4 Expert Tips on Choosing the Right Fitness Center

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When the great outdoors is your back yard, do you need an indoor option for exercise? After all, you can bike, hike, paddle, snowshoe, ski or swim your way to good health, right?

Ah, how quickly we forget subzero winter days, bone-drenching spring thunderstorms and those blessedly rare nearly 90-degree late summer scorchers. Not to mention that hanging out with other folks also working out can be inspirational.

Fitness centers are here to help, and the choices are substantial around the Big Lake. But how to decide which one is right for our needs?

For some, fitness centers provide a consistent, interesting place to work out. They offer trained professionals to sculpt a program for you, specialized options like swimming pools, climbing walls and classes, and more equipment than you’ll ever fit in your basement.

Plus there’s that social atmosphere. Some connect to workout buddies by visiting centers at the same time daily or weekly.

If you’re looking for an indoor fitness home, here are a few things local experts suggest you consider.

1. Support Staff & Workout Options

If it’s your first time around the gym, it’s good to get started where pros can help you navigate the equipment and options beyond the hardware.

In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, All In One Fitness Club in the Chi Mukwa Recreational Facility is the largest fitness center in the city. Owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, All in One features a wide array of strength training and cardio equipment, plus spinning and yoga classes. Most importantly, though, the center, which is open to everyone, provides professional consultations.

New members or those considering joining can rely on staff to help them get started, says center supervisor Josh Firack. “It can be overwhelming for somebody walking in, looking at 50 different pieces of equipment. We take them through and show them some real basic things to keep it as simple as possible.”  

Josh has been a personal trainer for 20 years. He works with members to vary their routines and asks them to tap staff guidance in proper equipment use and exercise techniques.

The variety and quantity of equipment at All in One means something just right for any need, another consideration when choosing a fitness center. “There’s not an instance where people can’t use what they want to use because it’s too busy,” Josh says. “We have the equipment to meet a lot of people’s needs.”

Being tribally owned, the center links to the Sault Tribe’s health division and its registered dietitians and health educators.

In Duluth, John Haugrud, manager at Essentia Health Fitness and Therapy Center, also emphasizes that you should consider staffing when looking for a center. “Do they have personnel to work with you to set up your program? Do they have any kind of assessment mechanism up front? Any fitness center should have a general staff person who can give you a basic fitness assessment and program.”

On the Essentia hospital campus, the fitness center can tap additional expertise. “We are adjacent to a physical therapy area, so there are a lot of cross-connections,” says John. “People can come right out of injury management and go into fitness management.”

One of the biggest attractions of the Duluth facility, though, is its five-lane, 25-meter lap swimming pool. Pools are not necessarily available at all centers, though places like the YMCAs may have such options.

“The biggest thing we decided 25 years ago,” says John, “is that, almost all the time, all the lanes are open for lap swim. We have a couple aerobic classes, but they only use two lanes. The vast majority of the time the pool is open for lap swim. We also have a warm water therapy pool used by general membership and individuals with access needs and for physical therapy. We have arthritis programs we’ve run for 25 years.”

Another center linked to a hospital system, Lake View Hospital Physical Medicine & Fitness Center in Two Harbors, Minnesota, also runs as a physical therapy outpatient clinic and the fitness center is open to the community. It is connected to the St. Luke’s Health Care System.

“We have a full orientation,” says Manager Katie Klessig. “We incorporate a well-rounded program with both aerobic and weight training.”

2. Cost & Flexibility

Cost of membership is another consideration when choosing a center. You need to ask about initial registration fees, monthly costs, additional class costs, flexible memberships and cancellation policies.

Most require a sign-up fee and monthly fees. Newcomers need to be aware – and perhaps wary – of long-term sign-ups that look like good deals, but don’t allow cancellation without substantial penalties.

Today it’s possible to find many financial options and incentives.

Insurance plans, even low-level ones, often kick in money for fitness center membership if you go eight to 12 times per month. Some employers reimburse employees for part or all of membership costs.

Some facilities waive registration fees during certain times of the year (generally January or September) or for other reasons. At All In One, membership is free for tribal members, and it offers discounts for groups, such as government employees and teachers. Its $35 a month rate for others can be lowered to $20 per month with a full-year contract.

“We try to offer as many economical options to make it as accessible as possible,” says Josh.

