Although you can do physical exercise at home, in the park or in the garage, the gym is the ideal place for it. Joining a sports center offers benefits that we will not obtain with a training at home or a jog through the field.
However, keep in mind that there are still many people who are physically inactive. The couch and the television will not be enough to turn television addicts into home workout professionals. So the best way to improve physical fitness is to go to a gym. In addition, it provides numerous benefits such as a variety of classes, exercise equipment, and free weights.
To choose the best gym it is necessary to take into account several factors. From the privileges and hours of operation to the 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 fit, and not worrying about the budget.
What type 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 bodybuilding zone (for increasing cardiorespiratory strength), and the resistance training zone (for building mass). and muscle toning). As a beginner, you will need to use a variety of gym equipment to exercise your entire body, and you will be spending some time in these facilities. So pick a gym that has all of these.
In the case of women, there are some who prefer to go to a gym that suits their unique needs. The fact is, all gyms should offer more than treadmills, weight benches, and trainers; it 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.
The best characteristics for intermediate and advanced athletes must also be taken into account. If you have been training consistently with weights for half a year or more, you can 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 reviews that appear online or recommendations from friends, and while that’s a great starting point, there should be a few factors to consider.
Value 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 working out outdoors, your office or apartment block has a gym, joining a gym could be a waste of money.
If you have evaluated 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 to cycling, you can immediately remove 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.
Gym hours of operation
It can be difficult to fit your time at the gym into your busy schedule. If you’re the type who only has time to exercise during your lunch break, late at night, or very early in the morning, think about the hours a gym runs before you sign up. If you have a schedule that is compatible with sports classes, you will be more motivated to sweat more constantly.
If you are interested in fitness classes, ask the gym staff to show you the class schedules. Ask what facilities and services are closed during certain hours to get an idea of what you can and cannot do when you go.
Some gyms are open 24 hours a day for their members and this can be a good thing for you.
Comfort and quality of the 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 best sports center is the one near your home or work. Assess whether it is well-maintained and spacious enough to accommodate social distancing requirements. There is no magic mile radius 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 road traffic.
Gym price
Obviously, this will be an important 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 stray 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 offers with free tuition or discounted rates at peak times. We all know that September, Christmas and January are key moments.
Second, when you’ve found a gym that you’re comfortable with, don’t succumb to some of the pressures that salespeople will try to bring you down. You may have to pay for additional privileges that you will never use or could only use on some occasions. Thoroughly review the entire contract, explaining all the terms.
Cleaning and maintenance
This may not seem like such an important 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.
Find things like clean towels for people to use while exercising, numerous spray bottles located around the gym to clean equipment after use, and ask about how often the gym brings in handymen.
On the other hand, the maintenance of the material is very important. There’s nothing more frustrating than hitting the gym, finding broken equipment, notifying someone about it, and then coming back in a few days for your next workout to find that it’s still broken.
