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Where
can you find a health club?
Determine your work-out goals
Get the most services for your money
More than 10 million
Americans work out at the 45,000 health clubs, spas, fitness centers,
and gyms throughout the United States. People join health clubs to look
and feel better overall, as well as to control their weight. People often
cite peer support and encouragement from staff members as the main stimulus
for sticking with an exercise routine.
Where can you find a health club?
First look in the phone directory, under "health clubs" or "gyms".
If you are a college or university employee, you are probably eligible
to use its fitness center. If you are retired from the military, find
out if your local base has a workout facility. Call your town's recreation
department. Many towns have pools and ice rinks, or use the high school
pool and gym to provide very low cost swimming, tennis, and aerobic programs.
Don't
forget to call your local YMCA. Most of them have been refurbished
with fully outfitted fitness centers, racquetball courts, Olympic pools,
and multi-purpose rooms. In addition, they tend to have very accessible
hours of operation. Although the YMCAs all charge a one-time (good for
life) initiation fee, it is transferable to any other YMCA. So if you
move, you can join the new local YMCA without paying another initiation
fee.
Determine your work-out goals
When shopping for a facility, decide what you plan to do there. If you
want to work with a personal trainer who has credentials in exercise physiology,
a full-service fitness center may be right for you. If you want to relax
and be pampered, find a health club that has a swimming pool, sauna, and
whirlpool. If you only want to play tennis
or racquetball, a racquet and sports club may be the answer. If a good,
solitary workout without swimming is all you want, then you should consider
a less expensive, large membership club, usually referred to as a gym.
Many gyms are outfitted with state of the art, high-tech equipment and
offer exercise and aerobics classes as well as personal training.
Get the most services for your money
Consider the following when selecting a health club or gym:
- Discounts
Search out a club that offers family, couples, single parent, or other
promotional discounts. Membership fees and conditions are almost always
negotiable. If you travel frequently or might be relocating, ask if
the club offers discount guest passes to other clubs or relocation discounts.
Many clubs will give you a three- or six- month free membership extension
if you bring in new members, but you'll probably have to ask.
- Insurance coverage
If price is your main concern, check with your health insurance or employee
benefit plan. Most health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and third-party
private insurers either offer discounted health club memberships as
part of their benefits plan or will pay a portion of your initiation
fee.
- Buyer beware
Be wary of lifetime memberships or multi-year contracts that require
a large payment up front. If you're not sure about the reputation of
a club, check with the local Better Business Bureau or Attorney General's
office.
NEVER join a health club before it opens, no matter how sterling its
prospects. Look for a club with at least three years of continuous operation,
or a new branch of an established chain. Do not sign on for any more
than one year in advance, and make sure that your contract has an "escape
clause," allowing you to cancel your membership or receive a rebate
if you relocate or become disabled. Don't be pressured by a promotion
that ends "tonight;" deals are often still available whenever
you decide to sign up (be sure to ask). Make sure the contract covers
everything you've discussed with club management. Never rely on verbal
agreements.
- Trial
run
When you find a club you like, take advantage of a trial membership
or one-day pass. Also ask about a complimentary workout evaluation with
a personal trainer.
Make sure that all
trainers are CPR certified and at least half of the health club's staff
members are as well.
- Staff and facilities
A few more important details to consider:
Is the staff pleasant?
Are the bathrooms,
locker rooms, and equipment clean?
Do you need to
provide your own lock or towels?
Can you park close
by, and will you feel safe coming and going at night or early in the
morning?
- Safety
Make sure that aerobics studios have suspended wooden floors to help
prevent joint injuries.
Equipment should be in good repair. Each electronic machine should be
plugged into its own outlet, not into multiunit extension cords. Faulty,
worn, or overloaded equipment can cause injuries. Each piece of equipment
should have instructions attached directly to it, facing you as you
perform the exercise.
- Child care
Many gyms offer baby-sitting services for parents. If this is important
to you, ask if these services are available. Find out who watches the
children, and where-are they left unattended in a play area, or is there
a baby-sitter hired to watch them?
Joining a gym or health club can help make working out a regular part
of your lifestyle. These facilities take away the uncertainty of the
weather and provide all the tools you need. A membership is a good investment
for your health. Be sure to choose wisely so that you'll take full advantage
of the services available.
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