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In today’s health-conscious landscape, gym memberships are widespread and as popular as ever. With so many different kinds of gyms – from low-cost chains to luxury fitness studios – you’d have a harder time finding a doughnut shop nearby than a gym (I’m exaggerating, but you get the point!)
But with so many exciting possibilities comes the phenomenon of over choice, often leaving us feeling paralyzed. All of a sudden, researching the best gym membership becomes daunting and not worth the hassle.
To make your life easier, we’ve compiled a list of the six most essential considerations
before signing up for a gym membership.
Determine the Right Gym for Your Needs
Deciding on a gym isn’t as simple as just finding the closest location to your house. There are various reasons a gym may stick out, so it’s essential to establish what they are early on.
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What do you want/need in a gym?
A gym goes far beyond a place to work out. You also need to contemplate other things, such as:
- What equipment they offer
- What classes and amenities are included
- If there’s daycare
Even your gym’s atmosphere is critical. Will you be surrounded by the noise of metallic clangs and non-stop grunting, or is the gym calm and serene? Either is perfectly fine, but you need to know what you’re getting into.
If your goal is reasonably specific, i.e. you’re preparing for a CrossFit competition, then you’ll want a gym that offers excellent resources for your needs. This might be a CrossFit gym with top-notch equipment, personal trainers, and a healthy competitive environment.
On the other hand, if you want to get in shape and lose a few pounds, but hate the competitive energy that comes with working out, somewhere like Planet Fitness with its “Judgement Free Zone” would be a better fit.
We recommend making a list of what you want and need in a gym before beginning your search. This way, you can quickly determine which gyms are a good fit and which you should discard immediately. For example, a list might look like this:
- Affordable monthly membership fee
- A hardcore atmosphere with an emphasis on strength training
- Access to top-tier powerlifting equipment
- Like-minded individuals to regularly participate in competitions
Now, this is just a general example. You might want to delve deeper or be less specific. It all depends on your needs.
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Location, Location, Location
The old real estate adage of “location, location,location” certainly applies to finding the best gym membership for you.
Unfortunately, even the most dedicated will eventually find excuses not to go to the gym if it’s too far. Things get in the way in life, and if the gym is an hour away, you’re much more likely to skip a workout than if it were right around the corner.
Even though this may sound contradictory to our first point of finding the gym with everything you need, opt for convenience over amenities if possible. Naturally, you’ll want to find a balance, but being able to walk or drive for less than 10 minutes to reach your gym is a big bonus.
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Budget
Budget is a critical consideration when signing up for a gym. You want affordability, especially if you plan on going often. However, double-check the amenities and gym equipment to ensure you’re not overpaying for a sub-par gym. Sometimes, it’s worth forking out a little extra cash for a gym that will better help you meet your fitness goals.
To give you some insight, an average chain gym membership will set you back $30-50 per month. However, some memberships cost as little as $15 per month, while some exceed $200.
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Know Your Schedule
This consideration is two-fold. The first has to do with the times that you’re available to work out. The second is in regard to the gym’s hours of operation.
24/7 gyms are trendy, and for a good reason. They’re always open, so you can work out whenever you want or need to. If your work schedule is unpredictable or you have young children, a 24/7 gym allows you to work out on your own time.
Not everyone can make it to the gym during conventional gym hours, and a 24/7 gym gives you the freedom to come and go as you please.
What to Do Before You Buy a Gym Membership
You’ve made price, proximity and review comparisons. You’ve looked at the amenities and schedules of each gym. Now it’s time to go straight over, sign the contract and get to work, right?
Wrong.
Like any other big purchase, it pays to do your homework before you hand over your hard-earned cash. While your gym’s unique offerings may sound glorious on paper, get a feel for the atmosphere and the clientele before you make any commitments.
The best way to do this is by getting a ‘Guest pass’.
A guest pass allows you to use the gym for a limited time, usually, a day or a week, to see if it’s the right fit for you. This allows you to see the following:
- How busy are peak hours? Is it so crowded that you can’t get on the machines you want to use?
- Do the other gym-goers look like they’re in shape and working hard, or are they just milling about?
- Is the staff friendly and helpful, or do they seem annoyed if you want to ask questions?
- Do the locker rooms and bathrooms meet your standards of cleanliness?
- Is the equipment in good condition, or are the machines old and outdated?
Of course, you can get so much of the gym’s community in just one visit. But a guest pass will at least give you some idea of what to expect when you eventually sign up for a membership.
How Do I Purchase a Gym Membership?
Now that you know what to look for in a gym, it’s time to start shopping for memberships. You may be wondering the following:
- How is payment structured for gym memberships?
- Do I have to sign a contract?
- Does my contract have an out clause or early termination fee?
- What happens if my gym shuts down or external circumstances, i.e. covid lockdowns, force the gym to shut?
These are all valid questions and ones that you should have answered before signing on the dotted line. Most gyms offer an annual or monthly membership, with a termination fee if you cancel before your contract is up.
Some gyms offer a pay-as-you-go option, such as many personal training studios who offer 1 on 1 or group training sessions. This can be a good option if you’re not sure how often you’ll be using the gym, or if your schedule is very unpredictable.
If you have specific requests or concerns, don’t hesitate to discuss them with the gym’s staff or manager. Ultimately, you’ll want to get everything promised to you in writing before buying a membership.
