For information on what you need to know before joining a gym read on for our expert tips and advice on the 10 Things You Need to Know About Joining a Gym- includes what to look for in a gym, the cost of joining a gym & more.

Joining a Gym

If you’ve recently decided to commit to a healthier lifestyle then joining a gym may well be on your ‘To Do’ list, but finding the right place can be a bit of a headache, writes fitness expert Dean Hodgkin.

Guidelines to Joining a Gym

These days so much effort goes into club image and the sales promotion it’s hard to know whether you are truly getting the best deal for you. Here are some guidelines to enable you to avoid making costly mistakes.

Gym Facilities

Some clubs consist of a single aerobics studio while others may offer 3 climate controlled studios, fully equipped gym, pools, spa, indoor/outdoor tennis courts and squash courts. You may not need a fully equipped centre if you only want to use the gym, so enquire as to whether the club offers partial membership which you can upgrade later if you wish.

Finding a Good Gym Service

Does the club give good service? Staff should be happy and cheerful as well as know what they’re talking about and importantly, they need to be able to talk to members. A good club has staff who give customers the motivation to stick to a routine and achieve their goals. When you visit a club for the first time investigate it thoroughly by walking around on your own and asking members if they would recommend it. (The best place to get the gossip is in the sauna or steam room!) On your first tour of the club keep an eye open for out-of-order signs, as a club committed to high levels of service will not allow kit to be off-line for very long which will inconvenience you, the member. Are the staff motivated to serve you? Member comment/feedback forms and making you aware of the Employee of the Month are good signs, illustrating the club cares about what you think.

What to Look for When Inspecting a Gym: Gym Equipment

The club should have varied equipment types and in adequate numbers. If weight-loss is your goal you may well wish to burn some calories on the treadmills/bikes/steppers so be sure there are enough of them to go with the high volume of members at peak times. The last thing you want is to have to queue for use of equipment. A good sign is a club imposing time limits of 15 minutes, for example, on cardiovascular equipment during busy periods. On the conditioning side, look for clean gym stations and feel fee to ask if these are serviced regularly, as you want to be sure they are safe to use with no risk of injury to yourself. In addition, is there a mat area for stretching/abdominal work and are the latest pieces available for use such as fitballs, medicine balls, yoga blocks and core/bosu/wobble boards for postural training.

The Cost of Joining a Gym

There are varying price scales, ranges of facilities and services. So shop around to suit you budget. Often you can get off-peak prices when the club is less busy. Recent government intervention has prevented clubs tying you into long periods of payment but it’s worth checking details such as will they defer your membership if you are sick for a long period of time or have to work away for a period.

Find the Right Gym: Opening Hours

Club operating hours should fit in with your schedule. If you join a club close to home, make sure you can go in the early morning or evening. If it closes at 9.30 on weekday evenings, find out if this gives you time to leave work, exercise and shower.

Gym Classes on Offer

If you like taking classes, make sure there is a wide range available. You should check to see that distinctions are made between beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. A comprehensive schedule will include the following up-to-date options: Pilates, Yoga (possibly modern variations such as Fitness Yoga) Aerobics, Dance, Body Conditioning (e.g. BodyMax, BodyPump) Aqua Exercise, Martial Arts Fitness (e.g. TKO, BodyCombat) and Spinning.

Do You Feel Comfortable in Your Gym

Do you feel comfortable in the club environment? Can you picture yourself working out in the gym? Some clubs have separate gyms for women and men, is this important to you? Most people join clubs within easy reach of the home or workplace. When it’s cold, dark and late you’re more likely to opt out of your session if it takes too much effort to get there. If you need parking space, is there enough? If you have children are they welcome at the club and if so at what times? Is there a crèche facility or perhaps children’s activity programmes in place?

Gym Social Events

Does the club have a social events calendar and is it the sort of thing you might be interested in? From themed cuisine nights to activity holidays there may be ‘clubs within the club’ which will enable you to really get the most from the investment you have made in your membership. Will you really feel a part of the club, valued by its staff? Perhaps you’ll receive regular newsletters so you will not miss out on anything new, they might even send you birthday/Christmas cards. All of these could lead to you feeling just that little bit more comfortable and so more willing to stick to your fitness routine at the gym.

Gym Changing Rooms

Is there adequate locker storage in the changing rooms? Are the wet areas kept clean and dry to prevent the spread of germs and viruses? Are blow dryers, towels, soap and shampoo provided? Are the showers group-style or private, and which do you prefer? Are there adequate mirrors and dressing tables? Above all, a club should be kept spotless, particularly the changing rooms.

What are Gym Screen Tests

Most clubs now offer screening and some make it a sensible requirement on entry. The testing may include height and weight measurements, cardiovascular tests, lung function assessments, flexibility and strength tests, perhaps also a form of personality profile to see what you like and what motivates you. A medical history should also be taken. A word of advice here, please don’t hold anything back, this is always taken in strictest confidence and it is for your benefit. The screening is an important service, not only to help the instructors but also to help you. Knowing your level of fitness will help you to set realistic goals and motivate yourself.

You should also receive advice on lifestyle, diet and apparel/footwear for your proposed activities. Advice on training and an individual training programme should also be provided and an induction to take you through this in detail.

Confident and Trustworthy Gym Staff

The fitness industry has struggled for years to gain our confidence, with a steady trickle of press stories about rogue traders attempting to advise on health issues with no training. Fortunately, the government has leant on the Fitness Industry Association to introduce some form of self-regulation, leading to the recent introduction of the Register of Exercise Professionals. This is a fabulous tool to give you confidence in the club’s staff since instructors on the register should not only be adequately qualified, have insurance and first aid certificates in place, but must also commit to constantly updating such or they will be removed. Recognising this as a valuable quality assurance endorsement, several of the club chains have opted to register all their instructors, so enquire about this when you check out a club, it could be the difference between whether you make your weight-loss/fitness goals or not.

Are you hoping to join a new gym? Have your been researching your local gyms? Or has a partner, sibling or friend found a great gym? Share your thoughts, views and experiences on finding and joining a gym with other users using the Comment on this Article box below. Plus, to keep up to date with all the latest diet and fitness health news and lots more health tips on diet, healthy eating and more, sign-up for the monthly KeeptheDoctorAway Newsletter below.

An international fitness ambassador, having appeared at hundreds of events in 35 countries, Dean collected the Best International Fitness Presenter and Career Achievement awards at the glittering ‘One Body One World’ ceremony, in Times Square, New York. He is renowned for offering an incredibly wide range of themed masterclasses and workshops, from mind-body through to dance through to many forms of conditioning, and even juggling! An established writer, his articles have been published in The Times, Sunday Times, Daily Express, FHM, Men’s Health, GQ, Esquire, Zest, Health & Fitness, Slimming and Women’s Health.

For downloadable fun workouts, delicious recipes and motivational tips designed to fit around your lifestyle, visit Dean’s website: www.why-weight.co.uk