Unlike signing for your shopping purchases, joining a gym is a huge financial commitment. Therefore, before signing your life away (kidding) on the dotted line, it’s even more important to do your research!
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Here you can start your research by asking these questions
How near Is the Gym?
It’s really meaningless to join a gym which you only utilise once a year just because of its faraway location! In fact, according to Uche Odiatu’s advice (co-author of The Miracle of Health: Simple Solutions, Extraordinary Results), your gym should be within 12 minutes’ walk/drive from your house or workplace. So find one within that distance, and you will be less likely to skip it.
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What Are the Operating Hours?
Whether you’re working out in the morning, late night, weekdays or weekends, make sure the gym’s opening hours complement with your schedule. I’m sure you do not want to pay for something that you can’t access right?
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How Long Has the Gym Been in Business?
This might appear like a weird question, but think again. But, recent change in the ownership of the gym may indicate slow business. And we definitely don’t want to join one just to have to start from the scratch again when it hangs a “Closed” sign on the entrance.
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What Can I Buy with My Money?
Find out exactly what the membership fee entitles you to. Will you have to pay extra for other amenities (e.g. Towels or bathrooms)? Which method of payment is accepted? Are there any incurred fees for cancellation or a grace period for you to cancel your membership and receive a full or partial refund?
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Are There Any Free Trial?
Request for a 1 week free pass (if you could), and use it to tour the gym during the times that you would normally go. This enables you to experience the surrounding. It’s important to look out for queues or ask for waiting list for the equipment during your tour. Chances are you are less likely to make full use of your membership, if you are going to spend 30 minutes waiting for an equipment during an hour of gym session.
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Who Will Be Training Me?
For the good money that you paid, we’re sure you definitely want someone that is qualified to train you, yes? Hence, enquire about the qualifications of the personal trainers, and also ask about their practical experience. Such that, how have they helped other people in similar situations as you.
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Having a personal trainer who has prior experience with your situation will help better personalise your workout.