How to Find the Right Gym for You

Summer has always been the favourite time for many to take on any sport to stay active or to achieve the summer body.  Non-sporty types, on the other hand, would prefer joining a gym membership or fitness club since working does not require a certain skill to do.

If you are the latter type who would rather pay a gym instructor to help you lose weight, then this guide will help you find the right gym that provides value for your money.

Depending on where you are, gyms come at different price points and facilities. Instinctively, people go for the cheaper choice because it saves them a lot of money for other stuff.

However, there's more to choosing a gym than the monthly fees. With hundreds of gyms popping up everywhere, it has become increasingly difficult to choose one that suits your needs.

Don't worry, we're here to help you narrow down your choices. Once you're done reading this guide, you will know exactly what to look for so you can start prepping for stuff you need for your first workout session.

What're the common reasons people join the gym

People have different motivations of why they go to the gym. When finding the right gym, think of the reason why you are willing to part ways with your hard-earned money for a monthly membership that you may only use once. A few reasons that compel people to hit the gym include:

1. Weight loss. With the impossible standards set by social media influencers and other marketing messages of achieving the perfect body, it is no wonder a lot of people aim to lose tons of weight to look picture-perfect in the (Insta)gram. This reason might be a bit of superficial but for some people getting the ideal body shape is serious business. 
2. Weight gain. One might say, "lucky are those who eat whatever but still not gain an ounce of weight", well surprisingly there is a considerable number of people who go to the gym so they can gain weight. Won't that do the opposite? Not exactly. Gyms have programs for losing and gaining weight. These programs do not only focus on your exercises or workout routines but they also advise you on the right meals with the nutritional components you need to either lose weight or gain weight. 
3. Health. Most obese people are advised by their doctors to sign up to a gym membership to lose weight, not to look glam in social media (for sure that follows) but to be healthy. As mentioned, gym programs help you manage both your workouts and nutrition. There are also other people who hit the gym regularly to stay fit and healthy, regardless if they were advised medically to do so. 
4. Bodybuilding. A sport in itself, but in a totally different league on its own, training for bodybuilding competitions are always almost done inside a gym where you find a selection of weightlifting equipment to help you build those muscles. 
5. Relieve stress. Having something to strike and kick is on top of the list of things that can relieve stress. But it's more than that. There's actually a scientific explanation of why physical activity is a good stress reliever. It has something to do with a brain chemical that helps reduce stress and pain, and these are endorphins. 

Training in a gym environment means you must have the right mindset and the commitment to reach the goals you set for yourself. But one must also open themselves up to the possibility that not everything will work out according to plan. Some people's progress is slow while others see results in just a few days or weeks. 

It is also important to not push yourself too much to the point of endangering your health. No fitness goal is worth getting injured, mentally or physically.  That is why it is important to choose a gym well that looks out for your total well-being, and not just the money you put in their pockets.

How to find gyms that offer value for your money

Gyms differ in a lot of things from the services they offer, the available equipment they have, the size of the area, the trainers and the price. But the first thing that most interested gym goers do is to compare gym prices.

There are many gyms that offer low-cost memberships and that's fine, especially if you're looking for one that fits your budget. But more than the low price, one has to look for a gym that offers value for your money. 

Nowadays, finding the right gym does not necessarily equate to a low price. You also have to consider the quality of service you'll get out of your membership (especially when it's non-refundable).

What to ask before joining a gym?

• Will low-cost gym memberships able to assist a beginner to find the best workout routines or training program for his or her weight loss goal?
• Does it have the basic gym equipment?
• Is the gym size or room capacity able to cater to the number of members they accept?
• Do they offer the program you need to achieve your goal?

These are questions you should ask yourself and hopefully to the gym owners or attendants so you'll know if getting a low-cost gym membership is good enough for you.

What is a gym monitor

A gym monitor, also called fitness monitor, is responsible for supervising the members and the maintenance of fitness facilities inside the gym. They also assist fitness instructors and gym trainers. Overall, they are in charge to keep the gym a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.

