�Golden Rules to follow before joining a Gym

GYM - Why? What? Where ? When ?

GYM - There seems to be one at every corner of the major cities as well as the smaller towns in India. Fitness is more of a lifestyle than a necessity. There are varied options of fitness from the regular gyms which have been around for the longest time and as well the millennial choice like unconventional outdoor gyms, boot camps, group classes, obstacle training, Zumba classes, Pilates, yoga centers, kick boxing and the list goes on. The choices available are vast and exciting and always changing. But for someone who's just starting out to just workout it's a little confusing to make the right choices and commitment. Also the way different types of workouts react to an individual's body is different.

A few points to consider before you spend your hard earned money on a membership:

1)Why ? The starting point is what do you want from exercise or fitness. Assign a particular fitness goal for yourself, this makes it easier to go back everyday to the gym and work on the goal.

2) What ? Each person likes or is comfortable doing different kinds of physical activity. Some like lifting heavy weights, some like to run or walk on the treadmill, some like yoga or Zumba. Every center now has trial classes before you commit to them, so always go for a trial session and see what you're comfortable doing on a regular basis and finally commit to that.

3) Where ? The location of the gym is of utmost importance as well, with the current traffic and constraints that come along with our daily lives. You'll need a gym where you don't have to travel very far and that you know you wouldn't mind driving or riding to. If the gym is too far and cut into much time of your day, more than likely you aren't going to stick with it for too long or not as often as you would like. So always consider finding a place that is close to home or where you work.

4) When ? During the trial classes you take, choose the prime time of the gym to go see how the clientele is which helps in understanding the ambience of the gym and the motivation you get around. It's always said that morning workouts are the best, it's true it has its benefits but also if you aren't a morning person or have the kind of time you want to workout before starting your day you could always chose the later part of the day to workout. Always make sure your body is comfortable with the time you choose rather than putting it under stress.

5) Avoid Long Term Agreements The gyms have a lot of attractive offers running which makes you pay up for the entire year or so. This is generally not the best approach if you find yourself unhappy with the gym after a short period of time or if you are relocating to another place or your work timings have changed. So always have realistic timelines and commitment. Secondly, you can try different types of workout if you're not committed to one place for an entire year.

6) Equipment's & Staff While taking a tour of the gym, take a look at the equipment as well. How many of the machines do they have and how busy the machines seem to be and find out how often are they serviced and cleaned. It's always nice to have a good mix of machines which helps in Also you'll understand the crowd around and how they're using the equipment which gives you an idea about the atmosphere of the gym.

Sometimes you forget how important it is to have qualified staff to guide you during the workouts, especially if you're just starting out. So always find out the credentials the staff members have in the gym and how friendly are they. Also it matters, when you wish to take a personal trainer.

These are a few things to consider before you sign up for a membership. If you don't like something about the gym, check out other places and then weigh your options. The fitness industry is really taking of the past couple of years, and gyms are popping up almost everywhere.

Make sure you understand what you want before looking, and make a list of things you want to ask before you go visiting gyms. When you're there don't be afraid to ask questions. When it comes down to it, a gym membership is an investment -towards your health !