Join a Gym: Five Benefits

You might be thinking of getting in shape, and saving money by going it alone. But some of us might be missing out on the benefits of simply joining gym:

1) Sense of Structure - The simple act of driving to the gym almost automatically makes you treat it with the importance of an errand. On the drive there, you can use the time to mentally orient yourself and prepare for your workout. It's something special and important for which you have time put aside, and therefore stick to more easily. If you just bought some exercise gadget and left it lying in the living room, it is all too easy to think, "It's right here and I can get a workout any time I want" which probably translates to "I'm going to forget, and I won't even do it when I'm bored and watching television".

Also, having paid for a membership means you have invested money into it, and would like to get as much return out of it as possible. If not, that will be money wasted on paying for something you are not using; this can serve as motivation to stick to your fitness commitment.

2) Experts - If you are not yourself an exercise or fitness professional, it can do you a great service to take advantage of the considerable bank of knowledge from the trainers in your gym; they didn't earn those certifications on the wall by doing situps-- they know a lot more than the average person, and have extensive knowledge on different effects of diet and exercise on the human body. If you have any questions at all-- whether you are running on the treadmill properly, hoisting the correct amount of resistance, or even how many times a week you should be doing your workout-- the trainer is the person to ask. Trainers can also make sure you are getting the most out of your membership by designing an exercise and diet program, usually for six weeks at a time or more. If you are working out alone at home, you might not get this benefit without getting a personal trainer to come to your house.

3) Community - Having an exercise buddy definitely helps. Go to a gym often enough and you will come across the same people who regularly exercise at the same time as you. You might not have the same specific exercise goals, but you are there for the same purpose. People are there to get exercise, and not to talk about work or relationships or school. This is really helpful in getting you to focus, and keep you from distracting your own mind with the mental clutter that builds up during the day. It's always nice to see a friendly face, and it can help you on days your motivation is not so hot. If you were running it alone, it is not as easy to get yourself moving on a particularly difficult morning.

4) Equipment - Every now and then you will need to switch exercises for the same body parts. This is not always possible with a home gym, and you may have to buy more equipment, either to replace a machine that no longer serves your needs, or to add more exercises to your workout roster. If you feel like you need to improve your shoulders and back with,say, a rowing machine, you will need to purchase and maintain one yourself. Plus, your existing equipment may go unused, collecting dust in the garage. A gym on the other hand, generally tries to make sure it has the latest equipment, and that it is properly maintained, fixed, or even replaced. All this costs money, but you have access to this with a regular gym membership.

5) Classes - There is always something different being offered at a gym, like yoga, spinning, circuit training, etc. and you have but to locate the classroom (usually a chamber at the far end with glaslls) and figure out when to sign up for one. These classes help provide variety in your workouts, and explore different ways to exercise and improve aspects of your fitness. Without investing in more wourkout videos at home, a class is an excellent opportunity to explore avenues to effective exercise. If you've never trieds wa yoga or aerobic kickboxing, the gym is a great place to try under the guidance of an instructor. Who knows? You might even find a new favorite workout!

These are a few great benefits to think about when trying to weigh the pros and cons of joining a gym, or just going it alone. Whatever your decision, make sure to keep yourself educated about diet and exercise, learning something new every few days at least. A well-informed mind is still the best workout tool.