Kenneth Gardner
HEALTH CLUBS and fitness centres have been providing us with important benefits. We are able to exercise with others, receive professional instruction and supervision, and good equipment also provides specific benefits.
At this time of the year, many of us join health and fitness facilities as a part of our resolution. If you are thinking of joining a club, the information below should help you choose wisely.
Look for an established facility, within close proximity or easy access to your home or work. If it is far away or difficult to reach, your chances of sticking to the programme will diminish quite easily. Check out the facility's time table, and visit it at the time that you would be attending to check out the scene. For example, are there many persons there at that time? Are the classes of a reasonable size? Will you have easy access to the equipment and will the class that you need be available at that time? Look around to see if there are others in your age and fitness level. If you like to exercise with music, make sure that the music is to your liking. Observe how the members dress. Will you fit in or will you be uncomfortable?
Find out if the club offers basic fitness testing, the type of testing and what is expected of you. This is very important to assess where you are, where you should start and to establish precautions that may be indicated. Find out if there is emergency equipment available on the premises and if there is personnel trained in cardio-respiratory resuscitation (CPR) on their staff. Are members of staff trained in first aid and available to deal with emergencies?
Is the facility equipped with a variety of equipment to make your experience novel and maintain your interest? Some basic equipment could include treadmills, ergometers (stationary bikes), stair climbers, resistance machines and weights. The equipment should be clean and well maintained.
You need to learn as much as you can about the exercises. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the programme. The instructors should be able to answer your questions. Observe how knowledgeable they are and how eager they are to address your concerns.
Based on the services that are offered, buy only that which you need. If you only want to use equipment for workout you may not need to be a part of a club that has sauna or other facilities that will influence membership fee.
If there are contracts to be signed, choose the one that covers the shortest period of time possible especially if it's your first health club experience. Try to get a contract that will permit you to extend your membership if you have a prolonged illness. Try out the club; ask for a day pass or even an inexpensive one or two week trial membership. Find out if there is an extra charge for any particular service that you want. Ask for a tour of the facility. Does the facility offer what its brochure says it does? Talk with persons who have used and are using the facility to get insight into the level of satisfaction.
Kenneth Gardner is an exercise physiologist at the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
