Choosing the Best Gym Environment for Your Goals

Fitness and health is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. Now, more so than ever before, people have a wide variety of gyms and workout programs available to suit their needs.

However, each of these specific gyms varies in terms of price, equipment, personal assistance, and overall atmosphere. With so many options on the market, it is easy to get lost in the confusion and wonder does the gym itself specifically matter?

let's take a look at the pros and cons associated with each gym type... For simplicity sake, we will lump similar gym types gyms together.

Pros and Cons of Big Box, Value-Priced, Boutique and Home Gyms

Value Priced Gym Pros and Cons

These gyms are typically priced very economically; as low as $10 per month or less. They focus less on structured workouts and more on providing a place where people can complete a workout at a low price. An example of a value-priced gym is Planet Fitness.

Pros: Value priced gyms are low in cost and generally have a fair amount of equipment available for the money.

Cons: The saying you get what you pay for applies here. Some of these gyms may not have all the equipment you would prefer, such as bench press stations and squat racks. Also, the weights will not go as heavy as at some other gyms. Because of this, a value gym may be well suited for a beginner, but not for more advanced lifters.

Big Box Gym Pros and Cons

This specific breed of gym typically has of hundreds of locations throughout the country, all modeled somewhat off the same setup and template. The big box gym is suitable for the masses. Examples of big box gyms include 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness, among others.

Pros: The big box gyms typically offer a fairly reasonable price, somewhere in the range of $30-$60 per month depending on location and gym type. They usually have a wide variety of available equipment including free weights, machines, and any major piece of equipment needed for a successful workout.

Cons: A majority of the time these big box gyms are crowded, especially during peak hours in the morning and evening. Due to the higher volume crowds, it can make it difficult to get a solid workout completed. Furthermore, these gyms do not provide any personalized training without paying additional fees. This means you are typically on your own when it comes to planning your own specific workout routines.

Boutique Gym Pros and Cons

Boutique gyms have become an extremely trendy choice in recent years. They may include functional-type training gyms, spin classes, or body weight focused workout facilities.

Pros: These gyms are typically more personalized and have classes available that are smaller. You may receive more individualized attention than big box gyms. Furthermore, these classes provide structured workout routines so the gym goer does not have to go out of their way to plan and organize their own routines. Simply show up and they take the guesswork out of it for you.

Cons: Boutique gyms are usually much more expensive than their counterparts due to the individualized experience they provide. Monthly cost can range sometimes upwards of $200-$300 per month. Also, since these gyms are smaller so they may not have all of the available equipment that you want. Classes are structured solely around convenience and run within a limited timeframe.

Home Workout Pros and Cons

There are several effective programs available today that can be completed from home. These workouts include P90X, Insanity, etc. They focus mainly on bodyweight-type movements that allow people to perform the workout in a limited space with limited equipment.

Related: 10 Tips to Help You Survive & Conquer a Commercial Gym

Pros: Home workouts are generally much cheaper, as there is only a one-time fee and no additional costs associated with the programs. Also, since they can be done at home you do not need to drive to another location and it can be completed in your own living room.

Cons: Since the workouts are at home, it may cause some people to lose motivation. Also, with limited equipment at home, you may be able to get leaner but that's it. Advanced muscular development may not occur due to lack of resources.

Time to Choose a Gym

There are a variety of fitness resources available today that may be used to get the results you want. However, the one you choose should be dependent upon both your time availability, your own self-discipline, your individualized goals, and your budget.

Whether training at an economically-priced or high-end luxury gym, it all comes down to the same goal, achieving results! Any motivated and self-disciplined individual will be able to achieve great results with a solid workout plan and a structured diet.

So wherever you choose to train, just remember to give it your all in order to see the best results!