Signing up for a gym membership is one of the smartest things to do if you have fitness goals to achieve. Along with following a nutritious and balanced diet, working out at the gym is a great way to get your body to a point you can be proud of. Plenty of people can agree that a solid combination of healthy dieting and exercise makes all the difference in the world when it comes to your health and wellness.
Before signing up for a gym membership, you must ask all the right questions. You don’t want to be stuck in a gym membership that doesn’t suit all of your needs. Some salespeople who work at gyms will go out of their way to convince you that their gym location is the best possible place to invest your money.
They’ll describe their gym as better and more exciting than it is to get you locked in. Asking them the right questions will help you avoid making the mistake of signing up for the wrong membership. On the topic of exercise, here’s a ranking of all 50 states based on where people exercise the most.
To compile this list of questions to ask before buying a gym membership, 247 Tempo consulted several fitness sources. These include Gym Insight, Momentum Fitness, The Fit Map, Self Magazine, and Wellness Living.
How much is the monthly fee, and is there a startup fee to pay?
The most important question to ask before signing up for a gym membership is about the monthly fee. If the monthly fee if your chosen gym is affordable, then you know you’re in the right place. Some gyms offer options that allow you to pay for a full year upfront.
Others have options where you can pay for bundles of three months, six months, or eight month to save money. Often times, these bundles are cheaper than paying for gym memberships on a monthly basis. It’s necessary to find out if there’s a startup fee to pay as well. Occasionally, gyms will ask you to pay one-time startup fees as part of your commitment.
What are the operating hours?
Asian women are resting after a workout gym
Knowing the operating hours of your chosen gym is a must. Some gyms operate 24 hours a day, which means you have free rein. Gyms that run 24 hours a day give you the chance to squeeze in a workout in the middle of the night if you have insomnia, during the early hours of the morning if you work a 9-to-5 job, or during the late hours of the evening if you aren’t worried about your social life.
Other gyms have more restrictive operating hours that won’t perfectly align with your current schedule. For example: Signing up for a gym that locks up at 5:30 pm every night when you get off work at 5 pm is undoubtedly going to be a problem. Joining a gym that starts functioning at 10 am when you need early morning access simply won’t work.
Are there showers on the property?
If you’re the type of person who likes to shower quickly after a workout instead of driving home in sweaty clothes, it’s important to find out if there are showers on the property at your chosen gym. Most gyms offer showers with privacy stalls where you can rinse off and change into fresh pairs of clothes before going on about your day.
At nicer gyms, complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and body wash is offered in the general shower area. Communal shower options are occasionally incorporated at gyms, but they don’t offer the same level of privacy you might be hoping for. Finding out about the style of showers offered should also make a difference in your choice.
Are there lockers on the property?
If you’re headed straight to the gym after work, school, or some other obligation, there’s a chance you have valuable items with you that shouldn’t be left in your car. For that reason, it’s crucial to find out about lockers on the property at your chosen gym. If there are lockers available, you’ll know you can safely lock up your valuable items.
These include your wallet, car keys, jewelry, and small electronics. Gyms that offer lockers don’t typically give physical locks to use with them, which means you’ll have to provide your own lock whenever you workout. Keeping your essentials safely stored in a locker will give you more peace of mind while you’re exercising.
Is there a healthy café or food source on the property?
woman transfuse smoothie to glass. healthy food concept
Working out on a completely empty stomach can be dangerous. There’s a chance you’ll get dizzy and pass out from a lack of nutrition. It’s in your best interest to find out if there’s a healthy café or food source on the property at your chosen gym. Gyms that offer healthy café options usually have menu items that are full of nutritional value.
There’s a chance you’ll be able to order fruit smoothies, protein bars, açaí bowls, salad wraps, and anything else you might be craving. Finishing a tough workout and ordering some delicious food right away after is another added benefit that comes along with choosing a gym with a healthy café or food source attached to it.
Is there a daycare on the property for children?
A group of multi-ethnic babies are indoors at a daycare. They are wearing casual clothing. They are sitting on the floor and playing with toy blocks.
Parents who want to exercise without stressing about their kids should prioritize gym locations that offer daycare options on property. Asking questions about daycare centers on property is essential for parents who want to keep their little ones safe while achieving their fitness goals.
