You’ve decided to join a gym - but just which gym should you choose? There are likely to be a variety of gyms in your area with different fees, facilities, target audiences and opening hours. By weighing up these 5 factors, you can select the most suitable fitness club for you.
Location
Your gym needs to be in an easily accessible location. Start by looking at gyms nearest to your home. If you’re more likely to hit the gym after work or on your lunch break, consider instead looking for gyms near your workplace. Some gym companies like Fitness 19 have fitness clubs in multiple locations. This allows you to potentially relocate and stay with the same gym.
Cost
Gym membership fees vary greatly in cost. Most are paid on a monthly basis, but some also offer annual installments. Work out what your budget is and look for gyms in your area that fall within this budget. If you sign up at the beginning of the year, it may be possible to access cheaper membership deals. That said, some gyms offer exclusive offers throughout the year. Others may meanwhile have tiered systems like gold and silver memberships depending on which services you want access to.
Facilities
A very important thing to consider is the facilities themselves. What equipment does the gym have and does it suit your workout goals? Does the gym have classes, and if so which classes? Are there extra facilities like a pool, sauna, massage rooms or cafeteria? You’re likely to find that some gyms are very basic, while others are extensive and luxurious. The quality of facilities will affect the pricing, however it’s worth noting that two similarly priced gyms may have different focuses when it comes to equipment, classes and amenities. Check out gym websites to see what each one’s specialism is.
Audience
Also, consider who the target audience of the gym is. Some gyms will focus on young people, while others largely target seniors. Some gyms may be mostly geared towards bodybuilders and weightlifters, while others may have more of a cardio focus. Some gyms may even be family friendly, while others could be exclusively for adults. Determine what demographic you fall within and consider trying to find a gym that caters to this demographic. You may still be welcomed to a gym that has a different audience, but you may find it harder to reach your exercise goals or meet like-minded people.
Hours
The opening hours of a gym are also essential to consider. There are some gyms that are open all night. The majority however are day gyms and will close at a certain time. If you like to exercise early, checking the opening time of the gym could be vital. The majority of gyms open at 6am, but some open at 5am. Be wary of the fact that certain gyms may get very busy during certain periods - if you can only work out during these periods, make sure that you are not struggling to use the equipment you need.
