), many people will not have the space in their home to have a rack and barbell set-up.

I suppose another reason to use the gym even if you don’t use the power rack (cringe), is because it really is your “church” of sorts. . . It’s a place where you find some mental, emotional, or spiritual clarity.  It gives you a much needed gap between work and home.  It provides a space where you can’t access the computer.  It’s your place of moving meditation.  You find solace there that you haven’t found anywhere else.  If that’s the case, great. . . But still consider stepping into the damned power rack.

If your gym does have at least one power rack with a barbell and plates, other pieces of equipment to look for include dumbbells and. . . dumbbells.

I’m only half way kidding.  But a pull up bar (often attached to the power rack), kettlebells, medicine balls, jump ropes, and boxing equipment are also nice to have around.  I’ll even admit to using cables on occasion and I think they can definitely have a place in a well rounded program.

But what about the cardio machines? 

Ahhh yes. . . treadmills and stationary bikes and ellipticals, oh my!  Believe it or not, there are actually a few “cardio” machines that I do like.  My requirements for a cardio machine are that it uses both the upper and lower body and it can stop and start on a dime.  That means I want to be able to go from a dead stop to an all out max effort with no lag time waiting for the damned machine to catch up.

So what machines meet those qualification?  The Concept2 Rower for sure.  I had one at my old gym and loved it.  I also like the Airdyne Bike and the VersaClimber.  And that’s about it.  Treadmills are for gerbils.

Payments, Contracts, And Upsells

I see nothing wrong with a gym requiring a contract.  I used to do it.

Same goes for automatic withdrawals.  I required it.  Just because the gym owner has solid business practices in place that increase the likelihood that they get paid does not mean that they are only interested in the money.  Money is the lifeblood of any business.  If you like your gym, pay the damned fee.  The lights might just stay on and the roof might not leak.

If the gym does require a contract, be sure to know what happens when the contract expires.  If you sign a 12 month agreement, what happens on month 13?  Does the contract go to a month to month agreement that you can cancel at anytime?  Or does it renew to another 12 month agreement?  Personally I would not sign a 12 month contract that rolled into another year at the expiration.  But the point is to be aware of this part of the contract, and be sure that you agree with the terms.

But how much should you pay?

It’s easy to throw around the old maxim of “you get what you pay for”, but that’s not always the case.  Any reputable gym should give you a free or extremely low cost trial period where you can use their facilities for a limited time and then make your decision on whether their fee warrants the benefits prior to signing a contract.

If the gym you are considering does not have a free or low cost trial, that usually means that they are only after your wallet.  But occasionally this means that it is a truly exclusive group and they don’t want any half-steppers – but that is the exception to the rule.

I pay $43.30 per month for my gym, and to me it’s worth every penny.  Other gyms can be close to $200 per month and some community centers or YMCA’s can be less than $30 per month.  The bottom line is that if you use it, and it improves your health, it’s tough to put a dollar amount on the value.  Personally I think anything less than $200 per month can be reasonable (not to include personal training).  It just depends on your use and the impact it has on your health and fitness.

One thing to keep an eye out for are aggressive sales tactics for personal training services, tanning packages, and other potential upsells.  When I joined my gym I asked the manager directly, “If I sign up here, am I going to be constantly pitched for personal training services?”.  He said no and I signed on the dotted line.  And I’ve never once encountered a sales pitch at this gym since I signed up.

But this is not always the case, especially in some of the larger corporate gym settings.  Trainers or sales people may have to report daily to management how many members they approached about training upsells, how many packages were sold, and/or how many referrals they received.  I’m not opposed to selling or marketing – in the proper context.  But when I’m at the gym for 30 minutes of “me” time is not the proper context.  If you don’t want to be bothered with the newly certified ACE fitness trainer practicing his sales skills, ask what the protocol is before you sign the contract.

Amenities

Personally the only amenities I care about are the equipment.  But I live less than a block from my gym, work from home, and don’t care about the shower facilities of my gym.

You on the other hand may be getting your workout in over your lunch break and have to be back in the office in a suit and tie (or skirt and heels as the case may be) for the afternoon.  If you will be using the locker room, be sure to check out the cleanliness but also be conscious of how many people are using the locker room.  Are there enough showers to accommodate the busy lunchtime gym blitz?  Are people courteous when they lay their stuff out on the benches or do they take up as much space as possible.  How many old dudes are walking around naked with their dingle-dangle wagging while their towel rests uselessly over their shoulder?  You know your personal preferences for cleanliness, personal space, and umm… showmanship – make sure the locker room of your gym meets your preferences.

