Spring has now begun at its peak and, with the arrival of the beautiful days, the desire to exercise returns. A little ‘to keep fit, a little’ not to disfigure with the arrival of summer and the much feared (or awaited) costume test. To stretch out a little just have a little ‘goodwill, put on a pair of jogging shoes, and start running at least 30 minutes a day around the neighborhood or in the parking lot near the house. But if you want to get better or longer results, the best thing to do is sign up at the gym.
Once you defeat laziness and make the decision, the question arises: Which gym to choose? It is not easy to understand which is the most convenient and, above all, the most suitable for your needs. Here are some tips that will help you choose the right gym in which to get fit for the arrival of summer.
1 – Friends
The gym is a place to work, lose the extra pounds and tone up, but that’s not all. For some, it’s above all a place for socializing, where you can meet new people who share your passion for exercise and where you can maybe spend time with friends after work. So, the first advice I can give you is to try to choose, if possible, a place already frequented by someone you know, or even better to register with friends. In this way you will not only train while having fun, but you will also feel more motivated to train. Sharing your achievements with someone is a great incentive to do more and more and improve constantly.
2 – The position
This is a very important factor to consider when choosing a gym. The proximity is essential: avoid choosing places too far from your home or the other side of the city. Don’t be fooled by appearances. A 3-storey gymnasium, with science fiction machines and famous personal trainers, located three quarters of an hour’s drive from your home, is not the right place for you. Not only for reasons of time (spending an hour and a half by car to do 1 hour of exercises is simply a waste of time), but also for the stress and tiredness that result. These last two factors are among the most common excuses to avoid training. Going to the gym should be a pleasure, not a torture or an additional stress factor. Try to choose a place that is easy to reach and close to home.
3 – Timetables
Another fundamental variable to take into account. Most gyms are usually open all day, including evenings, but always make sure they are. This way, you’ll have a better chance of finding times that are compatible with your schedule. A good tip is to choose places that are open on Sundays. You may never decide to wake up early on Sunday mornings to go to the gym, but you never know! Better to have more choice. If you follow courses, it gets a little more complicated, because they are usually held at predetermined times. In any case, always try to take into account your working hours and possible commitments. Maybe you should make sure you also have some time to relax after work before you have to put on your suit and go and train.
4 – Equipment
Even if you’re not an expert, evaluating the equipment of a gym is very important. If your equipment is old or poorly maintained, forget about it. They don’t need to be the most modern available, but they do need to be high performing and work well. The number of tools available is also important. If the gym you have in mind only has 3 benches for the abdominals, then it is to be discarded. You could risk having to endure long waits before you can find a free one and finish the series of exercises you promised yourself. Another factor to take into account is the variety of equipment, so you can diversify the exercises, getting better results and not risking boredom!
5 – Having clear ideas
Do you want to lose weight or tone up? Do you want to go to the gym to relieve stress or to build muscle mass? It is important to have clear ideas and know what your needs are, and choose the gym in relation to this. Use the trial lessons (usually the first 2 or 3 lessons are free) to get an idea of the strengths of the gym, and the strengths of the instructors.
6 – How to search
I don’t recommend that you go around the city to find gyms and visit them. The main way to find a gym is to rely not so much on advertising, but on word of mouth. Ask friends and acquaintances to give you advice. An excellent resource is the internet. There are many specialized sites that allow you to search for gyms, fitness courses and gymnastics classes. In this way you will not only have a wider choice, but also more information, being able to speak directly with the instructors. In general, it is good to take some time to find the gym. Avoid making a hasty choice: you may regret it later.