1. Equipment
I put this first because this is what everyone looks at when they join in gym. I get it. We are often accustomed to thinking of a gym membership is just an "equipment rental", cheaper than buying your own treadmill or elliptical and maybe if you're paying for it, you'll actually go.
And for some that works.
But what happens then?
You don't know how to use it, you get bored, the piece of equipment you like best is often broken, you don't get results, and you stop going.
We've become accustomed to making a decision about which gym to join by what equipment they have. We think every gym should have rows of treadmills, lines of machines, and a bunch of "fenced off" areas for high paying clients only (what!?).
But what if it looked like this...
You look at this photo and you don't really see anything you know how to use, maybe some dumbbells. Otherwise, you're totally confused...
But let me challenge you with an analogy and a cliche.
Here's the analogy:
You have a problem and you want it fixed. Right? You want to lose weight, you want to get stronger, you want to feel better.
Relate that to your car.
Your car is broken. It's rusting, running sluggish, or needs new tires.
Do you really care what kind of tools your mechanic uses?
No.
You just want your car fixed.
When you join a gym, what you really want is your problem solved, "your car fixed."
The weights and equipment we have at our facility are just that, our "tools" that allow us to work with all different kinds of clientele, doing 100's of different exercises, and plenty of open space for movement (isn't that what exercise is?), not just sitting on a piece of machinery that can only do one thing.
If you join a gym that gives you coaching (see number 3), don't worry about the equipment; those are just their tools to get you the results you're looking for. They'll do their job and show you how to do each exercise, make sure you're doing it right, be with you each and every workout, and keep you motivated.
And here's the cliche: "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."
2. Cleanliness
There are three reasons why people leave a gym: no results, boredom, and cleanliness.
Your gym should be clean and neat. It's as simple as that.
Who wants to work out in a dirty gym? You're laying on the floor, you're sweating, do you really want it to be dirty?
Everything should be neat, well-organized, have a place it belongs, and there should be a clear-cut daily cleaning protocol for the staff to follow.
3. Coaching/Accountability
I am a firm believer that 80% of people need coaching and accountability with their exercise, health, and nutrition.
And the other 20% are lying :)
You hire an accountant for your taxes.
You hire a handyman for your house.
You hire a mechanic for your car.
The human body is the most complex machine on earth, why would you try to solve your "problems" on your own?
Join a gym that gives you access to a coach or a team of coaches. These coaches should have a background/degree in exercise science, and be knowledgeable about the human body, both physically and mentally.
Not only will these coaches help design a plan for you, they'll show you how to do every exercise, they'll be on the floor with you at every workout, they'll coach you through other aspects such as nutrition, stress, and sleep management, and they'll hold you accountable every step of the way.
Find a place that prides itself (and shows it) on being focused on member RESULTS, not membership NUMBERS.
A good gym cares when you show up, will give you a shout if you don't, and work with you to help tackle the obstacles that are keeping you from your goals.
As a client said to me the other day "I don't want to be cattle that just scans a card and gets herded around".
Join a gym that wants you to show up, not just your money!
4. Community & Culture
I am a firm believer that this is the number one differentiator when it comes to gyms.
The reason?
It's an intangible. You can't mimic it.
Find a place that you GET to go to, not HAVE to go to because it's on the "to-do" list.
You have work, you have home, find your "third" place.
Your third place should be your happy place.
Your third place should have a welcoming atmosphere.
Find a third place where members support each other, they laugh together, and they cry together.
They push each other, they drink wine together, and they truly just care about each other.
Unfortunately, you can't find this on a website, on a price sheet, or a program flyer.
It's an intangible.
But once you find it...
Once you find it...
It's contagious. You're a member for life.
I hope you find your happy place.
Cheers,
Doug Spurling
PS:
Obviously, I may be a bit bias. These are the four things we use to separate our experience at STS from all the others. However, we understand we're not for everyone, and that's ok too. I just really want you to find a place that makes you happy, keeps you safe, and gets you results!
If you want to give us a "test-drive" to see if we fit your criteria, experience the four things I talked about above, I'd love to have you in for our 14 Day Test Drive. Let us learn more about you, see how we can help, and let you "test-drive" us for 14 days. Sure, we're going to charge for it ($79), we value our time and service. Plus, when was the last time you used or valued something that was free? It's an investment in you, in your health, and what will give you the biggest return on your investment. Click the button below to Test Drive the STS Experience. I'll see you in here soon.