The only exception may be a gym with special facilities that the nearest club
doesn’t have, like Pilates or boot-camp classes. But if you’re a beginner who
hasn’t yet made exercise a habit, you may still be better off at a nearby club
that doesn’t have all the amenities.Size ......................................................................................................
The big trend here is the super-club — the health club equivalent of Wal-Mart.
You can find low prices, an enormous selection of equipment and classes,
plenty of energy, and a large staff of trainers. For an experienced exerciser, a
super-club can be as fun as an amusement park; you can never get bored,
roving from the golf clinic to the climbing wall to the Middle Eastern belly
dancing class. Chelsea Piers in New York City has two floors of ice-hockey
rinks, a bowling alley, an equestrian center, a gymnastics studio for kids, and
a 10,000-square-foot climbing wall.If you’re a beginner, however, these mega-clubs can be overwhelming. You
can get lost trying to find your way from the locker room to the T’ai Chi class.
In that case, a smaller, cozier gym may be a better choice. You can get to
know the entire staff on a personal basis, and they may even notice if you
don’t show up for a while.Super-clubs tend to take a “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none” approach.
These clubs may have a small yoga room, a limited boxing program, and a
small climbing wall that would bore you after a week. If you’re trying to famil-
iarize yourself with a specific skill or technique, a mega-club isn’t the place to
get in-depth knowledge. Yoga, for example, is best learned at a studio that
teaches only yoga. But if you want a smorgasbord of activities, a super-club
is the place to be.Some larger health clubs tend to take a “no-frills” approach, which means you
may not have a spa, day-care center, pool, and 20 different types of workout
classes, but you do have cardio and strength equipment, plus a locker room
in which to change and shower. If no-frills is appropriate for you, you’ll pay
far less than at a health club that offers all the amenities.Cost .....................................................................................................
Membership fees vary greatly. Large clubs often charge less than small ones
because they have more members. (They also tend to pay their staff less.)
But the dollar figure doesn’t mean everything. Fifty bucks a month may seem
outrageous for a small neighborhood club with old equipment; on the other
hand, if the club is half a mile from your house, it’s a bargain because you
may actually go. It’s a much better investment than a $30-a-month club that’s
20 minutes away.270 Part VI: Conquering the Gym (Even at Home)