6 things you should consider before signing up for a gym membership

Thinking about signing up at a gym?

Congratulations, that's a great step in the right direction! About one in ten Swiss residents is already signed up at one.

But there are many things to consider before you decide on one. Some of the questions that come up are the following:

• Which gym should I choose?

• What should I watch out for before signing a membership contract?

• How can I save money?

• How do I train at a gym?

• How do I overcome fears in the gym?

• Is there an alternative to a gym membership?

These are all important questions that need answering before you decide. So let's answer them together.

1. How do I find the right gym?

Here you need to get clear on the following factors:

#1 What are you looking for?

Choosing a gym isn't as simple as going to the nearest one and signing up. There are many factors to consider, for example what equipment is available, what classes are offered, and also the distance from your home to the gym.

There are also different types of gyms, from big chains like McFit to small, specialized studios.

Usually, price and location are the deciding factors that speak in favor of a membership at a franchise gym.

Smaller studios, on the other hand, often have a more intimate feel, the owner greets you personally and everyone knows each other. Many also have a larger selection of free weights.

#2 How big is your budget?

How much are you willing to spend on your gym membership? You can already get one for CHF 20 a month, but you can also spend hundreds of francs.

Here it's important to compare what each studio offers for its price. Is there, for example, free yoga classes or a sauna? Childcare? Do you already use some of these offerings elsewhere, so you could save that expense from now on?

#3 How important is the location?

If your gym is on the other side of town, the chances are higher that you'll use it less often. If it's right in your neighborhood, on the other hand, it can well be worth paying a bit more, because you're likely to go more often and see results faster.

2. What should I do before signing up for a gym membership?

Before you commit, use a trial membership or pay for a day pass. Different studios offer different packages. Even if you have to pay for trial sessions, it's well worth it. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive either, would you?

Go to the gym at different times of day to see what the training is like. If you sign a contract in the morning and then find out the studio is completely packed during your after-work workout times, that would be pretty annoying.

During your trial period, pay attention to the following things:

• Is the equipment in good condition?

• Are there enough machines/weights for everyone, or do you regularly have to wait?

• What's the atmosphere like in the studio? Is it clean?

• Are there enough showers?

You can, of course, also read reviews online or ask other members what they like or don't like about the studio.

3. How do I sign a gym membership?

Once you've decided on a gym, you might want to see if you can save some money somehow. Here are a few tips:

• Sign up together with a friend or family member. You're more likely to get a better deal with two people than signing up alone. You should at least ask whether there's a discount.

• Sign up in January. At the start of the year everyone wants to fulfill their New Year's resolutions and gyms have especially good deals. There are also promotions at other times of year where you can save money. A quick Google or Groupon search can help you find these.

You can always try to negotiate. The worst that can happen is getting a "no" as an answer. Smaller gyms in particular often have room to negotiate.

Before you sign the contract, watch out for the following things in the fine print:

• A clause that lets you cancel early in case of unemployment, moving away, or similar

• Can you pause your contract if you're away from your place of residence for a longer period?

• What happens if the studio goes bankrupt?

• Does the membership renew automatically?

Make sure to get all the salesperson's promises in writing. Ideally, take the contract home to read through it in peace. If the salesperson doesn't allow that, that's a big red flag.

4. How do I train at a gym?

If it's your first time in a studio, it can be a bit overwhelming. You don't quite know where to start, which machines or weights are the right ones, and so on.

The best thing is to get help from one of the trainers at the studio or hire a personal trainer. If you live in Zurich, I can help you, for example.

As a beginner, you can make many mistakes while training, which not only increase your risk of injury but also slow down your progress. With professional help, you reach your goals much, much faster. Find out here what to look for in a personal trainer.

5. What if I'm afraid to train at a gym?

Don't worry, you're not alone. In fact, most people around you feel the same way.

They're just as unsure as you are. Even the insanely bulky bodybuilder and the shredded woman on the treadmill. Nobody's focused on you, because everyone's far too busy with themselves. Just like you.

Everyone starts somewhere. Nobody was born in great shape, and you don't need to look great to go to the gym. That's what it's there for. You go there to become more, to get stronger or to lose weight.

Most people will actually applaud you for at least trying. When I see people at the studio who are seriously overweight, it makes me happy. They're trying to improve instead of sitting on the couch. That's exactly the mentality most people at the gym have.

There are always a few who judge. But they do that to everyone, not just you. That's their character flaw, and it shouldn't be your problem. You can only feel sorry for people like that, because it's exhausting to constantly compare yourself to everyone else. Usually they judge themselves harder than anyone else. Just ignore them.

6. What if I decide gyms aren't for me?

Then that's not the end of the world. I understand, for some people training at a gym just isn't the thing.

You can simply train at home. Or instead go outside and get some fresh air and push yourself out there.

Nobody says you have to train at a gym to get fitter.

Do what's best for you.

I wish you great success and lots of fun on your journey!

And should you need support, I'd be happy to help you as a personal trainer in Zurich - just drop me an email.

Also interesting: Top 10 mistakes women make at the gym.