Fitness Gym Essentials: What to Look for in Your Next Workout Spot

49% of gym members are considered regulars. They visit to work out over 100 times a year.

On the other hand, 50% of new members drop their membership within six months. Around 8% of men and 14% of women drop it within a year.

What explains this change beyond personal factors such as motivation? What about the gym itself may have made its members want to turn away from it? How can you find one that you’ll want to stick with?

Read on to learn the essential aspects of a quality fitness gym and what to look for in your next workout spot.

Location and Accessibility

Start by looking for a fitness gym in your area. The closer, the better, because a long commute is a barrier to access.

Look at the location of each one. How easy it is to get to the gym from your home or workplace? Is it close to other essential businesses such as grocery stores so that you won’t have to spend too long traveling between them?

Other things could keep the gym from being accessible. Does it have enough parking spaces? Are the roads well-kept? Is it well-lit?

Find out the fitness gym’s hours. That doesn’t just mean how long they’re open. Are all the classes, trainers, and equipment you want available when you need them?

Easy access is about more than convenience. It makes it easier to fit workouts into your busy schedule. That makes you less likely to skip them and more likely to get into a routine.

Optimal Workout Environment

An optimal workout environment starts with cleanliness and maintenance. The standards should be high, especially in highly populated areas, including:

• Locker rooms
• Equipment
• Shower areas

Any dirt or grime is a red flag. You don’t want to feel too grossed out to work out.

Safety is also paramount. Look for well-lit roads. The gym should have a robust security system and a set of health and safety procedures for you to follow.

Atmosphere is the most difficult-to-define part of any place’s environment. It’s affected by aspects such as lighting and music.

Take a tour of the fitness gym to get a sense of its overall vibe. Go with your gut and choose one that makes you feel comfortable. Find a place that you’ll want to come to several times a week.

Equipment, Classes, and Training Options

Proper equipment is one of the most essential gym features. Identify your needs and make sure it has the right tools to achieve them. This applies whether you want to lift weights or focus on cardio.

Are you unsure of where to start? Do you want a bit of help along your journey? Look for personal trainers who can offer workout tips and advice.

You may also need to learn about more than how to work out. Look for trainers who can teach you how to eat right. They’ll provide a more holistic view of all areas of wellness. That makes it easier to integrate wellness into your whole life.

Joining up with a class is also one of the best ways to get started. It lets you get right into doing what you want to do with no hesitation. That includes everything from high-intensity courses to beginner techniques.

Memberships and Cost 

Choosing a fitness gym means signing up for a membership, and that’s not a decision to be taken lightly. Ask about the details of the agreement.

Learn the rules, but remember that a rigid set of rules with no room for change isn’t a good sign. The agreement should offer flexibility in terms of:

• Payment options
• Membership commitments
• Benefits

Think about which terms best fit you. A trial membership or pay-per-visit option can get your feet wet and help you decide if it’s the right gym for you.

Find out what guest privileges they offer and how much extra they’ll cost. Is that complimentary massage worth the money?

Cost is the primary reason behind dropping gym memberships. 41% of respondents in a YouGov survey cited it as the reason they dropped theirs. That’s why you need to know exactly what you’re paying before you sign up.

Read the fine print to avoid unwanted fees for maintenance or cancellation. Find out if the cost of any classes you want to take is included in your membership.

Staff and Members

It’s impossible to fully gauge the other members of the gym on an initial tour. The same members may not show up every day. One bad apple could come in later and spoil it.

Don’t lose hope. If you find a wonderful fitness community in the gym, don’t let them go. They’ll help you achieve your goals and have a better time working out.

The staff at a fitness gym are much easier to read immediately. It’s often clear on the first tour whether you’ll get along with them or not.

Poor interactions with staff increase the risk of dropping memberships by 33% with only 2 interactions a month. They can make it more difficult to get started on your fitness journey, and that can make you want to quit.

Ask about the qualifications of every staff member. Call the customer service desk to get a sense of how they’ll work with you.

Overall Value

Finding the perfect gym is a question of value. What are you getting for the membership fees you’re paying?

This doesn’t depend on any individual quality of the gym but all of them considered together. You might be willing to pay more for quality staff who give top-notch classes, even if the gym is a bit out of the way.

Join Our Fitness Gym Today

The right fitness gym for you needs to have the best possible location, environment, equipment, training options, staff, members, and overall value.

Evolve Kickbox & Fitness has a team of expert trainers. We tailor workouts to your individual needs and goals.

Our kickboxing programs incorporate healthy eating along with exercise. Contact us to start making fitness a part of your lifestyle today.