Crossroads Fitness Blog

Health clubs have been around since the mid-1800s.  People discovered clubs could and would become a powerful tool in achieving health and wellness. 

Joining and using a fitness facility offers many benefits, including instruction, motivation, socialization and variety, There are pros and cons to exercising in a health club setting. It all depends on you and your situation.  

Deciding when, how and why you want to lead a healthy lifestyle begins with motivation. This motivation could be a poor health condition or the desire to avoid one.  It could be to lose weight, build strength or prepare for a special event. Whatever your motivation to get started, a fitness facility offers a good choice. It provides an opportunity to try a variety of workout options — from exciting group exercise classes to small group training and weights to cardio equipment. Trainers have a passion to help and motivate you.

A strong pro is health clubs are filled with people just like you who’ve decided to live healthy lifestyles. By surrounding yourself with people whose goals are similar to yours, it creates a common ground. People of all ages, fitness levels and walks of life come together to create an atmosphere of motivation and socialization.

This broad social circle — whether acquaintances, friends, co-workers or family members — not only promotes motivation and accountability, but also Quick read more or view full article boosts mental health and makes exercise more fun. Social isolation has become a real issue in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, one with such health risks for older people as cardiovascular disease and inflammation.

Health clubs offer trained staffs. It’s their passion to learn, help people with their individual health goals and stay abreast of the latest trends. Personal trainers can teach you how to exercise effectively and safely. They can create workouts specifically for you. Group exercise instructors teach a variety of classes for all fitness levels that include such mind and body classes as yoga, Rokbarre and Pilates as well as such cardio classes as cycling and high-intensity interval training. That’s not to mention water classes and classes for seniors. Instructors prepare, practice and are ready to lead motivational classes. All you have to do is participate.

A full-service club features an aquatic center as well as childcare, equipment, locker rooms and weights. You can work out in a temperature-controlled environment during winter and summer months. 

Some people don’t find all the positive aspects of a fitness facility beneficial. They don’t exercise, so it’s not beneficial. Some people are disciplined in exercising at home or outdoors. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. 

One of the top reasons people might not join a health club is the cost. But it’s also a matter of value. When you’re spending your hard-earned dollars, it needs to be  for something of value to you.  If you buy a health club membership and don’t use it, there’s no value. But there’s also the opportunity to use a club as much as you’d like. That opportunity is literally endless in possibilities.

Consider what’s available at health clubs. Research facilities and what they offer. You might believe you can enjoy effective workouts at home. But can you? Will you?

At the beginning of a new year, health and wellness come to the forefront of people’s minds.  Consider all your options. The goal is choosing something that will help you find the motivation to create and continue life-long health and fitness habits.