Have you found yourself recently typing in “exercise programs near me” or “fitness clubs near me”? If that’s you, it’s time to look into signing up for a gym membership. But how do you choose? With many different options, what are the most important criteria to look at? The experts at Dynamic Health and Fitness, with 3 gyms and fitness center locations in Lexington and West Columbia South Carolina, shared their top tips for narrowing down the choices.
Think About What’s Important
Before investigating any specific health clubs, think about what’s important in a gym membership. Having a shortlist of what you’re looking for will make it easier to identify the option that’s best for you. Factors such as price, facilities, cleanliness, parking and childcare facilities will all form part of the decision.
One of the factors that is most highly correlated with regular gym visits is the location of the gym. Having one that is close by makes visiting easier and therefore less of a barrier to frequent attendance.
Make a List of the Different Options that are Nearby
To start building the list, if you’re based in Lexington in South Carolina, type in searches such as “personal trainers near me” or “fitness clubs near Lexington, SC”. This will return a number of results which can then be added to the master list.
Browse Their Websites
The fitness clubs that you’re interested in joining should have a website that lists the class schedules as well as showing photos of the facilities. This will give a good indication of what can be expected and will help to narrow down the options. Remember though, that pictures can be misleading and it will still be important to do an in-person visit to the gym.
Narrow Down the Options
Focus on the type of training and workouts that you’re interested in and check that the clubs offer those options. This might include personal training or specific classes such as Zumba or Yoga. If strength training is important, check that the health club offers state of the art equipment for weight and resistance training. For most people, the gym should offer a bit of everything – good cardio and weight training facilities, a variety of classes, personal training and team training as well as excellent childcare facilities.
Look at the Reviews
Most well-established fitness clubs with have a number of Facebook and Google reviews, read through them to get an idea of what the gym offers. It’s not important that all the reviews are
positive as different people have different preferences and requirements. But it will give a good idea of what you can expect from each one based on honest impressions from existing members.
Visit the Gym or Fitness Club
Once the list has been narrowed down to a few options, it’s time to visit each in-person to see if it’s a good fit. It’s a good sign if the fitness club offers a free introductory session and a tour of their facilities before requiring a membership to be in place. During the tour take note of the exercise facilities, showers and locker rooms, as well as the general cleanliness and any other specific requirements that are important to you. For those with children, don’t forget to have a look at the child-minding area and meet the minders who look after the children while their parents work out.
Dynamic Health and Fitness with locations in Longs Pond, Charter Oak and West Columbia offers state of the art workout equipment, personal and team training, a designated kid’s zone, group fitness, unlimited tanning and much more. They’re committed to offering each gym member a personalised experience to help them meet their health and wellness goals.
