What to look for in a Gym

1. The Equipment

Modern Gyms are equipped with an amazing array of cardio and strength training machines and everything you could think of in-between. You can achieve fantastic results with the most basic free weights training program yet sadly some Gyms choose the more high tech looking pin loaded machines over free weights. The main difference between free weights and machines is that the free weights allow your body to move through its own natural range of motion and they are affected by the laws of gravity and leverage, whereas with machines you are forced to perform a movement through a sometimes unnatural range of motion. Why then the move into pin loaded machines? This could be attributed to a number of factors such as:

Some people believe that free weights offer a safer method of training and think that free weights carry a higher risk of injury – The truth? If you are taught safe and effective form and technique there is no greater risk of injury. In fact I believe that machines carry a higher risk of injury due to the fact that you are sitting in most of them ( higher loads on the spine ) and the fact you are forced to use the machines range of movement rather then your body’s natural one.

A lot of people think that high tech, flashy new machines will give them better results faster – Gyms are therefore forced to upgrade to the newest range of machines in order to get clients to sign up – The truth? Simple basic machines are best with a big free weights area. Machines do have their place they are great for targeting and isolating muscles and also for injury rehabilitation but emphasis should be placed on big compound free weight movements like the deadlift, squat and military press for functional performance.

A great piece of equipment that is not seen in many Gyms these days is the lifting platform. These simple but fantastic platforms were where you could perform power or Olympic lifting movements. They provided cushioning for the weight plates and the floor, people never walked across or in front of someone on the platform and best of all they allowed you to perform exercises as nature intended – upright!

This is not to say that pin loaded and plate loaded machines don't have a place in the gym - You can expect some of the following benefits from pin loaded exercise machines:

The are great to help you work on strength in some areas that you cant replicate with free weights
You can sometimes overload a muscle better on machines due to the constant force of resistance throughout the range of movement where as with free weights the level of resistance varies with the position you are in during your range of motion.
They are quick and efficient to use and can help speed up your workout
There are no messy or unsafe free weight plates left laying around on the floor
There are no heavy weight plates to load or unload from the machines

So while we would not recommend that anyone uses only machines for their workouts, they do have a place as long as you can base your workouts around a foundation of free weight exercises.

( here we have a nice clean layout - notice the heavy duty squat cages and the lifting platforms - although not as 'flashy' and modern looking as many other new bits of equipment you see in health clubs these days, you will get better results with these then any other machines - these should be the backbone of any decent gym )

2. Internal Space

There is nothing worse then trying to thread your way around machines or people exercising because there are too many bits of equipment jammed into too smaller space. You should be able to comfortably walk to each bit of equipment you want to use without having to constantly work your way around people or machines. A well laid out floor plan makes a huge difference to the level of satisfaction of clients. Also some gyms can have the opposite effect and look a bit sparse and empty if the space is too big and there is not much equipment in there.

3. Flooring

A lot of gyms are sporting carpet and polished wooden floors! While carpet is not so bad wooden floors are not for a gym, heaven help you if you drop a weight on it. The one drawback to carpet is that its hard to keep clean, and tends to smell after hundreds of people have sweated into it. A good quality high density rubber floor will cushion noise, not be damaged if weights are dropped on it, will not soak up sweat and is easy to vaccume or mop clean.

4. Atmosphere

This is an important one to me. If I walk into a gym and it doesn’t make me feel like I'm there to work hard, then the workout is usually found to be lacking. You must walk into a gym and be motivated by what you encounter there – are there motivational pictures on the wall? Is there music playing that you like to train too? If there are TV's is it the daytime soap or a good bodybuilding video playing? What are the other people that are in there like? Are they standing around talking or just looking in the mirror more worried about what they are wearing or are they putting in some gut busting effort that makes you say I'm gonna top that! The atmosphere of the gym can be one of the most influential factors on how hard you train. Make sure it’s a place where you know you will train hard.

5. General interior

Is the cardio lined up in front of a large window to look good to the public outside but leaves you cooking in the afternoon sun? Is there ample lockers and shower facilities and are they clean and tidy? Is the paint clean or is it covered with a layer of grime? Overall the gym needs to look clean and tidy, the staff presentable and friendly and have ample lighting and either fans or some sort of air flow through it. I’ve never been a big fan of air conditioning in a training facility, your there to work hard and sweat but a bit of air circulation from fans or open windows goes a long way in summer.

6. Parking

There is nothing worse then having to park far from the gym on a day of pouring rain. Although often overlooked, parking and accessibility to the facility is of prime importance. If there is not ample parking facilities for the number of members at the gym you may find that you never get a parking spot anywhere near the facility during the peak trading times.

7. Big Gym chains vs small gyms

Do you like a family type atmosphere and fantastic personalized service - or are you happy to be left to your own devices and like the feel of a large gym with a buzzing atmosphere? For some people who are new to the iron game or are not all that sure of what to do a smaller owner/operator type set up may be the go as usually they are able to provide a more personalized service on a day to day basis. If however you like to have a larger range of equipment, want to do some additional type classes such as spin bike, pump, yoga or any of the other variety of classes offered and are secure in your training knowledge then you may opt for the larger gym chain.