With fresh resolve to exercise to better health in 2007, more than 1 million Americans will join health clubs this month.
And Coloradans will be well-represented among those pumping and jumping their way into the new year, according to the Boston, Mass.-based International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. Denver and Colorado have the highest rates of health-club membership among all cities and states surveyed by IHRSA, with 22 percent of Coloradans belonging to clubs and 25 percent of Denver’s residents holding memberships.
There’s a dizzying array of gyms, health clubs and exercise studios vying for our business. In fact, IHRSA reports that in 2006 Colorado had 521 health clubs, an increase of 148 percent from just 210 clubs in 1996.
So, how do you choose? Follow these five tips:
1. If your health goals point to joining a club, start analyzing the choices. And be picky.
“Clubs are becoming more customer-focused, offering programs targeted to seniors, children, families and those grappling with illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer,” says Rosemary Lavery, a spokeswoman for IHRSA.
Start by asking friends and co-workers about their likes and dislikes at their gyms, and then visit at least three (many offer free trials).
Go at the time of day you expect to exercise and then soak it all in. How’s the atmosphere? Loud and wild or quiet and mild? Is it crowded? Is the equipment you like available, or are there lines? Are the locker rooms and equipment clean and well-maintained? Are there aerobic, yoga or Pilates classes held at this time? Are dietitians, massage therapists or trainers available? Are other amenities such as the pool, sauna, hot tub, running track, racquetball or tennis courts available? Is there child care? And if you have children who’ll be going with you, what kinds of activities and equipment are available for them?
And ask a staff member:
Does the club limit new membership to prevent overcrowding?
How long has the club been in business?
Are instructors certified?
Can I get guest passes to try it for a week?
Dr. Manoj Pawar, chief medical officer at the Exempla Physician Network in Denver, recommends looking for cardio opportunities. “Aerobics, kickboxing and spinning are all good,” he says. “Strength-training machines are also a good value, since high-quality equipment can be expensive. Think about doing the things at the gym that you might not be able to do at home.”
As you tour clubs, consider your goals and expectations from membership: Will the membership be just for you or the whole family? What amenities will you use and how often?
Then match your goals with the club that fills them best.
2. Keep your wallet fat (you stay thin!). Insiders say clubs are now more willing to negotiate price and offer month-to-month memberships versus long-term contracts. (A short-term membership can save headaches in case your motivation wanes or the club closes.)
Lavery said clubs today are indeed more amenable to month-to-month contracts and that 76 percent of IHRSA’s member clubs now offer such contracts.
Still, investigate extra costs. For example, some clubs charge for towels, toiletries, classes, massage, tennis, swimming, racquetball and exercise classes.
And if a club has multiple locations around the city or the country, find out if your membership allows you to use them for free.
Also, find out if it offers:
Association or age discounts?
Discounts to certain employers?
Discounts for paying for six months or a year in advance?
Less expensive membership levels?
And find out the total cost – initiation, monthly fees and if finance charges apply. Also ask how often rates increase and how members are notified before increases.
3. Watch your rights. Anytime a contract is involved, legal trouble can brew.
Susan Liehe, vice president of public affairs for Denver/
Boulder Better Business Bureau, says you should never feel pressured to sign a contract right away.
Some even recommend you take the contract home and look it over before you sign.
“Take your time and ask questions if something is unclear,” Liehe says. “And never assume that you will be able to cancel it.”
But Liehe adds that Colorado law allows health club contracts to be canceled within three days after the consumer is given a copy of the contract.
Some questions to ask about contracts:
What are your cancellation and refund rights if you move, become disabled or the club closes?
What are the start and end dates of the contract?
Is there a cancellation fee?
What is the cancellation notification period?
Liehe also recommends asking club management how billing is handled. “We’ve seen trouble when clubs use a third-party to bill club members, so if there is one, consumers should check out that company,” she says.
The Better Business Bureau and the state attorney general’s office can provide information on complaints leveled against companies.
Experts say to never sign up with a club that hasn’t yet opened despite any special discounts. And beware if the club asks for your credit card number or deposit check before you’ve read the contract.
4. Get your money’s worth. Joining a club is easy. Actually going can be tough. Ever notice the list of exercise equipment and club memberships in the classified ads? There’s a reason. Exercise is hard. Decide specifically how you will stay motivated and use your new club membership.
Some say simply joining can be motivation enough. Lavery says 67 percent of adult club members say they joined because of the motivation and support a health club gives.
But Pawar says, by itself, a gym doesn’t provide much motivation.
“The motivation, to be sustainable, must ultimately come from the individual,” he says. “Many people think that by purchasing a membership, they’ll be more likely to go, and perhaps this is true for some folks, but I don’t see it.”
Consider getting an exercise partner (you might land a discount if you both join).
Pawar says you can get motivation by being around others who work out, especially if you know them.
“Peers can be a good motivator,” he says. “But the initial motivation still has to come from the individual. A good trainer, on the other hand, can motivate others – finding a trainer skilled in motivating others is important. Some are better than others.”
5. Keep in mind that you may not need to join a gym at all, Pawar says. “It may make a person feel good, but there are so many people out there who’ve bought memberships but who don’t go,” Pawar says.
To get fit without a gym, concentrate on cardio. “This is where most Americans fall short. Walking or jogging is all it takes. In Denver, biking is wonderful with the miles of trails,” he says.
Start slowly and work up to 30 to 60 minutes a day, five or more times a week. If you have trouble, break it into manageable blocks of time and work up gradually.
To build strength, Pawar suggests crunches or push-ups. “Equipment works well for some, but it’s not necessary, and classes can be motivating by virtue of peer pressure through exercising publicly, but this depends on the class and the instructor.”
So forget that everyone else is sweating to Pilates or lifting weights on fancy looking machines. Your answer to health may be right in your own home.
