It’s the same old question: “what’s the best gym near me?”. That’s a great question. But where do you start?!
Well, we’ve been helping Hawthorn stay healthy, active and feeling good for forty years (well, almost – we hit the big 4-0 in Feb!). We’ve seen what gets people in the door, but also what keeps them there. Naturally, we also see what causes people to leave or fall out of routine. Below are our top 8 factors to search when looking for the right gym – in descending order, of course, to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Our top 8 factors to CONSIDER when looking for the Best gym
8. The right equipment
But this HAS is the most important thing, right?! Well, not really. Let us elaborate. We’re human. We see shiny things and are attracted to them. But it’s easy to see a room full of shiny new equipment and presume the box is ticked. However, shiny doesn’t mean quality. Fitness equipment should move smoothly and in a way that maximises on the biomechanics of the body. Many gyms have been equipped with the cheaper brands of equipment that don’t have the research and development-backed evidence behind their design. On the other hand, brands like Nautilus – equipment Visions is full of – have decades of prototyping and evolution behind them, culminating in final products that move in ways that maximise on the potential of the right muscles whilst preventing misalignment and injury. A benefit of an independent gym is that we’re not locked-in to a certain brand of equipment that people in a boardroom signed a contract to use. We can pick and choose from the best equipment out there. Sure, it might not ‘match’ as well, and some of it might be older and less shiny - but we’ve tried and tested what’s out there and chosen the best. And we’re constantly on the look out for more. In fact, we’re very excited for the equipment we’ve got planned for 2024.
With all this in mind, why has equipment come in at number 8? Because equipment doesn’t do the exercise – you do! And you don’t need all the shiny equipment to perform the right movements and achieve the goals you’ve set yourself. With the right guidance, you shouldn’t need to be locked into a certain piece of equipment to move well and be active. It should be the movement you learn, not the equipment.
7. The right expertise
Far more important than the right equipment, is the right knowledge. Whether inside a gym or your house, you should ideally be equipped with the knowledge about how to pick something up or move in a certain way to exercise certain parts of your body. Knowledge about movement is far more important than any single piece of equipment that might help you perform it.
At Visions, we call ourselves ‘Trainers’ for a reason – it’s our job to help educate you on what to do in the gym to achieve your goals. Too many ‘professionals’ in our industry sit someone on a machine without offering adequate technique queues, let alone giving an explanation for their reason for including this particular movement into the workout program. At Visions, when we take someone for a free program, we do so with the goal of teaching more than directing. Learning the intricacies of activity and working out is one of the main reasons people grow to love fitness training – we’re interested and motivated to keep learning what our bodies (and minds) can gain from activity! So, when looking for a gym, make sure you feel like the gym is invested in this ‘sharing’ this type of knowledge with you - WHAT to move, WHEN to move, HOW to move, and most importantly, WHY to move!
With forty years experience in this industry, workout programming for both beginners and experienced gym-goers is our bread and butter. And all our members receive unlimited, free programs. Read more and book yourself in, here.
6. The right extras
What extras can the gym offer you? Of those, what will actually benefit you? Is a body-scan really going to help you? Maybe, maybe not. Will you really use the gym at 3am? Gee that ice bath does sound novel. For an extra $13 a week, do you need access to 48 other gyms?
A bit like shiny things, we tend to get enticed by that which we will likely never utilise, but often pay for. Of course, a lot of people make full use of these benefits, but most don’t. So make sure whatever gets put in front of you at contact-signing time, you weigh its true value.
Ultimately, the best optional extras are the ones that ARE optional - ones that are available if and when you need them. For example, personal training on your terms, not shoved down your throat. Or access to allied health professionals, extras like physiotherapy or massage therapy IF you need them. These extras are great to have available, particularly if you are new, rehabilitating from injury or just in need of some extra professional guidance or care. They each offer premium value to your overall health and fitness experience, but none of these should add a premium to the bottom-line of your membership by default.
Visions has each of these services and more. All are designed to integrate smoothly into your routine, but all are also optional.
5. The right membership packages and prices
Sadly its a fairly accurate stereotype of this industry that gyms will hide extra fees, charges and hidden catches into their memberships. Symbolic ‘admin’ fees that are ‘discounted today only’, special deals passed down from management just for you, contracts that are unexpectedly difficult to get out of and marketing lists you can’t seem to escape.
But not all gyms are like this. Try to find a gym with multiple membership packages for you to choose from, clear statements about fees, minimum terms and cancellation conditions. Visions’ membership page, for example, has more than half a dozen memberships available, including simple, up front payment options as well as no-minimum-term direct debit options for those not sure how long they are ready to commit for. All prices and fees are stated up front and clearly. This is best practice. Find a gym that is open, up front and clear about their options and of course, if it’s relevant to you, always ask about student options, too!
