To date, I’ve had a total of 5 gym memberships. From a black card membership at Planet Fitness, a public gym to my current membership at Earn Everything gym a privately owned gym, here are four things to consider when choosing the perfect gym:
First is location and convenience. Is this gym close to home? Work? Or even school? If the gym is more than 30-40 minutes away you may not be as motivated to drive that long on a regular basis. You need to consider if the drive will end up being longer during the rush hour. Moreover, if the gym is closed at a certain time, will you be limited on the amount of time that you can workout if the gym closes early on the weekdays and is not open 7 days a week.
Cost is very significant because you want to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. The lowest I’ve paid for a gym membership monthly is $24.99 and the highest that I’ve paid is $75 a month. It is important to ask if there is an annual fee in addition to the monthly rate because that is not always mentioned during the sign up process, especially if the sales rep quickly mentioned. You will want to ask if you are locked in to a contract when you sign up for the gym. I used to be okay with contracts but too often many gyms make it difficult to get out of.
A gym without good equipment is a bummer! Before signing up officially consider taking a tour of the gym. Have the tour guide point out the machines they have for lower body and upper body. Do they have a sauna? Do they have a space for workout classes? When you go on the tour, scout out any visual signs for broken equipment. This is important because you want to make sure that when there is broken equipment that it is immediately being fixed.
Do you feel safe? As a woman, feeling safe in the gym is very non-negotiable. I’ve had men lust on me while working out, disrupt my workout, and even asked to use a piece of equipment that I was still obviously using at the gym. That is not comfortable and it is unacceptable. When you are coming to and from the gym, the parking lot should be well lit up.
Also, cleanliness & maintenance is non-negotiable! If the gym is not being regularly cleaned, run far away. The gym is a host for a lot of germs and bacteria especially if members are not cleaning up after themselves. Is the gym regularly cleaned by staff members/
Choosing the right gym environment can help to support your health and wellness goals. After considering location, cost, equipment, safety, and cleanliness, you will be all set and ready to go.