Traditional Gyms and Boutique Fitness Studios: Which is Right for You?

Traditional Gyms and Boutique Fitness Studios: Which is Right for You? Exercising regularly is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That’s an obvious statement, and something everyone has known for years. What should be just as obvious is the importance of finding the right gym, one that offers the equipment, guidance, and motivation needed to meet your fitness goals.

Everyone is looking for something different on their journey to a healthy life, and as a result there is no such thing as gym that is perfect for everybody. It’s important to find a place to exercise where you feel comfortable, a place that offers the services you need to pursue your fitness goals, and if possible you want to find a gym what motivates you to reach those goals, a place that you enjoy going to and being productive.

There’s any number of ways gyms can motivate their customers; from the classes they offer to the equipment they have available to the music (or lack thereof) they play, and so many more. So while it may take a while to find one that matches your personality and style, trust that your perfect spot is out there, and it is worth finding.

With that in mind, here are some tips for starting your search for your ideal gym.

Figure Out Your Exercise Approach

How do you work out best? It’s a question that might seem oddly phrased, but one worth considering. Everyone has their own routines and exercises that work best for them, and finding a gym that affords you the opportunity to work out in accordance with those preferences is important.

For those focusing on cardio health, a gym with a nice indoor running track or state-of-the-art treadmills should be a priority. Those looking to build muscle will want to make sure any gym they join has a full complement of lifting equipment to help them reach their goals.

Alone Or Together?

Another thing to consider when choosing a gym is figuring out whether you work out best on your own or with others there to motivate you. People that have a tremendous internal drive pushing them may want a gym that is quieter, has members with similar temperaments, and doesn’t focus on strictly organized workout routines.

For other people, nothing keeps them going at the gym better than group classes. The focused class approach can motivate these people a few different ways. First, the specific, focused approach led by an expert trainer relieves them of the responsibility of figuring out how to exercise and in what order. The second way it motivates is by making the workout a communal experience, allowing class members to draw inspiration and support from each other to keep going.

The Cash Consideration

Finally we come to everyone’s least favorite thing to think about, the bill. After taking into account the issues raised earlier in this article, it’s time to determine just how much money you are willing to invest in gym time.

If you plan to work out mostly according to your own routine, a traditional membership is probably the way to go. These types of memberships tend to considerably cheaper than specialized gyms and classes, and who doesn’t like to save money. As long as you are confident in your ability to self-motivate and go to the gym regularly, picking a gym like this can be a tremendous value.

For people who need that extra guidance and external motivation, memberships which allow them to take an unlimited number of classes in a specific fitness discipline may be the perfect fit. Thanks to the rise of things like CrossFit, barre, yoga, and spin classes, there are more options than ever before for people that perform better with this kind of a workout routine. Really the only downside to these classes is their cost, which is typically higher than a traditional gym membership.

An additional approach exists for those that have found fitness success using a mix of styles. These are the people that have no problem working out on their own, but also enjoy mixing it up in a class from time to time. For them, the best bet might be a traditional gym membership that is supplemented with the occasional class session. While this approach is more expensive than simply joining a regular gym, as long as they keep the number of class sessions to a reasonable number, paying for them individually is still more cost efficient than getting an unlimited pass for a specialized class.

It’s still early in the year, meaning there is plenty of time to get out there and find your perfect gym. We hope these tips can help you do just that, and if we do we wish you all the best in reaching your fitness goals!