Some people jump on the "new year, new me" bandwagon and decide to join a gym in January. However, most of them will not stick around, even though estimates for annual new gym memberships skyrocket between 20-25% at the beginning of every year.
So, when it comes down to choosing which gym you should choose, how do you decide between big box gyms like Crunch and LA Fitness, and the more intimate and personalized experience you'd get from a local gym in Sarasota [or locally to wherever you might live] like us over here at SRQ Health & Fitness Studio.
In this article you'll learn why local gyms take the cake when compared to big box franchise gyms. Let's take a look at why:
Sweat Locally
[for us, locally means Sarasota, FL]
Aside from the more intimate and personalized attention you would get from a local gym versus a big box gym, make sure that you find a local gym that is within close proximity to you. Most people, despite their best intentions, won't drive over 15 minutes on a regular basis just to workout. Using a tool like Google Maps can help you to plot all the local gyms in Sarasota.
Visit your Top Local Gyms during Prime Workout Time
Saturday afternoon might seem like the best time to check out a local gym, but is it actually when you are likely to hit the gym on a regular basis? It's recommended to visit your local gym at a time when you're most likely to workout, then you'll have a feel for how crowded it might be, if the equipment you would use have people lined up to use them, and what the overall vibe is like. That being said, local gyms with one-to-one personal training will have an entirely different vibe all together, so check that your preferred time slot would be available to you.
Check that your Local Gym has New, Clean Machines
Gyms are germ factories, even the most gorgeous local gyms, and keeping things clean takes more than just the nightly cleaning crew swabbing down the flooring. A professional cleaning crew should absolutely come and scrub things down, daily, but employees and guests should also be wiping down machines after use and throughout the day down. While you're visiting your preferred local gym in Sarasota, [or local gym near you] watch to find out whether there is a strict policy of wiping down everything following usage (particularly with weights).
Double-check the Local Gym's Contract
In 2008, the Better Business Bureau reported that gym complaints had inflated to 90% within the last five decades, with contracts being the number one source of customer complaints. A majority of these complaints were not aimed at local gyms but at franchise gyms instead. Get all terms and expectations in writing, and if you sign up for a contract that automatically charges your card each month, make sure that you look at your invoice. Make sure that you read the fine print and inquire about what happens to your contact if the local gym goes out of business or if you want to cancel.
Check Out the Local Gym Culture
Some gyms don't allow grunting from the weight space, or they've removed gear for being "too intimidating," some of which may not be a good fit for you. Ideally, if you choose a boutique local gym that focuses on personal training programs, you have a support group and a community of like-mind people to encourage and motivate you throughout your journey.
Look Beyond the Deals - You Get What You Pay For
Unfortunately, so locally owned bargain gyms often only keep members long after they stop going because the amount is so low and they don't take some time to cancel their memberships. Clients might think, well hey, it is only this much money, I'm sure I'll get back in there soon. At the end of the day, paying for a membership you never use just means you're cheating yourself. Why not choose a local gym like ours in Sarasota with one-to-one personal training and highly experienced personal trainers that are committed to you helping you actually achieve your goals? Again, you get what you pay for. Go with a local gym, you won't regret it.