Daycares on property at gyms typically encourage parents to stick to a two-hour window when dropping off their youngsters. Nicer daycares at gyms will offer loads of fun activities and toys including arts and crafts, animated movies and TV shows, coloring books, Barbie dolls, and Legos.
How much does this gym charge for bottled water, simple headphones, and other forgotten essentials?
Rushing to the gym can lead to forgotten essentials. Being in a rush means you might leave behind your water bottle or headphones. You should know you won’t be breaking the bank when buying these last-minute items at your chosen gym. Some greedy gyms will capitalize off of forgetful clientele by charging $6 or $7 for bottled water and $20 to $25 for simple pairs of headphones.
Gyms that want to keep their clientele happy tend to offer these items at reasonable prices. Bottled water should never be more than $2 or $3. Simple headphones should never be more than 10 or $15. Find out how much your chosen gym charges for basic forgotten essentials before making your final decision.
Does this gym offer yoga classes?
Yoga as a form of exercise comes with a slew of positive and helpful benefits. Practicing yoga on a regular basis is known to increase your energy, improve your mood, relieve stress, boost your cardiovascular health, enhance your flexibility, and provide pain relief in areas of inflammation.
There’s a reason yoga has been around since 1700 A.D. Since yoga is such an incredible form of exercise to lean into, asking your chosen gym if they offer regular yoga classes is a great idea. Yoga classes taught by experienced instructors can be completely life-changing.
Does this gym offer Zumba classes?
Finding out about Zumba classes at your chosen gym is another great question to ask. Zumba works well for people who want to dance it out for an hour as their method of exercise. One of the most exciting things about Zumba class is that it zips by so quickly. You’re never left feeling like you just spent an hour of your life exercising because it goes by so fast.
Zumba classes are full of fun and exciting dance moves that get your heart racing and your blood flowing. Zumba instructors must be properly certified to legally teach the eccentric dance moves in gym settings. Find out if your chosen gym has certified Zumba instructors with Zumba classes you can attend.
Does this gym offer body boot camp classes?
Body boot camp classes, also known as HIIT workout classes, can be a game-changer on your fitness journey. The reason why? They usually focus on one or two body parts per session that need a little more special attention from you. For example, if you’re trying to flatten out your stomach, there are body boot camp classes specifically designed to help you achieve your abdomen goals.
If you’re working on toning your arms, slimming your legs, or strengthening your back, there are also body boot camps to help with those areas too. Ask questions about whether or not your chosen gym offers body boot camp classes to attend if the intensity they offer is something that entices you.
Does this gym offer virtual group classes?
Sometimes, it’s easier to get a workout in when you’re hanging out in the comfort of your own home. Find out if your chosen gym offers virtual group classes you can join on your TV or laptop screen. Taking virtual classes from your gym means you’ll save money on gas and skip out on finding a parking spot.
If you can join along with a virtual group class from home, the lack of a commute might serve as another motivating factor. This option is great for people who don’t have consistent modes of transportation. It’s also great for people who think they might be coming down with a sickness and don’t want to expose anyone else to germs.
Are there certified personal trainers to work with?
Some gyms have tons of personal trainers on staff for clientele to work with. If that’s the case, you know you’ll be better off communicating with professional individuals who speak the language of health and wellness. It’s possible that some employees at your chosen gym are not personal trainers, by the way.
These people might include folks who work at the receptionist desk or daycare center. Anyone working on the actual gym floor should be certified as a personal trainer, though. Ask questions about the certifications required for each gym employee to get hired. This way, you’ll have confidence about the people you’re getting advice and insight from.
What are this gym’s busiest hours?
You’ll definitely want to find out what the busiest hours of your chosen gym are. This is important because it’s never pleasant to visit a gym when it’s full of people taking up space on every single machine. If you’re interested in using an elliptical for 30 minutes to warm up before the rest of your workout, you should have access to at least a couple of ellipticals on property.
Showing up to a gym that’s overcrowded means you won’t have access to any of the machines you are hoping to use in your timeframe. If your hours of availability to hit the gym are between 6 am and 8:30 am, it’s important to know that the gym won’t be stressful to navigate during those hours.
Can I experience a trial period before signing up?