Price guidance itself depends on the area, the ‘brand’ and what’s being offered. Many group training gyms will start their pricing at $60-$75 per week - Visions is $35 p/week. Most gym-only offerings lock you in to a yearly contract at $18-$20 per week. Do the maths though - this is as much as $1040 in a year. At Visions, if you are willing to commit to a year, it’s only $710. If you’d like to discuss any memberships with the Visions team, we can walk you through our options and help you choose the best option for your circumstances. Get in touch here.
Do your best to see through the murky waters of gym contracts, but in an ideal world, a good gym will clear the water for you and make your decision easy!
4. The right location
Your chosen gym should to be convenient for you to attend. That means it needs to be close to home, your work place or somewhere along the route you take to and from! Places with good public transport, such as Hawthorn, make life a lot easier, too!
Having said that, if you love your gym, there’s a fair chance you’ll accept a little extra travel time for the many benefits of feeling happy, comfortable and satisfied with your space. Visions has many people who live multiple suburbs away (see our location, here), but choose to make the trip in - past dozens of other options 🥹. This is true love. And if you have an experience like this, hold on to it like you’re in a 90s rom-com - it’s special!
3. The right atmosphere
It’s one thing to consider the tangible things - facilities, equipment, memberships, etc. But what about the way the gym makes you feel? It’s tough attending a gym when the ‘vibe’ just isn’t good.
When you walk through the front doors, what’s your first impression of the atmosphere? Does it feel welcoming? What is your first interaction with the staff like? Are they super sales-y or are they speaking to you like a normal person? What is your impression of the members in the gym? Are you getting the intimidating side-eye or is everyone happily going about their business?
All of this will be subjective - people want different things in a gym. But in the end, we all want to feel comfortable. We all want to feel welcome. We all want to be around happy members and happy staff. Your first impression on the atmosphere is probably spot-on. Your ongoing impression will be a major factor in whether you end up using the gym or not.
Read a bit about Visions, here, or get an idea of our ‘vibe’ by checking our our instagram page.
2. The right services
Few things are as important as making sure your potential new gym offers the services you want! So the question is - what services are you looking for? Here’s a few ideas:
Access to the gym facilities
Access to group training classes
Free guidance on your workout routine - whether you’re new or experienced
Ongoing support and guidance from a fitness professional
Access to an onsite physiotherapist
Access to other therapeutic and allied health services, such as massage therapy
Of course, you don’t have to access all of these services in the one place, but often the convenience of having them in the one location, as well as the fact they will be better value when packaged together, is a genuine drawcard.
For example, many group training gyms will charge $60-75 per week and only offer group training class access - there is no opportunity to roll-up and do your own solo workout. Visions gives you the option to do both for just $45 per week. Many physiotherapy or massage therapy clinics will treat you and then suggest some exercises to take home or to your local gym. Sometimes translating these to your separate gym can be impractical or confusing. A gym like Visions offers the ability for the physio to walk around with you and take you through each exercise step-by-step AT the gym you have already joined, allowing you to stay comfortable in your existing space and confident in the exercises and equipment you’ve been guided on.
It’s a no-brainer to make sure you have access to the services you want - but if you can bundle some of those services into the one gym - then you’ll be as happy as Jane Fonda doing a grapevine.
1. The right approach
The most important factor can sometimes be the most simple. What is your gym’s approach to health and fitness? Why is this so important? Because the approach of the gym will filter down into every other element of its existence.
A gym that cares about its community will naturally evoke a positive atmosphere. A gym that isn’t only in it for a buck will charge reasonable membership prices. A gym that cares for its members will care for its equipment. The list goes on. Avoid gyms where you feel like a walking dollar sign, or where the atmosphere is intimidating or gives the impression that how you look is more important than how you feel.
Naturally, we think our approach is an exemplary one. At Visions, you’ll be treated the same whether you’re an athlete or a nervous wreck who’s never stepped foot in a gym before. We’re a gym for everyone. We’ll always strive for our goal - to provide a comfortable, friendly and motivating space for our members to train - every member.
We will also spruik an approach that has stood the test of time - focus on how you feel when you train. Too many people arrive at the gym focused solely on achieving a future measurement - to lose weight, get stronger or get fitter. ALL are valid goals, but none are as important as focusing on how the gym makes you feel - which is inevitably ‘bloody great’. Reflecting on feeling better is an instant reward - measurements are not. Knowing that attending the gym feels good will make you look forward to returning after a break - feeling obliged to go to the gym and feeling guilty about not yet being at the ‘right’ measurement will not. Measurements can be important, but they aren’t the most important. You’re most likely to see change if you’re motivated to keep coming back.
In a survey a few years ago, 95% of our members noticed the psychological benefits of training and 75% of them said it was the main reason they trained, with another 22% stating it as a moderate reason. We’re ambitious to see that number higher, but we’re pretty proud regardless.
It’s simple, really.
The most encompassing factor to consider when joining a gym is whether your gym has the right priorities and the right approach - most of the other factors will neatly fall into place after that. Find yourself a gym that has a good environment and makes you feel good about wanting to train.
It’s surprisingly easy after that.