| If you are serious about getting the best | | | | pass so you can see how you feel using the |
| results you can when it comes to improving | | | | facility. |
| your physical fitness, then joining a quality | | | | |
| health club is probably going to be important | | | | 5.Members of the facility - Check out the |
| for you. The number of people who | | | | kind of people who are using the facility. |
| successfully reach their fitness goals by | | | | Ask yourself if these are the kind of people |
| utilizing a health club is far greater than | | | | you want to be exercising next to. If you |
| those who are successful on their own. | | | | are a baby boomer and most of the people you |
| | | | see in the facility are 20 something, you may |
| This isn't to say that you can't do it on | | | | not be comfortable working out with them as |
| your own, but be pre-warned that going it on | | | | your peers. If you like everything else |
| your own is a lot more difficult than you may | | | | about the facility but you're not sure the |
| think. If you want to get physically fit | | | | other members fit your comfort profile, make |
| without joining a club, as a minimum, you | | | | a point of visiting the facility when you are |
| should plan on hiring a personal trainer, at | | | | most likely to use it. You will probably |
| least to get you started. Also, you will | | | | find that the demographics of many clubs |
| need to invest in some home exercise | | | | change depending on when you go there. |
| equipment. The cost of a trainer and quality | | | | |
| home equipment can require an investment that | | | | 6.Close to home or work - If a club isn't |
| would allow you to join a good health club | | | | convenient for you to get to, you aren't |
| for several years. | | | | going to use it regularly. If you don't |
| | | | exercise regularly, you will be defeating |
| Believe me when I tell that I'm not trying to | | | | your purpose. The club I joined when I was |
| convince you not to do your own thing. I | | | | living in Chicago was a national chain. One |
| have all my own equipment. But keep in mind | | | | of the big reasons I joined this particular |
| that I also have an advanced degree in | | | | club was that they had multiple facilities |
| exercise physiology and many years experience | | | | within 5 minutes of both my home and my |
| coaching others on what needs to be done and | | | | office. It was very convenient for me to go |
| how to do it. And, to be honest, if there | | | | to either club, so I used the facilities all |
| was a good health club close by, I would join | | | | the time. That was a very good thing at the |
| it in a flash. For me, the closest good | | | | time, because I was training for triathlons |
| health club is about 60 miles away. My | | | | which require a lot of training. |
| investment in good quality equipment cost me | | | | |
| about $5000. That would pay for quite a few | | | | 7.Types of Equipment - Similar to location, |
| years of health club membership. | | | | if a facility doesn't have the kind of weight |
| | | | training and cardiovascular equipment you |
| So, chances a good that you should consider | | | | want to use, it's not going to be a good fit |
| joining a good health club to help you meet | | | | for you. When I was training for triathlons |
| your fitness goals. If this is the case, | | | | I needed a pool. Another selling point for |
| here are some of the most important things | | | | the club I joined was that each of the |
| you need to consider when evaluating a health | | | | facilities that were close for me also had a |
| club before you join. | | | | pool and an indoor running track that helped |
| | | | with winter training. Make sure that you |
| 1.Health Screenings - Find out if the club | | | | know what kind of equipment you need to use |
| performs a health screening before you begin | | | | and are comfortable with it. A club that has |
| your membership. Ideally, a certified | | | | predominantly free weights isn't going to do |
| fitness professional should give you a submax | | | | you much good if you want to use machines. |
| fitness test to determine your current | | | | |
| cardiovascular fitness. They should also ask | | | | 8. Condition of Equipment - Check to make |
| you questions about your medical history and | | | | sure all the equipment is clean and |
| conduct tests for flexibility. Getting this | | | | maintained. It won't do you much good to |
| information will help the staff evaluate your | | | | belong to a club where half the machines have |
| capabilities and design a safe and effective | | | | signs saying they are out of service. And |
| exercise routine that will help you achieve | | | | working out on dirty, smelly equipment can |
| your desired results. | | | | really put a damper on your training. |
| | | | |
| 2.Qualified, certified fitness instructors - | | | | 9. Aerobics Room - If there is any chance |
| The instructors should be certified through a | | | | you might want to take some kind of aerobics |
| national exercise organization such as ACE or | | | | class (dance, step, spin, etc.) you will want |
| ACSM. Some of the organizations have | | | | to be sure that the aerobics room has good |
| certifications for special needs groups like | | | | ventilation and a shock absorbing floor. If |
| seniors or people with arthritis. If you fit | | | | you have never had shin splints let me tell |
| into a special group, check to see if any of | | | | you that a shock absorbing floor can make a |
| the staff at the club you're interested in | | | | big difference. And a room with poor |
| has the certifications that will be most | | | | ventilation cam really get stuffy when your |
| beneficial to you. And check their | | | | breathing in everyone else's used up air. |
| credentials. There are a lot of certificate | | | | |
| mills out there that give out certifications | | | | 10. Facility Temperature and Air Flow - When |
| for a few dollars and don't require any | | | | you go for your initial visit to try out the |
| testing to insure the applicants are | | | | facility, pay attention to the temperature |
| knowledgeable or have practical experience. | | | | and humidity in the facility. They should be |
| | | | at a comfortable level for you to work out. |
| There should be certified staff members | | | | One of the problems with some facilities that |
| available to answer questions and show you | | | | have pools is that they don't have good |
| how to use any of the equipment. They should | | | | separation between the pool area and the rest |
| also be available to help you set up your | | | | of the facility. This can cause some pretty |
| initial exercise program and guide you in any | | | | high humidity, which can make working out |
| modifications you need to make as you | | | | very uncomfortable. |
| progress. | | | | |
| | | | In a similar fashion, poor air flow within |
| 3.Service Oriented - When you first go to a | | | | the facility can cause problems. You don't |
| club to check it out, see what kind of | | | | want to be working out in an area that smells |
| feeling you get from the staff. Do they seem | | | | like a men's locker room (sorry guys but I |
| interested in you and your exercise goals or | | | | don't know what a women's locker room smells |
| are they just trying to sign you up for the | | | | like so I have to use what I'm familiar |
| most expensive package they can talk you in | | | | with). |
| to? Staff members should be willing and able | | | | |
| to answer any questions you have about | | | | This may seem like a lot of things to find |
| various programs, etc. And they should | | | | out about, but keep in mind that you are |
| encourage you to use the facility, not just | | | | going to be paying a decent amount of money |
| try to get you to sign up. | | | | for the use of a good, quality facility. |
| | | | And, you will be spending a fair amount of |
| 4.Try before you buy - The facility should | | | | time there if you are really serious about |
| allow you a try out period before committing | | | | your fitness and health. It makes sense to |
| to a membership. Look for a club that allows | | | | make sure you will be happy and comfortable |
| you to try out the facility for at least 2 | | | | with this investment of time and money. |
| weeks (there may be a fee for this). At the | | | | |
| very least, they should offer you a free day | | | | ©2005 - 2006 Thomas D. |