Any gym that’s knowingly offering a quality membership should be willing to offer a trial period before locking someone into a contract. Allowing clientele to test the waters by seeing how much they like a gym location is totally reasonable. A trial period should take place before forcing a new client into a contract.
Doing it this way creates a sense of trust that goes both ways. Ask about a trial period before signing any contracts to see if you actually enjoy exercising at your chosen gym. If you love the vibe during the trial period, there’s a higher chance you’ll consistently show up and stick to your fitness goals as time progresses.
How often is the equipment inside the gym updated?
If the equipment inside your chosen gym is old and broken down, you shouldn’t be interested in signing up for a membership there in the first place. It’s necessary to ask how often the equipment inside any gym is updated so you know you’re working out on pieces of equipment that won’t possibly harm you.
If a piece of equipment is way too old, it could be ready to break at any moment. Gym equipment made with heavy metal pieces can be especially frightening. Gym owners who genuinely care about their clientele will keep their equipment in good shape with consistent updates as a safety measure that benefits all parties involved.
Is there a lap swimming pool? If so, is it heated and is there a lifeguard?
Girl at sunny poolside
Girl at sunny poolside
Another fabulous form of exercise is swimming laps. Water jogging and water aerobics are also helpful when it comes to achieving fitness goals. That’s because the natural resistance of water can be such a powerful game-changer. If you already know about the benefits that come along with exercising in a pool, it’s in your best interest to find out if there’s a pool available on the property.
Another follow-up question would be to find out if the pool is heated. It’s more comfortable to exercise in a pool that’s set to a comfortable temperature. Jumping into an ice-cold pool is the worst! For safety reasons, you might also want to find out if the pool is consistently staffed with a lifeguard.
What are the cleaning protocols at this gym?
The idea of working out using dirty gym equipment is enough to make anyone feel nauseous and grossed out. Ask questions about the cleaning protocols at your chosen gym to find out how they go about keeping their equipment as hygienic as possible. Proper cleaning protocols should include wiping down all gym equipment at the start or end of every day.
Gym employees should routinely wipe down gym equipment throughout the day as a method of consistent sanitation. Spray bottles with paper towels should be located in different places throughout the gym for clientele to use their own disposal as well. Spills and messes should be handled right away as well.
Can I temporarily freeze my membership without fees?
There’s a chance you’ll want to temporarily freeze your gym membership at some point in the future. Facing an injury, getting busy with a long-term assignment at work, or planning an extended trip out of town are just a small handful of reasons why you might need to freeze your gym membership temporarily.
Having the option to temporarily freeze your membership should be a requirement. If you aren’t allowed to temporarily freeze your membership, there’s a chance the gym owners will force you to pay another startup fee when you’re ready to start working out again. Gyms that genuinely care about their clientele will offer membership freeze options based on your individual needs.
What is the guest policy? Can I bring a friend to exercise with me?
A multi-ethnic group of adult men and women are indoors in a fitness studio. They are wearing casual clothing while at a yoga class. A senior Caucasian woman is smiling while stretching out her arms.
Plenty of people can agree that working out is easier when you have an accountability partner along for the ride. Inviting a friend, family member, or romantic partner to join you at the gym is a great way to stay motivated as you reach your fitness goals. Ask questions about the guest policy at your chosen gym. Find out if you can bring a friend to exercise with you for free.
There’s a chance you’ll be able to bring someone to work out with you at a discounted rate, even if it isn’t 100% free. When asking questions about the guest policy at your chosen gym, you might also uncover group memberships that are cheaper to sign up for than solo memberships.
Do I have to pay a fee to cancel my membership?
At some gyms, it’s completely free to cancel your membership when you’re ready to move on. At other gyms, you will be hit with a massive fee when letting them know you’re ready to cancel. Find out if your chosen gym has a cancellation fee in the first place, and if they do, make sure they clarify exactly how much it will cost. Often times, cancellation fees are never mentioned when people are initially signing up for brand-new gym memberships.
Cancellation fees can be exorbitantly high, which will often scare off new clientele. High cancellation fees exist as a way of trying to keep people trapped in long-term gym memberships. Having clarity about what you can expect in this department will prevent you from dealing with any of that drama at the last minute. With so much focus on fitness, are you curious to know about the laziest cities across the USA? Click here for a ranking of America’s laziest cities to live.