Was your New Year's resolution to get fit by joining a gym or health club? It's not too late, but are you sure it's the right way to get fit?
The Women’s Health Centre at the Mayo Clinic can give you some pointers on deciding whether to join that health club.
The February issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource covers the pros and cons to consider before joining a gym. Add them up and see if going to the gym is what you need to do to improve your fitness.
Advantages of Gym Membership
There are lots of good reasons to consider joining a gym to lose weight and improve your fitness. They include:
- Choice of equipment, classes: Gyms and health clubs offer the choice of many different types of equipment, classes and activities. Some clubs also offer luxury features such as a spa or beauty salon
- Institutional-size features: Some health clubs offer Olympic-sized pools, racquetball and tennis courts or a running track
- Professional support: Fitness and training professionals can custom-design programs to help you reach your fitness goals
- Safety: Professional, certified staff offer guidance on proper techniques and form to prevent injury while exercising
- Protection from the weather: It’s never too hot, too cold or wet inside a fitness facility!
- Motivation and camaraderie: Meeting a friend for a yoga class or being surrounded by others who exercise can be encouraging and motivate you to keep going and work harder.
The Downside of Gym Membership
On the other hand, there are negative factors to consider. The major ones are cost and inconvenience.
- Cost: Memberships can be expensive and some are based on long-term contracts. By some estimates, it takes two visits a week over several months to justify the expense. Before signing up for a membership contract, consider paying a “per visit” fee to try out the facility.
- Inconvenience: If the health club is too far away, too crowded, or takes too much time to get to and from, it might not be your best fitness option. Take a look at some of the many other ways to exercise beyond joining a health club.
Finding the Right Club
If the pros outweigh the cons and you decide gym membership is the way to get fit, consider a health club that tailors its programs to suit individual goals and interests.
Consider, do you need all of the facilities and equipment offered? For example, if you don’t swim or play racquetball, you might look for a smaller facility that suits your needs at a lower membership fee.
Whatever its size, a gym or health club should have a comfortable atmosphere, be clean, and have a friendly and inviting staff and well-maintained equipment.
The Importance of Correctly Trained Staff
Staff training is important. Check with your gym or health club about the credentials of fitness staff. Staff members should be certified by a nationally accredited agency such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
In Australia, fitness trainers should be certified by the Australian Fitness Academy or The Fitness Institute Australia.
And don’t forget, before you embark on any fitness or weight loss program, make sure to have a physical check up with your doctor first.
See also: Choose as heart-healthy lifestyle
See also: Getting Older People Walking
