Are you looking for a health and fitness club to help you get or stay in shape? If so, here are some general guidelines and advice to help you find one that can really meet your needs and weed out the clubs that are in it just for the profit.

High-Pressure Selling
When you enter a health club, you can expect a tour followed by a high-pressure sales pitch. Be ready for it. There’s nothing wrong with the health club manager’s making a strong case emphasizing the value of exercise, but under no circumstances should you feel badgered, detained, or embarrassed. If you feel any excessive amount of pressure, leave or ask for more time. If you are told this is a once-in-a-lifetime deal or that the rates go up tomorrow, forget it. It’s a high-pressure outfit interested in the dollar figure, not yours.
 
The Contract
Read the contract carefully. If you feel you should read it at home or want to discuss it with anyone else, do so. If the health club won’t permit you to take the contract home, steer clear of that organization. Make sure the contract commits you to no more than two years; one year is preferable. All contracts should provide for a minimum three-day cooling-off period. Look for a “use of facility” clause permitting you to use the club during those three days.

Key Considerations
During the tour, explanation of facilities, and closing, you should be aware of the following:
1. Is there a discussion of your individual concerns? This should take place prior to signing the contract. Is there a discussion of your physical limitations, risk factors, and the possibility of stress tests? Do they recommend that you talk to your physician before you embark on an exercise
program?
2. Is the person conducting the tour an instructor, a manager, or what? Does he or she seem to be well-trained and not just well-built? Ask if he or she is a physical education or physical therapy graduate with additional training in fitness. If not, does the club have an in-service training program emphasizing cardiovascular fitness? Do you sense that the person has a genuine interest in you? Is he or she able to explain how the machines operate, the value of their use, and the limitations? Are the aerobics instructors safety-conscious and concerned about their students? Do the instructors teach the students how to monitor the intensity of the workouts?
3. Does the spa/club manager or instructor emphasize cardiovascular fitness, or is the focus on muscular strength and endurance? If the answer is muscular strength and endurance, you can eliminate that club. The primary focus should be on cardiovascular fitness.
4. Visit the club at the time of day you plan to be using it. This is crucial. Every club has a peak usage time. Waiting in line to walk on a treadmill, ride a bicycle, or lift weights can be a serious inconvenience. Consider time and use of facilities as important factors.
5. Before signing anything, talk to several of the people who are exercising (or who have just finished, if you don’t want to interrupt their workout). Ask what they think of the program, what the emphasis is, and whether personal attention is given.
6. Observe the facility. Is it clean, well-ventilated, and properly maintained? Is equipment in good condition? Does the aerobics workout area have shock-absorbent flooring (high-density matting, carpet over cushioning, or a suspended wood floor)? High-impact activity should never be done on tile, linoleum, or cement.
7. Find out how long the club has been in your area. The longer, the better—and if under the same management, that’s another plus. Approach a brand-new club with caution, especially their “pre-opening” sales. There have been cases where con artists have held pre-opening sales for clubs that never opened.
8. Find out if the club belongs to some sort of association for fitness centers. The club should have an established code of ethics that covers programs, facilities, employees, and customers’ rights. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the club.