The annual dropping rates for gyms is around 25% according to The International Health, Racquet, and Sports Club Association. Usually, people tend to join in but shortly after they leave to never come back. What would you do to avoid this issue?
Although there are many reasons for people to drop the most common ones is to feel uncomfortable and to dislike the place. You can know if the gym is going to keep you as a member as you enter through the doors for the first time. Those first impressions are very important; how is the energy of the place? Do the staff seem to be enjoying their job? Is it clean? Does it feel like a comfortable place? Do they even great you as a new costumer?
9 qualities that can be found in awesome gyms
In the Hong Kong alone there are more than 700 gyms, so there is a lot to walk before finding the one that suits you the better. Because of that we have prepared the top 10 list of things to know before choosing the right gym.
Make your first visit at your usual workout schedule
It is important to know how is the ambiance and if is overpopulated those days when you are more likely to go, on your routine. Also, take in mind if the machines you are going to be using are too crowded. If that is the case then it is better to try another gym. If we are talking about small boutique gyms with limited equipment, how creative they are with there workout.
It has a good localization
Use google maps to search for gyms near to your home or work, because according to authorities most people won’t keep driving more than 15 minutes to get to their gyms for months and months, despite how motivated they feel, it is just another obstacle to keep coming back to the gym. Easy to park locations are also advisable.
Read the contract twice before signing it
Check for extra fees in your contract especially if it automatically charges your credit card every month. Also make all the promises made by the gym, to be written down. So make sure to read between the lines and ask what happens with the contract in the case that that fitness club goes bankrupt (California Fitness, Epic or Studio Fitness). Know the legislation about changing your mind on the contract, it is usually 7 days in Hong Kong.
Put money on your membership
Once you are convinced that you are in the right gym feel free to use that membership at its max. because is most likely for you to stay and follow with your fitness aspirations if you have invested good money to it, more if you start seeing the results of the training.
What happens if you have an emergency?
At any medical emergency, you would like to be in a club prepared for it. Although many gyms have their staff trained in the basic technics of first aid like CPR.
Always look for a good variety of machines or workouts
Gym equipment is not cheap that is why in our list of priority we have to consider the clubs with the best gear. However, it is common that they have the best of one or two types of a machine but not the best of all of them, this is not a sin. Instead, check if they have only one brand of machines and all of them came from the same vendor. Because this usually means that the owner of the business just got a good deal and was not precisely thinking in offering the best for the members. Remember also that machines are not all, if you looking for class based gym check what kind of workouts they have and if this workouts benefits your fitness journey.
Check the club’s etiquette and Community
Some gyms don’t allow to go loud and grunting and they remove certain machines for not being appropriate (not my style). So if what goes with you is actually be loud and use all types of machines, first make sure what kind of culture does the club has and what is its target demographic.
Check the hygiene
With so many people using the same machines all the week, gyms are the perfect place to grow germs and keeping the facilities clean takes a lot of effort, usually, let in the hands of the night crew. More than 63% of any hand-contact surface in gyms have been tested positive for rhinovirus or common cold virus; according to the Clinical Journal of Sports medicine.
When you are visiting a new gym make sure to check if they are strict about the “wiping down after use” especially the weights. If that is not the case feel comfortable leaving the facility.
Although a professional crew should be coming every night, the rest of the employees should be also entitled to wipe down the machines frequently during the day.
Remember is not about money
Before deciding on the winner gym take in mind that your goal is to keep coming for months and years. Sometimes paying top dollar for a good membership might make you feel accountable for such inversion and that would keep you coming back. And on the other hand, if you manage to get an awesome cheap deal, the pay might be so low that you won’t mind stopping coming back one good day.