. Where to Train, and the
Equipment You Need
. A good barometer of an effective gym is its sparsity of equipment, and its
insistence on basics, basics and nothing but basics for nearly all of a mem-
ber’s training. While some machines do offer good and safe alternatives to
barbells and dumbbells, most gyms do not have this type of machinery.. If you train at a commercial gym you have no control over the equipment
there unless you can influence the owner. But you do have control over what
equipment you use, and how you use it. If you have a home gym you have
control over the equipment stock and how you use it.. e information on equipment given later in this chapter is especially aimed
at home gym users, to help with purchasing decisions. But if you use a com-
mercial gym, the information still has value because it will teach you about
equipment priorities, proper use, and safety.. If you cannot get well on the way to being Herculean using just a regular
barbell, plates, flat bench, power rack, and maybe a Trap Bar, too (whether
in a commercial gym or anywhere else), then even a gym equipped with
every different piece of leading-brand training machinery would be unlikely
to help you to build the physique and strength you want.Commercial and institutional gyms
. Here are ten factors you need to avoid if you are to progress well in a com-
mercial gym, or an institutional one such as a college gym. Only a minority of
gyms are guilty of all of these shortcomings. But nearly all gyms are guilty of
some of them. You may not be able to improve equipment deficiencies there,
or correct attitude shortcomings of others; but by being well informed and