Health club checklist

When choosing a health club or gym it's important that you have some idea of what you need from a centre, what a centre should provide and what you actually get for your money.

Over the past 5 - 10 years many new health clubs and health club chains have sprung up within the UK. The Fitness Industry Association (FIA) estimate that there are over 3000 health club operators practicing in the UK alone.

Find your perfect health club
With his in mind it's important that we have some idea of what we should look for in a health club. This checklist may answer some of your questions:

A health club should provide:

• Two types of basic equipment - resistance and cardiovascular machines.
• Clean changing areas and a number of showers.
• A variety of fitness classes covering a wide timetable.
• Qualified fitness instructors who are available to give advise on exercise and dieting.
• A basic physical assessment BEFORE you exercise.
• A crèche
• Possibly a swimming pool and sauna.

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