How to Choose a Gym or Fitness Centre That You Will Actually Use
By the TownTrove team
The best gym is the one you keep going to. Big discounts on annual memberships tempt many people in January, and by March the card is lying in a drawer. Choose based on your routine, not on the offer.
Location and timings come first
A gym within ten or fifteen minutes of your home or office is far easier to stick with. Check opening hours on weekdays and Sundays, and whether there are separate timings or sections for women if that matters to you.
Visit at your usual workout time
A gym that looks empty at 11 am may be packed at 7 pm with long waits for every machine. Visit at the hour you plan to train and see how crowded it is.
Take a trial session
- Are the trainers certified, and do they correct form or just count reps?
- Is the equipment working and well maintained?
- Are the floors, mats, washrooms and changing rooms clean?
- Is drinking water available, and is there enough ventilation?
Understand the membership
Ask whether the membership can be paused during travel or illness, and whether it can be transferred. Clarify what is included: group classes, personal training, steam or locker charges. If you are new to exercise, a monthly or quarterly plan is safer than a full year until you know you will keep going.
Be careful with supplements
You do not need supplements to start. If a trainer pushes products, ask a doctor or a qualified nutritionist first, and check that anything you buy is from a trusted brand with an FSSAI licence number on the pack.