How I Chose The Best Gyms Near Me

There are several gyms near me but which one is the best?  Have you asked yourself this question?  If not, then you should stop and think about this for a moment.  Don’t be swayed by the sexy ads that you see or the gorgeous people that workout in a particular gym.  Rather, think through this question with health and fitness in mind.  Your health and well-being is a lifetime fitness endeavor so you’d better find the best gym near your place.

Not all gyms near me are created equal.  And perhaps you can decide for your own by looking at how I choose good gyms.

Fitness equipment

As I’ve said earlier, health is a lifetime fitness endeavor.  This means choosing a gym that can provide my needs is important.  One factor to consider is fitness equipment.  The quality of the gym equipment is at the top of the list.  Let me make this clear, it is not how much the gym equipment costs but rather the overall experience I get by using their machines and tools.  Affordable gym equipment can give the same results when we use expensive equipment.  Of course, more expensive machines can give us more functions, bio-metric data and what not.  But ultimately, what is important is that I work the muscle group that I want without any additional risks from the equipment I use.

Competent staff

Whether you are new to bodybuilding and fitness or a seasoned pro, it pays to have competent staff to guide you and help you.  The ability of the people from the gym to provide customer service is a critical ingredient when it comes to overall satisfaction with a gym near you. 

Competent staff includes personal trainers that have ample experience and more importantly certification.  Certified fitness trainers provide professional advice and guidance to gym members.  As such, their knowledge should be given importance when choosing the best gym.  Moreover, the attitude of a personal fitness trainer plays a critical role in achieving one’s fitness targets.  A personal trainer should provide ample motivation, a sensible road map towards fitness and most of all an attitude that can help bring out the best in the gym’s members.

Other facilities and amenities

Having the basic amenities in a gym is a good start.  Apart from the basic gym equipment, secure lockers is a must.  Also, there should be a first aid or medical equipment and personnel available.  Some offer showers, steam baths and other wellness facilitates and they are good additions.  But of course, the more amenities that you are given, the more expensive the gym fees will be.   Having a personal fitness trainer is a good start, but having more can be a delight.

Time of operation

One critical factor to sign up for a gym is the hours when it is open.  If you have a full time job, you may only have after work to exercise.  Thus, signing up for a gym that is open after work hours is ideal.  There are now 24-hour gyms where you can just drop by anytime of the day.  Some prefer late at night where there is fewer people.  Some opt to visit the gym very early in the morning. Find a gym near you that can accommodate your schedule.

Gym members

I am quite picky with the gym because of its members.  I've seen gyms that are more like a pageant than a place to workout.  People just hangout instead of exercising!  They just talk about the latest fashion trends, tech gadgets and some other stuff without actually using the equipment.  I try to avoid these places.  Gym for them is more of a status symbol than a place for health and fitness.  I like a place where I can actually learn a lot from other members and who are willing to help you out. 

Location, location and location

You don’t want to go to a gym that is too far from your place.  What is ideal is a few minutes from your place and from your work (if you plan to go there after work).  I have a friend who has to commute for around an hour to get to the gym.  It was a bad move since the commute itself can be too tiring for her.  This affects her performance.  But when she moved to a closer location, she enjoyed her time at the gym more.  It is wise to ask yourself “what are the gyms near me” and start your assessment of the place there.

Gym fees

The amount you spend on a gym can vary greatly.  More modern fitness equipment with certified fitness trainers can be more expensive.  The bill shoots up when other amenities are available.  I suggest finding a gym near you that offers only what you require.  This way, you get to pay for what you need and what you will use.

Gyms offer people the chance to become healthier.  When health and fitness is important, finding the right place is critical.  But not all gyms are the same.  Likewise, your needs are unique.  So find one that can address your requirements so that you can experience wellness.  Lifetime fitness should never be taken lightly.

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