After much thought, you have finally decided to train your body in a gym! What if we see together how to choose the best gym for you?
Thinking of joining a gym? You have asked yourself before anything else. Why?
It may be because you don’t have the necessary equipment to train alone at home. Perhaps because you want to move to a new, more professional environment. Or maybe you’re just starting out in the world of bodybuilding and need to gain some experience.
Regardless of the case, you have to choose a gym that suits your needs, something that sometimes ends up being a troublesome task.
Tips for choosing a gym
Here are some tips so you can choose the best gym possible.
Take distance into account when choosing your gym
If you work as an employee, student or business owner, only you know how much time you spend when traveling, whether by car or public transport.
And as you already know, routine trips are one of the main factors that inhibit our moments of freedom!
This is why it is good to choose a gym that is closest to your home or work. This way you will not waste time on the trip.
The ideal is a gym to which you can go walking or jogging. That way, you warm up and they also save fuel.
Now, you may have several gyms nearby, or perhaps the only one nearby does not meet your expectations, so you must have other guidelines to consider, I assure you that sometimes it may be better to travel a little more for better conditions.
Schedule criteria when choosing a gym
Most of today’s gyms offer a wide time slot.
In general, you can go there every day, from morning to night. However, there are still small gyms that have more restricted hours due to fewer staff.
It’s a no-brainer, but remember to ask this before signing up. Gym hours must match your available hours.
Also keep in mind that sometimes you will find an obstacle in your schedule so it is good to choose a gym that offers some flexibility of schedules.
The cost of the gym
The price of registration to a gym can be very variable. It can range from being “affordable” to downright expensive.
However, this price does not always reflect the quality of the gym in question.
On the other hand, what you must take into account, above all things, that meets your expectations.
If the goal is to get good weight training, you don’t necessarily need a multitude of ultra-modern cardio machines, for example.
On the other hand, unless you love access to a sauna, steam room or Jacuzzi, this is usually not really essential, especially if you have to pay a higher price!
Ultimately, it all comes down to the balance of the gym’s subscription price, as contrasted with everything it has to offer.
Pay very attention to your training equipment
Make sure that the maintenance of the machines is correct and that they are in good condition.
You should also check that there is enough weight on the machines, and enough dumbbells and plates, for all the people who come to train.
Keep in mind that some gyms limit their loads, either by choice or lack of resources, to guide clients to more “fitness” training than to help them get into the world of “bodybuilding” for example.
It would be a shame to pay a subscription if you don’t have the equipment or the weight to reach your goals.
The gym environment
If you are looking for a serious and professional workout, the best option is to join a gym in order to follow a bodybuilding program correctly.
This is easier to achieve in a relaxed and professional environment. However, that’s how difficult it is as well, which is to find a balance between the professional and relaxed aspect of the training room. Indeed, both parties may have their flaws.
In a too serious gym, no one will greet you, there will be a great distance between the staff and the members and you cannot ask another practitioner for help.
On the contrary, in a gym with a too “relaxed” atmosphere, incessant conversations will resonate loudly, the coaches may spend more time flirting than helping you, and even some practitioners will monopolize the equipment while they are socializing with others.
Therefore, it is important that you can do a test session in the gym before signing up, put the environment to the test.
Staff should return a polite and friendly greeting. Coaches must be present and accessible. The other members of the gym should focus on their program and carry it out without overusing the machines.
Music from the gym can also be a selection criterion.
If it is too high, it can be annoying and there is no way to change this generally, in these conditions and with certain musical styles training can be an ordeal.
The professionalism of the gym and the coach
A very important point to take into account is the experience and qualifications of the sports trainers in the gym.
On the other hand, the presentation of these degrees is mandatory, and you should be able to consult them with any questions you may have.
In turn, the coach should be able to answer your technical questions and should be able to help you create a personalized routine.
He must also know how to guide you in the basics of your diet and correct the errors of execution in the movements of the exercises.
If you find that coaches simply have the attitude that they would rather stay home, talk to friends, chat with girls, or exercise in a corner, run away!
One last piece of advice on this point: it is often thought that a gym trainer must have a developed physique, which would reflect their experience and effectiveness of their advice applied to themselves.
This is usually a mistake! There are great coaches whose experience and knowledge do not necessarily have to respond to a huge physique.