It’s all well and good deciding to go to the gym, but which gym should you choose? There are simply so many to choose from including the many gyms in London with a day pass system. Choice can at times be a good thing, but it can also prove so daunting that you simply opt to not go at all – and that isn’t the right outcome.
So here we look at helping you make the right decisions and ensure that you choose the right gym for you. Remember that gyms are businesses and all businesses need to make money to survive. They’ll all fight for your money, but once they have it, that’s the time you’d usually find out whether you’ve made the right decision i.e. too late. The aim here is to prevent you from making, potentially expensive, mistakes and to ensure that the first decision you make is the right one. So where should you start when it comes to finding the right gym?
Location
Perhaps the biggest factor that is overlooked by people picking a gym, is the location itself. It is however one of the most critical factors in ensuring attendance. If the gym is out of the way, or a bit of a drive, then after the initial honeymoon period, you’ll find it all too easy to start missing sessions, then one will become two and so on. Even if you are using the gyms in London with a day pass, and not full membership, you will not be training, and any gains you have made previously will soon be lost. So find somewhere local, either to work or home; somewhere you will pass, isn’t too far out of the way and is accessible at the time you want it. This is the first element in ensuring your regular attendance.
Partners
Training partners are great. Whereas you’d probably be okay letting yourself down by not going to the gym, you’re much less likely to miss a session if someone is waiting for you – they give you an added motivation. Ask friends about their gyms and the benefits that they get, they will have insider information of course that will help you make a good decision.
Cost
Gyms are businesses. They make money through your membership fees, and these can vary immensely from gym to gym. Be aware of promotional periods and offers – what happens when these run out for example, how long do they want you to commit for? What happens if you suffer an injury or cannot train for other reasons, will you still have to pay? A contractual arrangement is a two way thing, so make sure that you have benefits too, after all you will be paying.
Day passes are a good way to check out the local gyms, and you are encouraged to check as many as possible before you commit to one. Indeed, some will even offer you free days training, hoping to get your long-term commitment. The more you try, the more likely you’ll find the right one for you! One word of warning, however, always try a gym at the times that you are likely to be training. A gym can look very different on a Monday morning compared to 5.30pm on a weeknight. This is why inductions are often done during quiet periods, to create a better impression.
Stuff
What are your training goals? Do you want to get fit, more toned or muscular or do you want to go swimming etc. Once you know your goals and your likely training regime, find a gym that has the right level of suitable equipment. Joining a gym with a pool you will never use means that you are paying for the upkeep of something you gain no benefit from. Likewise, free classes are only a good thing if you’ll be attending! If you want to run, make sure there are plenty of treadmills available, as queuing isn’t training.
Like any decision that you make during your lifetime, those made in haste are often regretted over a long time period thereafter. Committing to a gym is one of the best examples of this. Many people join in January, stop going in February but are paying through December – paying for a service they never use! Finding gyms in London with a day pass system is a good way of starting your search, but even if you feel somewhere is right, try elsewhere as it may be even better. When it comes to your health you should do everything to ensure you make the right decisions. Happy hunting.