Child care services are another bonus that parents may appreciate.  If you’ll be bringing children to the gym, be sure to stop by the child care area to meet the people responsible for watching the kids and to see how the kids interact with each other.

Other amenities your gym may have include free towels, sauna, swimming pool, cafe, 24 hour access, massage therapy, or chiropractic services.  Then again, you might be in a cinder block warehouse with concrete floors that has zero amenities.  It all comes down to your personal preferences.

Action Steps

If you’re ready to start the process of finding a gym, here are the steps that I recommend:

1.  Find gyms within a 3 mile radius of your home or work place.  Maybe you already have a few gyms in mind because you’ve seen their storefront signage on your drive to work or you already know people who train there.  If not, Google Maps is a good resource to use.  Type your address into Google Maps, click on the red icon that designates your address, and then click “search near by”.  Type “gym” in the search box and the map will show the location of the gyms near your home and have a corresponding list in the left hand column.

2.  Select a gym that appeals to you, and go visit.  Do not call and set an appointment.  You want to catch them off guard so you can get a taste of their customer service when they may not be expecting it.  When you get there, ask for a tour of the facility.  If you like what you see of the equipment, amenities, and atmosphere, ask for a trial pass.  If this is not free or costs more than $20.00 leave immediately.  Ideally the trial pass should be for at least a few days if not a full week or two.  Also be aware of the sales tactics.  Are they trying to pressure into a sale right there on the spot, or do they get you a trial pass with minimal paperwork and hassle?

3.  Train at the gym.  I know it’s an obvious step, but be sure to use the trial pass.  Make sure you go on the days and times that you will be using the gym if you sign up.  Be aware of the things that will weigh on your decision to join.  Is the equipment clean and in good service?  Are you comfortable with the crowd at the time you train?  Are you satisfied with the locker room, child care, and other ammenities?

4.  Ask for the contract.  Two days before your trial expires, ask for a copy of the enrollment contract.  Take it home and read it.  If there is a “corporate policy” against taking the contract out of the facility before enrolling and you otherwise like the gym, ask if you can come in the next day and sit in their lobby and review the contract (this is why I recommend asking two days before the trial expires).  If they won’t let you do that, then be prepared for hard-sell tactics and consider looking into a different gym.

5.  Review the contract.  You should not need a lawyer to decipher the agreement.  It should be written in plain language, ideally with subheadings that let you know what each paragraph is about.  Look for what happens at the expiration of the contract (does it roll over to month to month or renew for the full term of the original agreement).  Also look for what happens if you move away from the area, become injured (not necessarily through training) and can’t use the facility, or miss a monthly payment.

6.  Sign up and train!  If you are happy with the terms of the agreement and you like everything else about the gym, get signed up and start training!  You may need to bring a voided check if you are going to have the payment automatically withdrawn from your checking account, otherwise bring your credit card.  Something else that I didn’t mention is that many gyms, especially independently owned gyms, may be open to receiving payment in full for an entire year at a discounted rate.

So there you go!  Not a bad guide for selecting a gym, eh?  If you enjoyed this article many thanks for spreading the word on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.  And if you have any questions about selecting a gym, let me know in the comments below.

Stay strong,

Vic

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Since I’m now only posting once per week to this blog, I want to start including some great links from around the web at the end of each article.  This week we have a free book, a poetry contest about bacon, this blog going mobile, and an amazing weight loss transformation. . .

Joshua Millburn of TheMinimalists.com has an excellent work of fiction available for your favorite price – free.  I’ve read the book and it’s top notch.  Click the link to get your free digital copy of Falling While Sitting Down.

Doug Grootveld of WellnessRenegade.com has an awesome tribute to beloved bacon.  He’s created a pretty funny video about the health benefits of bacon and is hosting a poetry contest about bacon where you can win… bacon!  But you’ll have to beat my Jay-Z themed ode to bacon which you can read in the comments of the post by clicking here.

You can now read this blog on your smart phone and I know you can’t wait to do so while you drink a cup of coffee, eat a sandwich, and drive a stick shift.  If you are looking to have your site go mobile or need other web marketing services, be sure to contact Jessee at www.fresnowebmarketing.com.

Steve Kamb of NerdFitness.com published an amazing weight loss transformation story this week.  How amazing?  128 pounds lost in 10 months amazing.  Be sure to read all about it by clicking here.

That’s it for this week!  If you made at this far, you might as well sign up for future updates.  Heck, I’ll even throw in a PDF that shows exactly what I ate and how I trained to lose over 17 pounds in a month.  Go ahead and submit your email address below.  I double dog dare you.

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