Both All In One and Essentia fitness centers offer day passes. During March and December, Essentia discounts the day passes to half price. These can then be used at any time during the year with no expiration date.

“It gives a person a chance with no commitment to see the facility and see if they want to join,” says Essentia’s John Haugrud. “We have many people who don’t live in town, but when they’re here, they use the day pass.”

At many facilities, members who spend more time outdoors in the summer or flee south in the winter can put membership on hold. Essentia’s fitness center allows sabbaticals for up to six months.

At All in One Fitness, Josh says, “We definitely work with folks.”

In Ontario, the Nipigon Fitness Centre doesn’t allow holds, but offers multiple cost options and a variety of sign-up lengths. “There are daily, weekly, monthly, six-monthly, yearly rates,” says Celeste Mannila, recreation director of the centre. “People know ahead of time how long they’re going to be around.”

Its yearly rate of $101 for seniors (less than $10 monthly) and $267 for families (less than $25 monthly) are good bargains. It has arranged free memberships for groups like volunteer firefighters and full-time Nipigon Township employees.

3. Childcare & Other Amenities

While centers connected to hospitals can offer good amenities, your schedule or your family needs might require other options.

Many Lake-area cities have private franchises like Curves and Anytime Fitness tailored to specific schedule needs. Curves features a 30-minute, complete body workout – cardio, strength and stretching – for women only. Anytime Fitness is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so even a second-shift work schedule is no excuse to avoid exercise. Often these large franchises allow members to use their facilities anywhere around the country or even the world.

If you have children, the YMCA family of centers is a good option. Those in Superior, Duluth, Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette in Michigan, and Grand Marais, Minnesota, for example, provide free drop-in child care for members for up to two hours. They also offer memberships to youths and children, which adults-only centers do not.

Essentia’s fitness center requires members to be 15 or older, which attracts members who prefer working out or swimming without children.

Many universities and colleges offer their top-rate fitness facilities to community members. At Michigan Tech in Houghton, for example, the fitness center offers a swimming pool, climbing wall, racquetball courts and a shooting range in addition to its state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment.

4. Friendly People & Ask Your Friends

Sometimes the social aspect of a fitness center can be an important motivator. Celeste describes membership at the Nipigon center as mostly seniors, many of whom come for the sense of community. “A lot of people come and try out our facility. They’ll come in and try a treadmill, and then they’ll go buy one for their house.”

Sometimes, though, they return, she adds. “They like the interaction and the social atmosphere.”

Friends are also a good source of information, suggests John at Essentia. “Find out the word on the street. Check with friends to gather information first.” He advises you visit and compare many facilities.

When you do visit a center, John advises you to look at customer service, maintenance and housekeeping.

“First thing you walk in the door, see how you’re greeted. That’s going to be the face of the facility and show what customer service is at that facility.

“Next there will be a representative to give you a tour. Rather than let the representative do all the talking, ask any questions you can ask. Any question is a good question. Look for maintenance and housekeeping. That’s a huge item in facilities.”

John adds, “Look to see if there are a whole lot of out-of-order signs on equipment. There’s no reason to have out-of-order signs. On occasion you may have one or two, but they should get fixed as soon as possible. As you walk through pool areas and locker rooms, look at the general cleanliness.”

Regardless of which center you choose, John says, getting into a routine of exercise can be life changing.

“It’s not that hard. It’s a small commitment. Get away from the TV for 45 minutes a couple days a week. You’ll be glad you did.”

6 Benefits of Working Out

The Mayo Clinic offers these benefits from regular exercise, recommending 30 minutes daily, with added time to meet weight-loss or fitness goals. Check with a doctor before starting a new program, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time or have health issues.

Exercise:

… controls weight

Physical activity burns calories, which in turn can help maintain a healthy weight. If you can’t get to the fitness center, even choices like stairs vs. elevator can help with the burn.

… combats health conditions & diseases

Physical activity helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, to name just a few.

… improves mood

Exercise reduces stress (blows off steam) and stimulates brain chemicals that make us happier and more relaxed.

… boosts energy

Physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues, increases endurance and makes your body work more efficiently.

… promotes better sleep

Exercise helps you fall asleep faster and deeper (though avoid exercise just before bed or you’ll be too jazzed to sleep).

… puts the spark into your sex life

It’s a family magazine. You’ll just have to take the Mayo’s word on this one.

Felicia Schneiderhan has found her perfect workout – three children younger than 5.