In this article, I will talk about the best gym for seniors, how to choose one, and if you actually need one. It can be hard choosing a gym but I hope after reading this it will be a bit easier.
I’m sure that you know how important exercise is for your health and energy levels. You’ve might of thinking about going to a gym for a long time. Maybe months, years, even decades.
But it’s kind of hard to decide on a gym. They can seem daunting to the inexperienced and you probably don’t really know what to look for.
So you might end up not going at all. And you keep pushing the decision to just go to the unforeseeable future.
And I understand your frustrations and fears. We’ve all been beginners in the gym. It can all feel overwhelming.
To make things worse, you can’t really decide if you like a gym until you’ve tried it out. And some commercial gyms are very aggressive with their marketing and try to push you to sign up.
I don’t know about you, but I hate forced marketing. I like to take my time to research and make an informed decision.
But fortunately, choosing a gym doesn’t really have to be hard at all. As long as you understand a bit about your own preferences it can actually be very easy.
In this article, I will talk about some of the things that can affect your choice of gym. And if you actually need a gym membership at all.
More importantly, I’m not here to sell you a gym membership. This is all an honest discussion about observations I’ve made about how people like different kinds of gyms and training styles.
The Best Option Is Not Always Obvious
The first point I’d like to make is that with choosing a gym, the best option is not always the obvious one.
Before you think one more second about choosing a gym, I want you to stop and answer this question: Why? Why do you want to go to the gym?
Have an answer?
If not, maybe this will help.
Do you want a gym for doing a specific exercise routine?
Do you want to focus solely on exercise or also socialize? Or maybe a bit of both.
Do you want a place where to hang out, get your daily exercise with variety and maybe relax in a sauna?
What can you afford?
Here are just a few questions that can help you understand your needs. Everyone has different preferences and needs for a gym, so I urge you to think about what you want.
I’m telling you this because the gyms of the world are run by gym memberships that are paid for by people who never even go to the gym. They just signed up, because they thought that would get them to exercise.
I don’t want you to end up that person. I want you to actually enjoy exercise and get an enjoyable routine going.
Community Vs. Services
Now that you maybe have a bit better understanding of what you want, let’s talk a bit about different kinds of gyms.
There are basically three types of gyms to choose from Community gyms, commercial gyms, and something I would call commercial wellness centers. No gym is a valid option as well.
Community gyms are typically modest and very affordable. They can be a bit run down and the equipment can be old. But they are typically full of genuine people who really appreciate exercise and working out. The people who go to these gyms are often regulars for years. That makes these types of gyms great for getting to know new people.
These types of gyms can be found in rec centers, swimming halls, workplaces, and even congregations all around the world.
Commercial gyms come in many varieties but many of them are fairly affordable. There are franchises that are geared toward beginners and casual exercisers, but there are also franchises that specialize in serious training. Crossfit boxes and Starting Strength gyms are good examples.
These places are typically full of a certain type of younger folks as they are affordable and full of mirrors if you catch my drift.
Wellness centers are typically very well-equipped gyms with additional spas and relaxation services. Massages, saunas, aroma therapy, and lots of yoga classes. I’m sure you know the type. They are geared towards busy professionals that have money to spare. Everything is top notch but that comes with a high price tag.
Then there’s the final option, which we’ll talk about next.
Do You Really Need A Gym?
We are all different when it comes to social interaction, privacy, and confidence in public.
You might be one of the people who simply doesn’t enjoy going to a gym to train among strangers. Or even with friends.
I kind of get it. When I work out, I don’t really like to socialize. I usually have limited time and training goals and socializing really distracts me from my workouts.
That said, I personally still choose to go to the gym. This is because I don’t really have the space and equipment at home to accommodate my training goals most of the year.
But if I was just exercising for general health, I could easily do it with bodyweight training, a pull-up bar, and maybe a kettlebell or a set of dumbbells.
This takes me to my next point. I actually own all said equipment but they go unused 90 % of the time. Why?
It’s because I find it hard to motivate myself to exercise at home. I’m also afraid of damaging my floors. Not to mention all the distractions (like participating pets or children).
I get into the zone at the gym and can focus on my workout. But you might be different. Working out at home is a very valid option for taking care of your health.
The advantages are obvious as well. No membership fees, no judging eyes, and no distracting socializing.
If you want to learn more about home workouts, I recommend you check out the articles Best Exercise Machine For Seniors [Simple Guide], Hand Weight Exercises For Seniors [With Tips] and Total Body Exercises For Seniors [Exercise Made Easy!].
The Best Gym For Seniors
So it all boils down to one thing in my opinion. Your personal preference! And as a tight second; convenience.
Any kind of gym that you like going to is better than one you don’t enjoy going to. That includes a home “gym” or exercising outside.
The truth is that way too many people give up on exercise because they try to force themselves to like exercises and gyms that simply aren’t suited for them.
That said, there’s always a short adjustment period, of course. So don’t give up on the first try. But in my experience, trusting your gut instinct is usually wise in the long run.
If you are someone who likes a tight-knit community and socializing, community gyms are probably the best option for you. They are affordable and typically have mostly regulars that have gone to them for years.
On the other hand, if you value modern equipment, steam rooms, saunas, and a spa’esque services. And aren’t that tight on money. A modern wellness center is probably more suitable for you.
Finally, I recommend you choose a gym that is near to you. The longer the way is, the easier is to make up excuses for not going.
That’s why for most folks the best gym is the one that’s close and reasonably priced. This can be a commercial gym or a community gym. Or your living room.
As a final note, if you can afford it, I would definitely recommend a personal trainer in the beginning. Preferably one that has experience training seniors. You can’t find them in every gym, so it’s worth asking around.
Once you know the ropes, it’s a lot easier to start working out on your own.
Conclusion
I hope you found this article about the best gym for seniors useful. If you were looking for a recommendation on a specific gym, I’m sorry but I can’t offer you one. We all have different needs.
As a recap, my recommendation is that you first make it clear what you actually need and want. Once you have that covered, it’s time to look for gyms.
I recommend you check out online what kind of gyms are nearby. Ask friends and relatives. If a friend is going to a gym that’s also near, that’s a bingo. Definitely give it a go. If there are trainers or courses there, even better!
After that, it’s a matter of preference. I urge you to trust your gut instinct and intuition when choosing a gym. If a place feels nice and cozy, it probably is.
That said, I also want to encourage you to try new things. If you’ve never been to a gym, It’s almost impossible to know which one would you prefer.
Thanks for reading and I hope I didn’t make you more confused. If I did, don’t hesitate to ask for my input below and I’ll do my best to help out!