At the time of writing, we’re staring down the barrel at 2022. You might be thinking about getting into a new fitness routine, and a new gym membership might be a part of that.
It might seem prudent to pick the closest gym to your home or workplace, but there’s so much more to finding the gym that suits you best.
Here’s a list of what to look for in your new gym.
Equipment
This one may seem obvious, but the equipment in your new gym will have a major influence on what workouts you can do. It is well worth thinking about your training plan before signing up to a new gym.
Tips
- Gyms that are full of resistance machines and treadmills may seem like a safe place to start your training due to their ease of use. But keep your eye out for other challenges that you can progress towards as you gain confidence.
- Free weights tend to attract a very passionate crowd. Make sure there are enough dumbbells and barbells available – especially if you’re planning on squatting at 6pm on a Monday. If your gym only has one squat rack, you will definitely be disappointed. If you can, have a trial of the gym at the time you’d usually expect to train, to see how busy it gets.
Gym Vibes
If you’re planning on sticking to a fitness routine, you may be visiting your new fitness space several times a week for years to come. Starting a new fitness habit can be tough; starting it in a place that makes you feel uncomfortable is almost impossible.
A bad fitness environment is a different thing to different people. Some people will be turned off by a hardcore bodybuilding gym, while others may find themselves bored in a gym where people aren’t regularly maxing out their lifts.
Tips
- There are far more serious gym culture issues than simply how people like to train. Pay attention to how people talk to one another, whether the gym is tidy, and so on.
- Gyms can have fantastic communities in place that support each other and organise extra-curricular activities. It can be a place to meet like-minded people, no matter whether you consider yourself a “gym person” or not. Find out if your gym does anything like this.
Price
The price of gym membership is a huge factor in deciding which gym to sign up to. It dictates the level of facilities, services, and more. It might seem like a good idea to just go for the cheapest gym membership or best special offer possible; especially as some cheaper gyms do provide great facilities these days. However, there’s much more to it than that.
Tips
- Cheaper gyms often have self-employed trainers and less full-time staff in general. This means less people to assist you and look after the facilities. In my experience, self-employed teams often have high turnover, which can disrupt your progress if you’re planning to hire a trainer or go to regular exercise classes.
- Gyms with race-to-the-bottom pricing also tend to get very busy during seasonal rushes such as new year, pre-summer, and after the school holidays. They may also be busier in general, as cheap gyms need lots of subscriptions to make profit. If you’re planning on training at peak times, this could disrupt your plans.
You should absolutely buy the membership that suits your budget, but you can still have great experiences at cheaper gyms – especially if you have a solid training plan and have clear motivations in mind.
That being said, a more expensive membership could also improve your motivation. A bigger financial commitment is harder to ignore, after all.
I hope this helps you find a great place to train if you’re starting a new workout regime. Here are some other topics that might help if you’re just getting going.
The Difference Between Training for Strength and Muscle Growth
Guide to the Best Core Training Exercises
Series: Improve Your Motivation to Workout
If you’re looking for more training programme help, I’ve launched a pullup and deadlift programme that you can use to build serious strength through an app on your phone!
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