 Now is a great time to join a gym
A lot of people have already decided that their New Year’s resolution will be to start an exercise program. I have a secret to share with you. Right now is one of the best times to join and work out in a gym. It’s my favorite time of the year to go to the gym because hardly anyone else is there. It’s wonderfully empty. My regular gym buddies and I relish this time of the year because we know what is coming in January!
So, if you already belong to a gym and have been away for awhile, this is a really good time to start getting back into the routine. You'll find lots of available machines and weights, which means that you can get your workout done more quickly, something that’s very important this time of year.
If you don’t already belong to a gym, this is a great time to join. The sales people are “hungry” – which means they may be a little more aggressive - but you can turn that to your advantage. Shop around. Take stock of what gyms are close to your home or work and drop in. Ask for a free one- or two-week pass. Do this at several gyms and you'll be able to spend three to six weeks evaluating them at no cost.
Also, if you decide on one you’d like to join, you are in a good position to work out a deal. Right now, since they don’t have crowds lining up, you can often negotiate a waiver of joining fees or perhaps a free first month of membership.
Personal trainers are in a slow time now as well. Even their most regular clients will often cancel at the last minute due to hectic schedules. This means that they will have more “floor time.” This is the time they spend walking the floor to be available for members’ questions in hopes of picking up new clients. Take advantage of this. They love talking about fitness and as long as they don’t have a client, you have an opportunity to pick their brains about anything from the best foods to eat pre- and post-workout to how to work a machine you've wanted to try. That’s an especially great deal if you are working out there on a free pass to begin with!
Group fitness classes can be a lot of fun when they are small and un-crowded. You get more personal attention from the instructor. Often the instructors will try out new routines because they have a small crowd to experiment with. Some instructors even have fun holiday music that they like to work out with at this time of year.
You don’t have to make a large time commitment right now. Try to get to the gym twice a week or so. If you can do that much you'll have started up a nice routine and will be able to really hit the ground running right after the New Year.
Until next time, stay healthy and be happy. |