How to save money buying a gym membership
- Get a referral
Many gyms offer discounts or incentives if you sign up with a friend or family member. This allows businesses to tap into your social network and expand their reach. It’s a win-win for everyone involved since you get a discounted gym membership.
- Actively seek if they have promotions available
Unfortunately, your gym’s salesperson may conveniently forget to mention any ongoing promotions or discounts. This is especially true if you’re eager to train and sign up for a membership on the spot.
Before handing over your credit card, always ask if any promotions or discounts are available. Promotions can be made available during non-peak months, typically in January. There are usually a few promotions available, so it pays to do your research and just ask.
- Look for a longer-term commitment discount
If you’re confident you’ll use the gym frequently, you can get away with signing a longer-term contract. While many gyms already offer yearly or semi-annual memberships, some may be willing to give you an even bigger discount if you’re committing for two years or more.
Just be ready to negotiate – the longer the term you’re willing to commit to, the more negotiating power you have.
- Pay in full upfront
If you have the cash on hand, paying for your gym membership fully upfront can lead to significant savings. This is because gyms usually offer a considerable discount – often 10-20% off the total price – if you’re willing to pay for everything at once.
Check Your Gym’s Roster of Personal Trainers
Whether you’re a newbie looking to get their feet wet or an aspiring physique athlete, we all need help, guidance, or inspiration when working out.
When buying a gym membership, check the staff and see if they look the part. Are they ripped and walk the walk? Do they have a wealth of knowledge and experience? If you need a personal trainer, try to assess if the gym has quality personal trainers.
For example, if your gym has access to world-renowned trainers (think Charles Glass in Gold’s Gym, Venice Beach), factor that into the overall membership cost.
Once you’ve established the personal trainers on-site are legit, feel free to schedule a consultation before joining the gym. Meeting the right personal trainer can fast-track your fitness journey and help you achieve results sooner than going alone.
Set Aside Your Fear of The Gym
Many experienced gym goers fail to acknowledge the psychological effects a gym can have. But for new gym goers, being nervous is one of the most common reactions to working out in an unfamiliar environment.
It’s perfectly normal to feel apprehensive about starting something new – especially if you’re not used to working out.
Let’s discuss each pre-workout fear one by one and how you can overcome them:
“I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m going to look stupid.”
This is understandable. No one likes feeling lost or out of place, but the reality is that all gym members were newbies at one point or another.
The best way to deal with this fear is to simply educate yourself before going to the gym. Alternatively, you could wing it and through trial and error, you’ll get the hang of things in no time.
“Everyone is in fantastic shape and I look like a slob.”
The gym will be one place where the fittest of the fit congregate. That’s just the way it is. And while that can be intimidating, remember that everyone has to start somewhere.
In reality, your fitter counterparts are more likely to be encouraging than judgmental. After all, they were once in your shoes and know what mental barriers exist when starting out. However, in most cases, they’re concentrating on their own workout and aren’t giving you a second glance.
“I don’t want to get too big/too muscular.”
You’ll hear this typically from women, but men also have this fear. But it’s entirely without merit.
The simple fact is that unless you’re eating and training specifically to put on significant size, it will not happen – especially if you’re just starting out.
Building excessive muscle mass isn’t just a deliberate act; it’s something that takes years to achieve. You must train intensely, become stronger and consistently eat enough calories to fuel your body – and even then, you’re only going to gain a small amount per month.
It’s a bit like saying, “I don’t want to become rich, so I won’t go to college.” The odds of that unintentionally happening are pretty slim.
“I’m going to be so sore tomorrow.”
This is partly true. If you’re unaccustomed to training, there will be some muscle soreness or DOMs (delayed onset muscle soreness). However, the degree of soreness is usually relative to how hard you train.
We recommend taking it slow until your body adjusts to its new stress. There’s no need to go all out, maxing out every lift and doing metcon workouts every day. Remember, your brain’s neuron connections to your motor neurons also need time to strengthen, so take it slow at first and focus on properly executing the movements.
What if My Gym Isn't the Right Fit?
Now there are two scenarios at the top of my head where this could play out:
The first is that you’ve joined a gym, which just doesn’t fit your needs for one reason or another. This could be due to a lack of proper equipment, the location isn’t convenient, or you just don’t feel comfortable there.
Whatever the reason, it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of other gyms, so just cancel your membership and join another one.
The second scenario is you’re just making excuses and blaming the gym.
Wait, what?
Yes, it’s true.
People come up to me and say, “I joined this gym but I just couldn’t make it work.”
When I probed a little deeper, it turned out that they went a few times and called it quits. No matter how you slice it, working out requires dedication and effort on your part. And if you’re not willing to put in the work, then it doesn’t matter how good the gym is – you will fail.
To give yourself the best possible chance at success, have a plan of attack. Know what exercises you will do and how many sets and reps before training. You’ll soon find yourself in a steady state of progression; and before you know it, working out will become second nature.
Wrapping Everything Up
There are a lot of things to consider before buying a gym membership. But as long as you go into it with your eyes open, you’ll be just fine. By going over the considerations mentioned above, you’ll be able to find a gym that’s perfect for you and your workout needs.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and find your perfect gym!
