One common phenomenon in the United States today is that many people are joining gyms and exercise clubs so that they will have a place to get in shape. Certainly, joining a gym is a great way to get in shape, and many employers offer incentives to their employees to join one (this also helps those employers cut costs on healthcare, so it is a win-win situation). There are many different criteria that one can use in selecting a gym to join, from location to the cleanliness of the locker rooms to the size of the facility, but one standard that is always an excellent measure of whether or not a gym is right for you is the amount and type of fitness equipment that they have.

All gyms are not created equal. Some are outstanding, some are subpar, and many of them are somewhere in the middle of that range. Finding a gym where you feel comfortable can be the difference between getting in shape and having a coronary. If you have a set exercise regimen that you follow, it is important that the gym that you choose have all of the exercise machines that you need to do conduct your workout, whether it is a bench press, a jump rope, or a cardiovascular room. If you alter your workout to meet the options that a gym offers, your exercise routine’s effectiveness is compromised.

For those that do not have a set exercise routine, there are several basic factors that can be used to evaluate a gym. At a bare minimum, a gym should have some sort of cardiovascular equipment, whether it is a treadmill, an exercise bike, or one of the fancier machines that is hawked by retired supermodels and aging actors on Sunday-morning infomercials. If you are not a runner, and all that a gym has for cardiovascular machines is a treadmill, then that is not a good gym for you to join. A gym also ought to have some dedicated space for weights, and should at least have a bench press, a military press, a squat rack, a deadlift bar, and a rack of dumbbells ranging from five to one hundred pounds, in increments of five. Barbells and any kind of auxiliary lifts available, such as calf raises, rowing machines, or the neck press, are also good things to have.

A gym should also have an open area for its patrons to do their exercises that require space, whether those exercises are sprints or medicine ball workouts or jumping rope. Many gyms will tout that they have indoor tennis courts or basketball courts or things like these, but the best thing to look for is a swimming pool for swimming laps. Swimming works every major muscle group in the body, and is one of the most complete workouts that you can get. Lastly, a gym ought to have a good digital scale, so that you can measure your weight loss or muscle gain at regular intervals.

Joining a gym is a big decision, and not one to be taken lightly. Evaluating the available fitness equipment offered by a gym is a great tool that you can use to make the right choice.

Author Bio: I write for TIR Massage Stone about hot stone massage and massage stone therapy including hot stone therapy.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: gyms,exercise regimen,cardiovascular room,weight loss