How to choose your gym

Choosing the right sports centre, on which relying as to our fitness, is always an important step. We should never underestimate some aspects which, in the long run, might not only affect expected results, but even damage our psychophysical state of health.

Nowadays the range of available services is really wide and satisfactory for every sportsman, or person willing to be, thanks to the introduction of new sports and the updating of old ones. The two main aspects in the choice of the gym are the following: the technical staff and the structure.

Therefore it is better making sure that trainers are really qualified, and not trained, for instance, by flash training courses lasting a week-end or little more. There is plenty of such courses, but, unless having a previous wide and certified technical knowledge, they almost provide no qualification. So, trainers should add to their university studies the steady attendance to refresher courses, or courses for trainers, organised by various federations. Only such qualified people might assure firstly an adequate anatomic-functional knowledge, avoiding dangers for your health, and, then, the expected results. Therefore, you would rather make sure that such professional persons are there, at least to support other trainers.

Distrust gyms where training programs are very much alike. Even written absent-mindedly and lacking of an individual anthropometrical and functional analysis. Each one differs from another for many characteristics, therefore a “form” which fits everyone is unthinkable .

Before signing in, it is your right attending a test lesson (even paying).

Make sure that the technical staff really supports sports centre customers with professionalism. Ask some questions to trainers and consider the attention paid to you and how they clear up your doubts. Promises of easy and immediate results often hide poor qualification and professionalism of the staff.

Let’s deal with the second main aspect in the choice of a sports centre: the structure. The premises should be always well-aired and bright. The gym is a place where there is a great need for oxygen, together with a great consumption of it. Playing sport in places lacking of such characteristics, a part from being forbidden, is definitely not healthy.

Consider the hygiene of changing rooms, and of the whole structure. Consider even the equipment and its maintenance (pieces of equipment with rust or lacking protection parts, a part from being a negative visiting card, are greatly dangerous). Obviously, you should not expect thousands of pieces of equipment, but at least an adequate number considering the number of customers (waiting 15 minutes for the equipment is not a desirable situation).

Make sure that the centre imposes the use of personal towels in the use of the equipment, and of proper shoes to enter the premises. A centre which follows all these rules is certainly to prefer.

If your needs go beyond this, consider the presence (even in fixed days and at fixed hours ) of a doctor to assist and fulfil customers’ requirements, and the possibility to ask the presence of a personal trainer to give you assistance during the whole training (of course, their price is absolutely not cheap).

Last but not least, staff niceness and availability, their propensity towards the organisation of events and master-class involving customers might be to you an help and an incentive to be steady and motivated to attend the gym.

Traslated by Manuela Mercurio