For many people, the gyms within the fitness centre is the core offering. It doesn't matter how good the d?cor is, or how friendly the staff, if the gyms don't have what you need, then it's the wrong club for you.
There are a number of areas to consider when trying to decide if a particular gym is the right one for you:
- Free weights:
If you take your resistance training seriously, then a good selection of free weights is absolutely essential.
Free weights offer a range of exercises that machines just can't match, and their ability to engage the peripheral muscles makes them the ultimate choice for the experienced exerciser.
A good gym will have a combination of bar bells, dumbbells, benches, and smith machines to allow you to complete any workout.
- Weights machines:
Whether as a supplement to your free-weights, or for a comfortable stand-alone workout, machines are essential. Look for a good variety for each body part, well maintained, and sited with good clearance around each machine.
- Cardio:
A cardio workout is a key part of any fitness programme. A well-equipped cardio section should have a variety of machines (treadmill, stepper, stationary bike, elliptical trainer, rowing machine), and enough machines to cope with even the busiest of times.
