the Cost of No Membership Health Clubs

We recently signed up for a gym membership at a health club which is open 24 hours a day. The membership we purchased was for a couple; the contract we signed was for 6 months at $60 per month. Start up fees included a $99 registration fee plus $25 per person for our key cards. The key cards allow us access to the club at any time of day or night; the club is staffed for about 7 hours per day during busy times. The club has several security measures in place, including a locked entry point that will notify security if more than one person tries to enter with the use of only one key. The club has all new amenities including eliptical trainers, treadmills, stationary bikes, stair climbers, weight machines, and free weights. There are individual televisions located on each of the cardio machines. The club does not offer classes or personal training sessions, nor does it contain sport facilities such as a basketball court or pool. We were offered a short, introductory session to learn how to use the machines and to familiarize ourselves with safety procedures. The club has an on-site shower designed for one person at a time, a stretching/warm-up room, and tanning for an additional fee.

So far, we have been pleased with the service at the gym. Mostly, we are pleased that we can access the building whenever it is convenient for us! It's great for those with busy, varied work or personal schedules. It's nice for individuals who simply want a place to work out without distractions or the challenge of avoiding personal trainers or other gym staff who want to sign you up for extra services. (If you enjoy fitness classes or need instruction from staff members, this is not the type of service for you.) We did find that the machines were mostly easy to use, especially after our brief orientation. The gym is good for beginners or more regular exercisers; you can choose what machines you would like to use. We've found the gym to be extremely clean, well-lit, and secure. We have mostly been in the late evening and have not had to wait to use the machines we want.

Pick a gym that is close to your home or workplace. Our new gym is only five minutes from our home, so we can't make excuses for not going. Also, decide what amenities you really need in a gym; if you don't like to swim, don't spend more money for the gym with the pool! We decided we didn't want the pressure of having to attend a fitness class on a regular schedule, so we didn't need to pay extra at another club for the option to take classes. Our gym has mostly people ages 20-40 who attend; decide whether you want a family friendly fitness facility or if you prefer one without children. Finally, look for sign up specials. This gym just opened, and it has had a reduced registration fee for several months.