How to choose a gym? The 10 questions to ask
The sun, the approach of the beach, the light clothing, the desire to seduce ... It's spring, we all want to be beautiful, fit for the summer. To carve a dream body and compete with the plastic of Jennifer Aniston on the beach, the regular practice of a sports activity in a club of sport is probably the simplest and most effective method. But before you sign up to sometimes pay up to 1,500? in an indoor subscription, GirlsFromMainStreet.com guides you to make the right choice.
1. Lhome is it up to?
When you walk in the door, what kind of welcome do you have? Is the hostess available, does a teacher from the club show you around the room or do you feel a little helpless? If no one explains the different courses or worse that the hostess only thinks to see sign (and pay) the subscription contract, better go see elsewhere! Take the time to visit, ask all the questions that bother you.
2. Are the facilities in good condition?
When visiting the facilities, do not hesitate to ask when are the cardio machines, if a teacher is present to supervise or if on the contrary you find yourself alone. Be careful with weight machines! Without training or precaution, you risk to hurt yourself ... In the absence of a coach, think of practicing your exercises of muscu in duet.
3. Lis hygiene impeccable?
After looking closely at the machines and the classroom, a quick walk through the locker room. Collective showers or individual cabins, size lockers ... get an idea about the equipment in the room. Among the services (sometimes paying) offered by the club: towels provided, laundry, an annual locker to store your sneakers. All this is paid but has a certain advantage. If there is a pool, a steam room, a sauna, also check their hygiene.
4. How are the classes going?
Ask for the group lesson schedule and have a look at the conditions. Ideally, there should not be more than 10 people per class. Beyond, it's like being in a hypermarket at rush hour! Also, see if the classes match your schedules. If the courses you are interested in only take place between 4pm and 6pm and you know you will not be able to participate, bad point! More and more courses offer fashionable classes: yoga, Pilates, Swissball, Gymstick ... check also whether these courses are included in the basic subscription or not.
Attention: in some gyms low-cost courses are optional so pay! Remember to check the price list!
5. The teachers
They are called teachers or coaches, they are for many in the quality of a sports Hall. The law requires that teachers' diplomas be posted, so take a quick look to see if everything is in order. "For a sports Hall, teachers (and more broadly staff) represent a heavy burden for a sports Hall. Some clubs are saving money on this, "explained Patrick Rizzo, Associate General Manager of the L'Usine club, an upscale club that has two banners in Paris.
Some clubs offer a VIP personalized coaching service (60 € per hour at the Factory according to the formula), an ideal luxury service for motivation and personalized follow-up. It's expensive but can be interesting to prepare for skiing for example!
6. The number of members
To be profitable a club must multiply the subscriptions, sometimes until the engorgement! In the conversation, ask what is the number of registrants, and if there is maximum number of members that guarantees a certain tranquility.
7. The sports report
If everything seems ok, serious things start! The hostess should normally ask you for a medical certificate and ask you questions for a checkup. In addition, during the first session, more and more clubs offer a "check-up" session with a coach who can take stock of your state of form. Thus at L'Usine, you start by making a complete assessment: cardio-vascular capacity, strength, BMI ... Same principle in clubs such as Jean de Beauvais in the 5th district of Paris, the different Club Med gym or the Klay in the district of Montorgueil.
8. Negotiable rates or not?
In the big chains of type Club Med, the tariffs are negotiable. Yes, these clubs are looking to get a maximum of subscriptions.And if you are lucky, your works council may have special rates. Also know that most clubs sport offer payment facilities (up to 10 times without fees at Jean de Beauvais)
9. The hard knocks
Check in your contract the possibility of postponing / canceling your subscription in case of health concerns, moving ... Sometimes these insurance are paid.
10. Is monitoring regular
Once your assessment and your objectives form defined, what is the follow-up proposed by the club? Regular appointments? Intermediate balances? Coaching is what makes the difference between serious clubs and others!
