It seems that picking a gym is just as hard as getting motivated to go to one! We recently moved house which means trying to find a new place to exercise, and there are no shortage of options around. The problem is that there seems to be now reliable way of choosing the best gym in the area without visiting them all first.
So how do you choose a gym? The first thing I always look for is the number of cardio machines they have, because these seem to be the first to get filled up during peak times. I tend to go to the gym in the morning anyway so this isn’t a massive problem for me, but it’s always good to know that the gym has lots of options.
I also look for whether the gym has good parking facilities. I hate it when you have to park miles away from a gym, so the larger the car park is the less likely it is that I’ll have to find alternative parking. There are a few gyms within walking distance of my new house so they might be good options.
There are lots of other things that make the difference between a good and bad gym. Helpful staff is essential, especially if you plan on using the classes that sometimes come with the package. If the gym has a swimming pool built into the membership then this is a bonus, although I don’t use pools that often. A cafe is both a good and bad thing – but as long as you can keep away from the unhealthy snacks (such as chips) then it’s nice to be able to get a cup of coffee after a workout.