Picking the perfect fitness center
The health and fitness industry is growing at a very rapid rate, and along with that growth comes more fitness facilities. Everything from 24-hours fitness facilities and YMCAs, to large scale clubs that have it all are all available to anyone looking to get fit. The tough thing is figuring out which type of facility works best for you.
Here are five things to think about when deciding which fitness facility works best for your lifestyle:
Level of Professionalism
First in my book (and I’m biased as a trainer) is what kind of professionals are available at the facility. A solid fitness facility should always have a well educated group of personal trainers. They should all have a college degree in a related field, years of experience, and nationally accredited certifications.
You should also see if they have specialty certifications such as athletic training, physical therapy, massage therapy, and certified strength and conditioning specialists. These individuals are there to help guide you in the right direction when you decide to embark on a proper exercise. They are the leaders in helping educate you to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Customer Service
You want everyone from the front desk worker to the owner and director of the facility to be visible, eager to help, and care about you every time you walk through the door. I am a firm believer that each person that works at the facility should interact with members and clients regardless of their position at the facility. They should not view you as just another member.
They should show you that they are interested in listening to you about everything from their personal life to what they want to see done differently at the facility. Loyalty, honesty, and integrity play a major role when trying to provide a great service.
Cleanliness and Organization
There is nothing in the world that is a bigger turnoff then a dirty facility. A proper fitness facility must always be as clean as possible. When you are dealing with so many people in one facility working out, it must be sanitary health reasons. It’s always better to workout in a clean environment too. It just feels better that way. The locker rooms, mats, benches, and floors should be on high priority when keeping the facility clean.
Hand sanitizer, spray sanitizer, and clean towels should always be available. If the facility is not clean, it is a sure red flag to go somewhere else. Not only should the facility be kept clean, it should also be nicely organized. All dumbbells, weight machines, weight plates, and other pieces of equipment should be kept in a safe and orderly fashion. This helps control traffic and flow of members, you have a better understanding where everything is located, and helps reduce the risk of injury. There is nothing more appealing than a neat, clean, and efficient fitness facility.
Current classes and the latest equipment
The fitness world evolves quickly and with that comes new ideas for equipment and classes. A fitness facility should always be looking out for fresh ideas in group exercise, as well as the latest high-tech equipment. Classes such as Yoga, Zumba, boot camps, and TRX Suspension Training classes should be available, along with specialized classes on nutrition, injuries, and lifestyle.
Machine based training is a thing of the past, and is not how we need to be doing fitness. A fitness facility should have plenty of room filled with Kettlebells, slide boards, free weights and medicine balls. Plenty of cable stations, foam rollers, speed and agility equipment, and cardiovascular machines with Cardio Theater should round out the equipment list. I think you should also be able to ask for help on any piece of equipment and be able to use them independently, if you choose too.
Environment with Energy
With everyone leading a busier lifestyle these days, it sometimes makes it tough to work up the motivation to even go to the gym. Having a place to go workout in a fun, welcoming, and
energetic environment makes it all the more motivating to lead a more active lifestyle. You should walk into a fitness facility and be able to leave your problems at the door, and know that you will have a hassle free workout. The key in helping people lead a more active lifestyle is to provide continued support and motivation. They need to feel like someone is interested in helping them stay healthy, and that they can look forward to being surrounded.
written by Justin Grinnell B.S., CSCS. Grinnell is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also a co-owner of The State of Fitness.
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Fitness centers are really a good way of maintaining a healthy body. There are several equipments and experienced trainers under one roof and this is very effective. Now, the problem is that many people don’t have that extra time to visit centers. For all these people, there are several equipments like power plates, treadmills and so on that take very little time to produce result and can be used as home gym equipments.