en-us New articles added to FindMyGym. http://www.findmygym.com http://www.findmygym.com/article-1.php http://www.findmygym.com/article-1.php Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800 FindMyGym.com Getting a good feel for a gym is hard to do if you are just dropping in to see what they offer. Don't waste your time by going in without the facts. Most gyms offer free trial passes so that customers like you can test run their facility prior to signing up for a membership. Free passes are great to try out a new location that might be more convenient or see if gym with a pool is available through the winter months. Once you have chosen a gym, now comes the hard part. What to do when you get there? How can you make the most of your free pass and try out all amenities your potential membership could include. Chose a time to visit the gym that is closest to the time you would frequent the gym. This will give you a good idea as to whether it is typically crowded or not during that time of day. Crowded gyms often have parking constraints putting additional time on to your gym commute. Squeezing in a workout before work requires dedication and time management. Give yourself some extra time when trying out a new gym, that way you won't be late for work. Locker room and shower facilities are the key to a morning workout. Make sure the showers and changing areas are up to your standards of clean. Find out whether or not towels and locks for lockers are provided. To make the most of the weight room, a full body workout should be completed. Choose a variety of exercises designed to target each major muscle group. This will give you a good feeling for all of the equipment in the gym. Make sure to use a combination of machines as well as free weights. Many gyms are now stocked with a large selection of functional equipment. Functional equipment is the more non-traditional type equipment. Stability Balls, balance boards, resistance bands and medicine balls are all types of functional equipment. This type of equipment is great for strengthening your core muscles and improving balance and coordination. Completing your cardiovascular exercise after you lift weights can result in an increased burn of calories from fat. Most gyms have numerous different cardio systems. Some or all of these may have cardio theaters. A cardio theater is a television screen attached to the piece of equipment where only the person on that piece of equipment has control over channels and volume can be accessed through personal headphones. Cardio theaters can make doing extended periods of exercise more manageable by allowing the exerciser to zone into a show or new program and forget that they are exercising. Stretching has many benefits and all good gyms will have a designated stretching area away from the other equipment. The free gym pass is a great way to explore the different areas of a gym and make a decision based on true experience, not just internet reviews. With stretching complete, the experience of a new gym is complete and you can make an informed decision on a new membership. All gyms want your business so give it to them for a few days so they can prove themselves. http://www.findmygym.com/article-2.php http://www.findmygym.com/article-2.php Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800 FindMyGym.com Gym membership deals are being offered at almost all gyms these days. Enticing offers of zero enrollment fees, discounted personal training, or unlimited group exercise classes are displayed on marquees trying to lure you in. Let them hook you…at least for a day. Gyms want your business and are willing to offer the goods to get it. Most gyms offer free gym passes to allow you to test run their amenities to see if they are offering what you are looking for in a gym. A gym is only as good as your use of it. Any gym membership card you have that has been collecting dust isn’t worth your money even if it is only $10 a month for life. Gyms are now becoming a mecca for all things fitness related. Some gyms have climbing walls. Others have in house spa discounts offered to those with memberships. The popularity of group exercise classes has prompted many gyms to include unlimited fitness classes as a benefit of membership. Another great use of a free gym pass is to try out different group exercise classes you have been interested in. Some larger gyms offer greater variety or classes that require larger amounts of space. Not only larger gyms and franchises offer free gym passes and promotional specials. Smaller local gyms love the patronage of their neighbors and frequently offer specials that rival or often trump the more recognizable larger gyms. Local gyms offer the benefits of convenience to your home which is always a plus when trying to squeeze a workout into your already tightly packed schedule. In addition to free gym passes, smaller gyms often offer referral fees for any new business you send their way. Knowing your neighbors can pay you back. Being content with your current workout routine is fine, as long as it is working. No matter how great the deal or how close to your home, fitness is what you make of it. Knowing what local gyms have to offer can be one zip code search away. Websites that offer searches based on your local area give you the ability to search all local gyms at one time. Get the latest lists of deals in your area and act on them if interested. Get the most from your money and see what is out there.