Professional Gym Choices: Optional, Bad or Good?
Author: KimArcher Total views: 34 Word Count: 595
Gyms offer a number of benefits, both practical and psychological. But there are a few caveats to consider before taking the plunge.
Gyms are convenient because they offer you a variety of equipment that you likely aren't going to be able to buy on your own. Of course, you have multi-station weight machines available to you, but most gyms also have rowing machines, stretching bars, and treadmills, among other types of exercise equipment.
Many have tennis and racquetball courts, occasionally even squash and Jai Lai courts. Jai Lai is that fast-paced Spanish-origin game played in a racquetball-like court with a curved racket, only much faster. In addition, some gyms offer swimming pools, saunas and even rock-climbing practice walls.
Unless you're a multi-millionaire you couldn't begin to duplicate the space or the gear available at a professional gym.
Then there's the expertise you'll find at a gym - both from the trainers and the other members. Gyms frequently have professional trainers on staff that can answer just about any question you have. They provide weight-training guidance, health tips and even dietary advice.
Gym members are sometimes more knowledgeable than the professionals. People dedicated to optimal fitness often take the time and effort to study the field. You'll find fitness fanatics, aerobics instructors and medical doctors among the clientele.
In addition to the assistance and equipment available at your gym, you'll find that you have the opportunity to socialize during activities that can otherwise be pretty boring. It's likely that you don't think a treadmill is an exciting opportunity to get an adrenaline rush, and watching TV as you walk can provide some distraction, but may also deaden your mind.
At a gym, you'll make social contacts, will be encouraged, and can get into a regular workout routine that you just can't duplicate at home.
However, gyms do have certain disadvantages.
Gym membership can be expensive. Most offer different payment plans - per visit, per month, per year or lifetime. Per visit is usually pricey, though it might be a good option if you're just visiting a city. Per month is often the best value, but prices can still be between $30 and $300 per month. Many will offer a trial membership, either free or at a reduced rate for the first month.
Of course, no price is a good deal if you don't go. And going to the gym can begin to seem like just one more duty among more pressing obligations. Many people in contemporary society lead extremely busy lives and finding time to go to the gym may well end up near the bottom of a long list.
A gym can be a dirty place. While some members are particular abut cleaning the things they have used, others don't bother, and this can be quite unpleasant. This is less likely in a gym staffed by attentive workers, so look for one like that.
It can also be unhealthy to go to a gym. When you mingle with a lot of people in a hot and humid atmosphere, colds and other types of airborne disease can spread quickly, such as the flu or other viruses. It's particularly easy to catch something in showers, since you usually have to touch controls, and someone else who has been ill may also touch them.
Only you can weigh the pros and cons and make a final decision as to whether or not you want a gym membership. It may be that if you're not lucky enough to find the right gym the first time out, you'll need to try a few on a trial basis before you join a gym long-term.
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About the Author
Kim Archer writes about women's wellness. She is publisher of The Internet Spa, where you'll find up-to-date information to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
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