The presence of a gym monitor, if not a trainer, is important when you're out to find the right gym. Gym monitors are personnel responsible for monitoring all gym activities on a daily basis. They often serve as a resource to members' questions, concerns, and needs. Most importantly, they make sure that the fitness facility is always kept clean and pieces of equipment are functional and well-maintained. No one wants to go to a disorderly gym especially when its a mixed-gender gym.

Some gym monitors also serve as trainers. Although most gyms have a gym monitor as well as several personal gym trainers, having someone you can turn to for fitness advice is a good indication that the gym management tries their best to offer a supportive gym environment. 

Gym or fitness instructors

Most high-end gyms offer their members a personal trainer to guide them and keep track of their progress. Personal trainers are responsible for understanding your needs, schedules, your diet and everything about you that may become a factor in achieving your goals. They are the ones who will create a personalised training program for you from meal plans to routine workouts. 

Whether it's a personal trainer or a gym monitor, the gym staff should always be polite, respectful and makes sure that their members are comfortable and safe. As fitness experts, they should be the one to guide the gym patrons by ensuring their progress, giving advice and helping them stick to the workout plan. 

Gym facilities and equipment

One of the most important factors in your choice of a gym is the equipment. Finding a well-stocked gym is what most avid gym-goer looks for from weight training equipment to treadmills. Weight training equipment is crucial if you want to focus on weight workouts to build muscles or as they say, "become buff".

Again, finding the right gym for you depends on your goals. The best thing to do is write down what you'd like to achieve in a specific period of time and find gyms that have the right facility and equipment to help you. 

Don't go for the closest gym if they don't have the gym equipment you need, else it will defeat the purpose of you hitting the gym on a daily or weekly basis. It's worth one bus ride or a 15-minute drive if you're able to hit your fitness goals. After all, the achievement of goals is not without sacrifices.

For great gym owners that consider their audience, they buy equipment that will help them attract members, so they always go for professional-grade functional fitness equipment and sporting goods from brands like Morgan Sports. 

Morgan Sports offers the very best in commercial gym equipment for affordable wholesale prices. We are a total fitness solution provider that offers our partners with the knowledge and support they need to select the best gym equipment for their members. 

Available Exercise Classes

There's a misconception that gyms only offer programs for either weight loss or weight gain. Truth is, there are tons of exercises that gyms offer to their members such as yoga, pilates, even the famous Zumba. Make sure to check out exercise classes they offer when you inquire.

Group exercises or collective activities are a great way to socialise with people who have the same goals as you. These people will also serve as your support system so you don't quit when it gets hard, especially when you're in HITT, callisthenics or TRX training.

The gym or exercise facility must be able to offer different activities at different times to cater to the schedules of their members and turn going to the gym a part of their daily routine. 

Gym Time Schedules

Most gym-goers are professionals who mostly work 9 to 5 jobs. This means almost all gyms schedule classes start before 9 am or after 5 pm, while other gyms are open 24 hours.

So when you find the right gym that checks out all of the mentioned criteria above, make sure they offer schedules for your desired classes at the same time you're free, either before or after work.

When you go and check out a gym, ask for their list of activities and their corresponding weekly schedules. 

Extra Facilities

There are other services that many gyms started offering to gain competitive advantage. Some gyms have saunas, Turkish baths, clean towels, locker services, masseurs and more. These services are often part of the package and are used to entice VIP members to sign up for an annual membership.

If you don't mind spending extra cash on these luxuries, you can add these to your list. But make sure when you decide on a gym it's not because of these additional perks but to achieve your fitness goals.

How to find the right gym without getting lost in the attempt

Ever so often when a new year starts, fitness objectives that were forgotten in the middle of the year still end up in the yearly goals' list. With a lot of things getting in the way, it is often impossible to make it through the whole year with your gym attendance intact.

It might be an impossible feat but having the right gym (close to home or workplace, affordable, with great facilities and trainers, and fits your schedule) will help you push your motivation level back up so you can continue on the right track toward your fitness goals.