Before committing to a gym membership, you should evaluate the gym’s quality first. From evaluating the environment and fitness equipment to checking that the gym has friendly staff and classes you’d like to take, you can ensure you find a gym you enjoy and want to keep going back to.
The best way to determine if a gym is a good fit is to take advantage of its free trial period. You can get a feel of the facility before forking over any cash and decide if you’ll return for another workout. After you sign up for a gym free trial, here are the top five things you should consider before making a final decision.
1. Check Out the Equipment
When you work out regularly, you grow fond of certain machines. During your first walkthrough, make sure the machines you prefer are in the facility. There should be enough of them that you won’t find yourself waiting long when the gym is bustling with members.
After you find the usual suspects, don’t hesitate to test out new equipment that will help you add to your routine. You’ll also want to ensure the gym has all the equipment and machines you plan to use during your workouts.
2. See If Their Group Classes Appeal to You
Depending on your fitness objectives, you may want to sign up for a class or two, especially if you enjoy working out around other people. Group fitness classes will keep you on track as you find like-minded fitness enthusiasts who share your goals. A good gym will make the following classes available:
- Pilates
- Cycling
- Yoga
- Zumba
- Cardio
- Strength Training
- Les Mills Programs
- Senior Fitness
These are the typical courses you’ll find at the average gym, but you should also find out if the gym is offering anything outside of the box. You may find a new and exciting fitness challenge during the gym’s free trial.
Wondering if your local Gold's Gym has the classes you're looking for? Choose your nearest location here, and check out their class schedule.
3. Make Sure the Gym Is Clean
Proper sanitation in the gym is a must. A clean gym will protect your health and your peace of mind. During the trial period, scan the floor for sanitation stations. Do you see enough to handle the traffic? Do the gym employees encourage everyone to use them and wipe down the machines?
Let’s not stop there; what kind of shape are the bathroom and locker room in? Are garbage cans overflowing? Are sweaty clothes being left on benches? There should be a maintenance worker who routinely makes rounds to ensure these areas meet the standards of cleanliness required in a gym. If a gym is dirty and unsanitary during your free trial, you’ll want to steer clear of it.
4. Check If the Gym Has Certified Personal Trainers
Personal training is a great way to individualize your routine and focus on areas of your body you want to see grow or reduce. Take the time to meet the instructors and see which offers a training style that fits you. Also, don’t forget to ask which certifications they carry. They should be more than happy to share their fitness education and experiences with potential clients.
5. Review Their Member Perks
When you speak to the receptionist about the gym free trial, they’ll likely mention the exclusive perks given to members only. For instance, pool access is one of the more popular perks potential members look for. Once you hear about the perks, go and take a look at them yourself. For example, if a pool membership is offered as a perk, see if it’s as impressive as the description provided by the receptionist.
While you check the perks, you might also visit the juice bar and make sure it’s really a bar, not blenders, on a fold-out table draped with a cloth displaying the gym’s logo. Is the daycare an empty room where an adult checks in occasionally to make sure everyone’s okay? Or is it a well-staffed space where children can do their homework or watch TV while you work out?
Find out just what the membership covers, as there may be a tiered system that grants certain perks to specific membership levels. If the perks appeal to you and you’ve checked them all out, you might want to consider getting a membership at the gym.
Sign Up for a Free Gym Trial at Gold’s Gym SoCal
If you’re looking for a gym free trial near you in Southern California, you’ll want to give Gold’s Gym SoCal a try. At Gold’s Gym SoCal, our friendly staff members ensure our facilities are clean, members feel welcomed, and equipment is well maintained. Alongside our staff, our locations offer varying perks for members, and we have personal trainers and group classes you can use to take your performance to the next level.
Sign up for a 7-day gym free trial and visit one of our convenient Southern California locations to find out if Gold’s Gym SoCal is right for you. Graduate from purple to gold to meet your fitness goals.
