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How to Select a Health Club
 A health club can be invaluable in helping you
maintain a regular
aerobic
and
strength training program. But a health club
membership can also turn
into
an
expensive proposition if you aren't careful about
choosing a club that
meets
your specific needs.
Here are some points to keep in mind, when you're
shopping for a place
to
work out:
- Is it accessible? Since you need to fit your
workouts into your
schedule,
the health club or gym should be close to your home or
workplace. If
your
workout base is convenient, you're less likely to skip
sessions.
- Does it offer the services you need? Many health
clubs have a
variety of
aerobic machines, weightlifting machines and aerobics
classes. But you
need
to be sure that the machines and classes you prefer
are available at
the
times you'll be using them. A trial membership of 2 or
3 months is
usually a
good idea. Hint: Check the club at various hours, to
see when it's most
crowded.
- Is the staff helpful? If you're a beginning
exerciser, you must get
some
coaching in the techniques of strength training. A
well-trained staff
will
also provide guidance in using aerobic devices, and
give helpful,
supportive
leadership during aerobics classes. As you scout out
clubs, look for
those
where the staff readily offers advice--you shouldn't
have to ask for
it.
Also, be sure that all instructors are certified by
one of the major
fitness
organizations (The American College of Sports
Medicine, The American
Council
of Exercise, or the Aerobics and Fitness Association
of America).
- Is the pool appropriate for lap swimming? Many
health club pools are
too
small or crowded for extended lap swimming. If you
plan to do aerobic
swimming, look for a pool that's at least 20 yards
long, is supervised
by a
lifeguard and offer organized lap swimming sessions at
times that are
convenient for you.
- What extras does the club offer? Many clubs offer
other services
that can
enhance your exercise experience. Options to look for
include: yoga
classes,
massage therapy, steam rooms, physical therapy and
nutrition
counseling.
- Is it affordable? Remember, you're in this for the
long haul. A
long-term
relationship with a good, affordable health club is
better than a few
months
with a fancy club that busts your budget.
Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health
Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'.
She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.
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