Tips for Joining a Gym

Joining a gym can often be intimidating. If you plan to join a gym, you should think about the following before doing so.

Your needs: Not all gyms will have the equipment you need. If you are just starting out, you will most likely be starting on machine weights and cardio machines (i.e. treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes), so you will want to make sure the gym has plenty of this equipment available

Budget & Membership: Membership options will vary for each gym, some gyms require a long term agreement, while others are month to month. Membership prices will also vary, and more expensive memberships typically have more to offer. Many gyms will often try to be tricky with their cancelation policies, some memberships may automatically renew if you don’t give notice that you are planning to cancel.

Extras Perks: Be sure to look at the extra benefits that gyms offer such as; free exercise classes, a pool, daycare, locker rooms with showers, free fitness assessments, free personal training sessions when joining, etc.

Location: Driving to a gym is going to take up time in your day and the farther away it is, the more difficult it will be to make the trip. Join a gym that is either near where you live, where you work, or maybe on your route home.

 Gym hours: Finding time is often a big issue when it comes to exercising, so you want to check the daily hours of the gym you are wanting to join, some are open 24 hours a day.

If you are unsure about a gym, you can always pay a daily fee to try out a gym before starting a membership.