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The gym and private health club market is big business in Britain; research conducted by Mintel in 2007 estimated that:
- 11 per cent of adults claim to use a private health and fitness club.
- 11 per cent also have lapsed gym membership cards in their wallet or handbag!
Gyms and health clubs which are looking to attract new customers (or win back old ones) can raise the bar by placing a free advertising listing with business directories such as Thomson Local.
But what can keep-fit enthusiasts do to ensure that they find the right gym for them? Here are five things people should consider when weighing up the merits of different gyms.
1. Cost
Big brand gyms such as David Lloyd often offer gym facilities such as swimming pools, Jacuzzis and saunas. However, you can work up quite a sweat trying to earn enough money to afford the joining fee of these larger keep-fit establishments. The joining fee is often as much as £100 as is the monthly membership fee.
Research by Klick Fitness found that the average UK gym goer cannot afford this and instead pays an average of £32 per month. Klick launched in the summer of 2011 and offers gym membership packages from just £12.99 per month. The chain lowers costs through a no-frills approach; "offering more of the core facilities that people use and less of the stuff they don't".
Other low-cost gyms such as Rival Fit4less and Pure Gym take a similar approach.
Now is a very good time to take advantage of cut-price gym deals. Many gyms run promotions at the start of a year; an exercise they typically don't repeat until the late summer.
2. Flexibility
Flexibility is something that many gym-goers strive to achieve through elaborate stretches on gym mats. The flexibility to go to a gym without being tied to a restrictive contract is also something that is valued by those looking to take up a fitness regime after years of slouching on the couch.
Health clubs often flex their muscle and employ debt collectors if a customer reneges on a 12-month contract and cancels their direct debit early.
Luckily, no-contract membership options are available from many low-cost gyms, so you can cancel at any time.
It is also worth paying a visit to hotels as these sometimes operate pay-as-you-go gym sessions which mean that guests and members of the public aren't subject to inductions, contracts or joining-on fees when using facilities.
However, the disadvantage of such policies is that new gym users might not receive vital instruction on how to use gym equipment safely and correctly.
3. Mixed gyms
Would you prefer your gym to be full of estrogen or full of testosterone? Many people don't mind about the gender make-up of their gym but many do – hence the popularity of all-female gym chains like Curves.
Are these gyms practising a form of gender apartheid by barring men from their premises?
A look at gym club message boards reveals that men shouldn't take it too seriously that the fairer sex prefers to keep fit without them. One online female-only gym member complained that she used to feel embarrassed when she has to take the weight pin up a notch "or ten" (to a lighter weight) after a male body builder has used equipment before her.
Another lady sang the praises of having the freedom to work out "in pyjamas and a face mask without anyone caring or looking my way".
Choosing a gym where you won't feel self-conscious is a key consideration for people – both male and female – who are not used to these somewhat-daunting mirrored environments.
4. Equipment
There are plenty of places around where you can queue up for free so why pay for the privilege at a gym?
If your gym doesn't have sufficient equipment then you could yourself spending a lot of time kicking your heels waiting for in-demand machines to become vacant. One way round this is to see if you can pre-book machines prior to a fitness session (some gyms offer this option).
A simpler solution is to join a gym which has enough equipment for everyone.
Choose a gym with a good variety of machines – you might not need that Swiss mountain cross-trainer at the moment but in a few weeks' time it could provide welcome variety to a stale routine.
Machines aren't the only resource at a gym – some offer personal trainers and larger gyms might have crèches so that kids can be looked after while parents look after their health.
5. Opening hours
Does your prospective new gym have opening hours which suit your needs?
Some gyms put up the ‘closed' sign on their doors just as night shift workers have the time to put in a shift at the gym. Some gyms experience inexplicably heavy traffic at obscure times during the day.
The opening hours of a gym can be found out easily enough but it is best to get some inside information from staff members about a gym's peak hours. It will save a lot of time queuing up for machines in the future.
Luckily, there are an increasing number of ‘gyms ‘which never sleep – places where you can use a swipe card to gain access at all times of night and day; the perfect locations for a New Year's Day work-out!
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