LITTLE ROCK — Employees of fitness centers anticipate your new resolve to become a new person in this new year. They see you and your mile-long list of resolutions coming down the highway.
Despite the sluggish economy, Americans are still flocking to gyms. An estimated 51.4 million people were going to fitness centers at the start of 2012, according to an annual survey conducted by the Boston-based International Health, Racquet & Sports club Association, a trade association representing gymnasiums. That was up 12.8 percent from four years earlier.
Members went to their gym an average of 102.5 days during 2011, about twice a week.
“That’s the highest we’ve tracked,” association senior research manager Melissa Rodriguez said.
This is why, against all inclinations, you might want to wait a bit before signing up for a gym membership. Many health-related businesses seem like they’re peddling some sweet deals out there, but the law of basic economics applies: When demand for a product or service is high, the price point for it rises in kind.
Instead of signing up at the first gym you walk into, test the waters. Find a place that really suits you - your goals, your personality, your schedule and your budget.
Here are a few tips for your painstaking, well-researched, totally-not-hurried search:
What works for you? Not to get too philosophical, but if you really like Pilates, you should probably go to a Pilates studio. Or take dance classes, or swim in the mornings, or go to an ice rink. If you like watching ESPN while logging miles on the elliptical, go with that.
What can you afford? If you spring for an expensive gym membership - say, $80 a month - that works out to $19,200 over the course of 20 years. Many big gyms have everything you could imagine. If you’re only using a fraction of it, you’re overpaying. Do you want to buy too much gym?
Compare and contrast: Many gyms have free trial periods, measured in sessions or days. Take advantage of this to find out whether you like a particular class, whether machines are maintained well, whether the locker rooms are kept clean. The sales representative doesn’t need to know you’re trying five other gyms.
Investigate the really great deals: This is especially the case with bargain gyms or specific memberships. Check the fine print to see if your visits are limited.
Wait until the end of the month: As personal trainer Jason Anderson explained in an article on the Spark People website, gyms might have quotas. “At the first of the month, these sales goals don’t seem as daunting to employees as they do in the last week of the month,” he wrote in “10 Ways to Save Money at the Gym.”
Making a commitment later in the month enhances the odds that you’ll get a deal.
Bargain: When the moment of truth comes, negotiate. Ask if they’ll waive that exorbitant initiation fee, or throw in some guest passes or a couple of personal-training sessions for free. There might be a discount if you bring along a friend to sign up. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
See if your employer, or your insurance company, will reimburse you for the monthly cost.
ActiveStyle, Pages 28 on 01/28/2013