Many people invested in exercise bikes, treadmills, and rowers during the pandemic to stay active. If you returned to the office, your old exercise equipment may be sitting in your basement or guest room collecting dust. Before you invest in another machine or dust off your old treadmill, consider these six reasons to sign up with a gym. A gym membership may be just what you need to stay active.
1. Gyms Offer a Variety of Exercise Equipment
A gym membership keeps your workout routine interesting by allowing you to try out a variety of exercise equipment. Even if you purchase one or two machines for your home, you may become bored with your home gym setup. While your local gym offers standard equipment like treadmills and ellipticals, you can expand your horizons by trying out different machines and equipment. Many gyms offer specialized equipment like TRX systems, BOSUs, and kettlebells. The variety at a gym can keep you interested and help you see better results.
2. A Gym Membership Can Save You Money
Exercise equipment can be expensive. The average cost of a basic treadmill is $574. A basic exercise bike starts at around $200, but high-tech options run several thousand dollars. Warranties, parts, and repairs can add costs over time. Instead of worrying about the long-term costs of maintaining your home gym, you can leave maintenance and repairs to the staff at your local gym.
3. Gyms Offer High-Tech Equipment Unavailable to Home Exercisers
Although you may be able to find a great deal on home exercise equipment, home machines lack many of the features of the commercial machines at the gym. Commercial exercise machines often feature high-tech features like integrated heart rate monitors, TV screens, and preprogrammed workouts. These machines may offer smoother operations than retail machines.
4. Gyms Offer Additional Features Like Personal Training
Personal training offers many benefits to both the novice exerciser and the experienced athlete. A personal trainer will set up a customized routine based on your needs and goals. Trainers also can teach you the correct form so that you see better results and prevent injuries. Many gyms offer a free consultation or free session.
5. Gym Memberships Offer Access to Fun Classes
Yoga, pilates, Zumba, Body Blast. Without a gym membership, accessing these classes means visiting multiple studios and paying for individual classes. With a gym membership, you can access these classes and more under one roof. Classes are a fun way to meet new people while staying in shape.
6. Gym Members Improve Your Motivation
Kids, pets, and the couch may be too much of a distraction. At the gym, you can tune out the distractions and focus on your workout. Many people find exercising in a gym motivating because they see other people working on the same goals.
For a low monthly fee, you can take advantage of your local gym’s features. Many gyms offer no contracts or month-to-month memberships with flexible cancellation policies. You can enjoy your local gym membership without making a commitment.
