guest post by Carl Turner

There may be tons of great gyms out there, but that doesn’t mean they’re all a good fit for you. Depending on your goals, you could be looking for anything from a hot yoga studio to a Cross Fit gym. When you consider your preferences and fitness goals, it’s also important to pick a facility that meets your standards, uses gym cleaning supplies regularly, and makes you feel comfortable and welcome. While you’re looking for a new gym, here are five tips to keep in mind.

Prioritize Your Needs

Your ideal gym should help you meet your goals and fulfill your needs. If weight loss is your primary focus, then cardio equipment and open spaces for aerobics are probably more important to you than lots of dumbbells. However, If you want to build mass and muscle strength, a large selection of free weights and machines is a must.

Look for the Extras

A gym’s amenities should be a pretty big selling point, according to Money Crashers. Ask about free childcare and group classes led by certified experts. Additionally, gyms that offer specialized facilities for racquetball, boxing, or yoga are great when you want some exercise but don’t want to run for hours on the treadmill.

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Choose Clean Facilities

A vital part of a great gym experience is enjoying a facility that has high standards of cleanliness and hygiene. If you notice that the facility is dirty and machines haven’t been cleaned in what seems like weeks, you probably shouldn’t obtain a membership there. ABC News warns that gym equipment can retain bacteria, so if gym clients and employees aren’t doing their part to wipe the equipment down, you could be exposed to harmful bacteria or viruses spread through sweat and dead skin cells.

Value Your Comfort

The typical clientele of a gym can have an impact on whether or not you feel good when you work out there. If you’re new to the fitness world, then gyms filled with muscle-bound body builders may not be the right fit. If you’re looking for a gym where you can devote hours to intense training, you may need an uncrowded atmosphere where the clientele and employees keep socializing to a minimum.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the gym’s layout. If the areas you’ll use most are up against the front windows, you may not like having everyone on the street see you work out. Overall, you should seek out a facility that makes you feel comfortable and helps you stay focused.

Great Staff

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Since you’ll be interacting with the gym’s staff on a regular basis, you should find one with friendly professionals who want to help make your experience great. As you visit gyms, see how the staff members interact with people. Take note of the gym’s hygiene policies by noting if employees wipe down the equipment throughout the day, as The Huffington Post advises.

With so many gyms out there, finding a good one takes time. Keep these tips in mind to guide you to the place that feels right for you. The extra time and effort you put into picking the right gym will pay off when you feel great going there and you start to meet your fitness goals!

About Carl Turner:

Carl Turner is a nutritionist and personal trainer based in Minneapolis, MN. When he’s not helping clients reach their goals at the gym, he enjoys hiking, camping, and sharing fitness tips through his blog.