Although physical exercise can be done at home, in the park or in the garage, the gym is the ideal place for it. Signing up for a sports center offers benefits that we will not obtain with training at home or jogging through the countryside.
However, it must be borne in mind that there are still many people who are physically inactive. The couch and TV won't be enough to turn couch potatoes into home workout pros. So the best way to improve physical fitness is to go to a gym. In addition, it brings numerous advantages such as a variety of classes, exercise equipment and free weights.
To choose the best gym it is necessary to take into account various factors. From privileges and hours of operation to location and perks, they can make (or break) your experience. It's always good to have a plan that's affordable, so you can focus on getting in shape, not worrying about your budget.
What kind of sports center is better?
If you've never set foot in a gym before, you may be intimidated by the cardio machines (for weight loss), the spacious strength-training area (for increasing cardiorespiratory strength), and the resistance-training area (for building muscle mass). and muscle toning). What beginner, you will need to use a variety of gym equipment to exercise your entire body, and you will spend some time in these facilities. So choose a gym that has all of these.
Brianda women, there are some who prefer to go to a gym that suits their unique needs. The fact is that all gyms need to offer more than just treadmills, weight benches, and trainers; You should also have a respectful community where everyone can exercise in a friendly and respectful environment. There are even some facilities that are exclusively for women.
We must also take into account the best characteristics for athletes of intermediate and advanced level. If you've already been training consistently with weights for half a year or more, you may be considered an intermediate athlete. In the event that you have achieved most of the results you wanted or are very close to achieving them, you can consider yourself an advanced learner.
Tips for choosing the best gym
Think that you are investing your time, money and energy in a gym, and you must be sure that you have made the best decision for you and your training goals. You may be drawn to basing your decision on online reviews or recommendations from friends, and while that's a great starting point, there should be a few factors to consider.
Evaluate the need
Ask yourself if you really need to join a gym. Ask yourself this question even before you start looking for a new sports center. A gym membership has its benefits, but if you love to exercise outdoors, your office or apartment block has a gym, joining a gym could be a waste of money.
If you have assessed all the factors, go ahead! The next thing is to think about your reasons for signing up. For example, if you love indoor cycling classes and want to get back into cycling, you can immediately delete any club that doesn't have a cycling room. It's a simple concept, but it's important to consider early in your search for the best gym.
Hours of operation of the gym
It may be difficult to fit the time you're going to spend at the gym into your busy schedule. If you're the type who only has time to work out during your lunch break, late at night, or very early in the morning, think about a gym's operating hours before you sign up. If you have schedules that are compatible with sports classes, you will be more motivated to sweat more constantly.
If you are interested in the fitness classes, ask the gym staff to show you the class times. Ask what facilities and services are closed during certain hours to get an idea of what you can and can't do when you go.
Some gyms are open 24 hours for their members and this may be beneficial for you.
Comfort and quality of facilities
For many people, choosing a gym comes down to where you are. One that is close to your home or workplace is a good option, but consider other factors as well.
Think about whether the one near your home or work is the best sports center. Assess whether it is well maintained and spacious enough to accommodate social distancing requirements. There is no magic radius of kilometers to aim for, but rather a travel time. The ideal is to walk or drive for five to eight minutes, taking into account factors such as traffic lights or highway traffic.
gym price
Obviously this will be a big factor for most people. Many people cannot afford the high priced dues and personal training fees that some clubs offer. However, this doesn't mean you have to walk away from a gym entirely.
The first thing you should do is consider the season in which you are going to sign up. Most gyms will offer employment offers with free tuition or discounted rates at peak times. We all know that September, Christmas and January are key moments.
Second, once you've found a gym you're comfortable with, don't succumb to some of the pressures salespeople will try to put you under. You may have to pay for additional privileges that you will never use or may only use occasionally. Thoroughly review the entire contract, explaining all the terms.
Cleaning and maintenance
This may not seem like such a big consideration to begin with, but once you're there and training, if the gym hasn't been kept clean, you'll be uncomfortable using much of the equipment.
Look for things like clean towels for people to use while working out, numerous spray bottles placed around the gym to clean equipment after use, and ask about how often the gym brings in maintenance.
On the other hand, the maintenance of the material is very important. There's nothing more frustrating than going to the gym, finding broken equipment, notifying someone about it, and then coming back in a few days for your next workout to find it's still broken.