So, I went to a brand new gym!  I was looking at it with a friend and since I am a gym owner (of a much lower scale) I thought I would check out what a new facility contained.

Wow, what a bag of mixed thoughts!  Impressed and disappointed all at the same time. 

Let me set the stage for you...this gym is an entire building of 5 floors.  It was meant to be a small hospital but plans fell through.  A former athlete decided to open a gym in the available space.   It is within a 5 minute walk of a park that is home to acres of green space and a well maintained 1850m tree covered track.  hint hint.

I'll bet you are dying to know what is in the gym!  Ok, I'll outline each floor...

Outside patio has table tennis, and tabled seating areas. Walk in...locker rooms, showers and toilets.  Nice. Marble floors, cool clocks, lockers and accesories. 

Next floor (via stairs or elevator-you pick)... CARDIO.  The latest in Technogym treadmills steppers and ellipticals...lots of $$!

Going up... some rowing ergometers, and a series of pneumatic equipment.  Pneu..what?!?  Hydraulic looking cylinders that control the resistance on the machine.  The down side is that they are not functional at all for real life.  The up side is that when used they induce little to no soreness due to little or no eccentric contraction.  Great for the person who hates exercise and stops at any hint of next day pain.

Yet another floor...this one has some Technogym machines.  All of your basics but with a nice little gadget that allows you to put in a memory card to count your reps and remember your load for next time.  Ya, I know, gym rats can be muscle heads but now we don't have to think at all!  This floor also has the free weights.  Not much room for the most important stuff!  Such a pity....no real squat racks (just a smith squat) and not even a chinup bar.  Boooo.

Moving up...this floor has a room full of spin bikes (the class where you really use your imagination) and another room for martial arts training.

Nose bleed section...this floor is for the aerobics training.

If you are not lightheaded yet, you go up another floor to the roof for the juice bar, lounge chairs and jacuzzi in the sunshine.

I have to admit.  The building is cool and idea could work for a lot of people.  BUT it is called a SPORTZ club.  Are you kidding?  There is next to nothing that could properly prepare someone for any sport. 

Before you sign up to be the newest member of the fanciest gym ask yourself a few questions...

Will I actually go often enough to get my money's worth?
Is it an environment that I want to be in?
Can I commute more via foot or bike versus car to add activity in my life?  Or take the stairs at my gym vs the elevator ....honestly!
Do I have access to green space to get more exercise outside? 
If I talked to some friends could I organize an exercise group?
Can I do more exercise or sport with my family and set an example?
Do they have professionals that can tailor programs for me? 
Do I want a body that is the product of a machine or one that is fit, functional and adaptable?
Will I enjoy my time there doing something good for my body or am I looking for a social scene?

I am certainly not discouraging you from joining a gym!  I always have access to gym for all of my lifting needs.   I want you to consider what the right environment for your needs is.  Don't hop onto a new gym like a new fad that becomes tiresome in a month.  Choose a gym or training strategy that fits your health needs, lifestyle and can get you toward your goals.

Train with purpose!
Kari