Finding the perfect gym can take weeks. That time may be well spent. The last thing you want is to sign up for a gym membership, watch the year go by, and realize that you might have bitten off more than you can chew.
Investing in your health
Starting any transformation process is going to require funds. Yes, gyms offer $10 a month memberships with access to everything you can think of, while other gyms charge 10-20x as much with all the same services. Paying a lower premium does have its benefits financially, especially if competitors are offering the same conveniences.
But, if you are like me, you wouldn’t get a cheap haircut, in fact, you would be skeptical as to why the barber is charging at such a bargain price. Yes, it may catch your attention but at the end of the day, you know how much it cost to look good.
Treat your gym membership with the same regard because a cheaper membership isn’t why you wanted to work out in the first place; you want results while exercising in the best-suited facility. Consider this: what is the gym offering you for your investment? When settling on the right gym for you, the resources being offered should fall in line with your aspirations.
For example, If the desired goal is to lose weight, are they providing you with access to nutritional coaching, high-intensity training, exercise program design, or even 1 on 1 coaching? Some gyms, after you have signed up, may never make contact with you again. Knowing what will be important for your process will make choosing the right gym easier.
Set up a priorities checklist
Start a small priorities list and then branch out to other needs that you feel would add value to your process.
Here’s an example …
| Priority |
| Small capacity / Less crowded |
| Free weights |
| Cleanliness |
| Guest passes |
| Meals and smoothies onsite |
| Free Trial period |
| Childcare available |
| Not a priority |
| Bikes / Treadmills / Ellipticals |
| Proximity |
| Membership Pricing |
| Group classes |
| Personal training |
| Friendly Customer Service |
| Specialty Equipment (boxing, martial arts, sports performance, etc) |
Investing in a cheaper membership may only give you access to a LIMITED amount of resources to reach your goals. This won’t make achieving success impossible, but having a gym handle all the logistics that are vital to your process, will save you TIME. It may cost more but that’s because there is more value being provided. Settling on the best-suited gym for your needs will expedite your progress, convenient gyms will only be just that.
How to find the perfect gym?
Gym Floor
Your desired workout space can impact how much focus, drive, and work you are capable of. When deciding on a facility you should always take advantage of a gym tour. Plan it around the desired time and days you would typically want to train. By doing this, you get a good glimpse of what to anticipate on your training days and times.
In addition, if you are training during busier times; you’ll get a feel for what kind of people are there at the same time as you.
If you are motivated by other people working hard around you, this may be an advantage during your training process. On the other hand, if the excessive volume of gym-goers is too distracting you will know ahead of time and avoid this issue altogether.
Also keep in mind that the gym floor is an excellent place to make new relationships, network, and develop a sense of community. From my experience, I have always found myself interacting with the same people every week because we both were working toward the same goal. This type of environment drove me to come back every week because I looked forward to working alongside like-minded individuals and thriving in a healthy fitness space.
Gym Equipment
Every gym consists of your basic gym tools; either free weight or machines. But keep in mind what accommodations may be necessary for you. If you are looking for a specific type of training, this will be the advantage one gym has over another.
Not all gyms provide the means for, powerlifting, Crossfit, combat training, and other sport-specific necessities. Training with basic exercise equipment may inhibit your abilities to excel in the specific type of training you desire. Also, other tools such as suspension trainers, like TRX, Rings, and other rare tools like Indian clubs, steel maces, and Super-bands.
If you are still a novice this may seem less like a priority to you but what about once you’ve tried all machines and have built a significant physique? What other means does your gym provide to keep going?
Gym DNA
The Gym’s DNA can be easily understood as the gym’s mission statement and its staff. This is important to take notice of because many gyms praise fitness and well-being but when you walk it, it smells like poor ventilation and body odor!
The gym’s mission statement should directly reflect its staff.
You would not walk into a car dealership anticipating a computer programmer to tell you about the new Ford Focus.
If the staff does not resonate with the message, it probably does not get any better as things move up the chain of command.
Save yourself time and money by taking advantage of free consultations and meeting with a staff member. Here you can see any deficiencies in the facility and you get to express your needs to someone on the inside who can help expedite your process.
Gym Hours
This can set many gyms apart from one another because if you’re like me, you probably train at different times every day. Although training at a consistent time every day has its perks, life sometimes can unexpectedly delay your training times or even push it up higher on your schedule. A gym’s ability to accommodate your lifestyle can ensure that you will never miss a day. Whether it’s 24 hours or opens as early as 5 am, the more flexible a gym can be, this leaves less room for the excuses we love to find.
Gym Reviews
Gym reviews are great as a reference because you always get a handful of exaggeration and truth. On one hand, from my experience people on the internet are blatantly honest and if they are displeased they will go to the extent to explain a gyms unpleasantness. I usually like to peek at reviews and get an idea of what members have experienced. Keep in mind that it’s always best to get your own perspective of things but, if the gym has a high number of stars and everyone is saying good things about, it’s probably true and vice versa. Just be aware of the one glowing review when all the rest are 1-star reviews and the same is true for the 1-star review among the sea of 5-star reviews. Use your judgment and filter out those reviews.
Also, visit the gym’s website and search for anything they’ve posted from its members. This can include client highlights, members’ transformation processes, challenges members have accomplished, and awards to members. A gym taking the time to recognize its members goes to show that it cares, which would entail why members consistently come back.
Trial Period
Many gyms offer a trial period of anywhere from 1 visit to 1 month free of cost for you to try their facility. Make sure you inquire about this if it isn’t advertised because more often than not, you will be able to negotiate this trial period before you commit to any long-term contract.
Industry hack. Many sales associates work on monthly quotas so the best time to shop for great deals on memberships is at the end of the month when they are trying to make a quota or bonus. You’ll likely get the best deal then.
Bonus hack. If you plan to work out with a friend or training partner, shop together… you’ll likely get a better deal if you negotiate together as a package deal.
Super hack. Combine the 2 previous hacks at the same time!
Finding the perfect gym for you shouldn’t consist of settling for less than you deserve.
Put your values first and prioritize a gym that falls in line with what you need; because your transformation can’t wait any longer.
We wish you well on your journey of selecting the right gym for you. This is an important process and you should expect the entire process to take 1-2 weeks for you to finalize the gym that is perfect for you. Don’t rush into a decision that you may regret for the next 12 months. Think of it this way, if you owned a very rare car (only 1 made in the entire world), how would you go about finding the right auto repair facility to care for this car? Your body is exactly that: an extremely rare item and there is only one in the entire world so make sure you give this the proper attention and time and not rush into a decision. If you need help, please feel free to reach out to us.
If you want to learn more about how to find the perfect gym for you, check out our Instagram or schedule a complimentary consultation with us. Our gym has perfect services and we would like to work with you towards your fitness goals.