As the New Year rapidly approaches, so does the rush for Americans to find and join a gym that fits their needs. Studies done by the International Health, Racquet & Sports club Association (IHRSA) show that the month of January is the most popular month for consumers to join a gym; it is, of course, the time of year when New Year’s resolutions are made. As the trade organization for the fitness industry, IHRSA has some specific suggestions that will help consumers pick the right gym for their needs.

• Are club staff members friendly and helpful?
• Is the club clean and well maintained?
• Do fitness staff members have appropriate educational backgrounds and/or certification from nationally recognized certifying agencies, such as the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine or the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America?
• Are new members provided with a club orientation and instruction on how to use equipment?
• Does the club have the cardiovascular and resistance equipment you want and need to achieve your fitness goals?
• Will the staff help you identify and set achievable short and long-term fitness goals?
• Does the club offer a sufficient number and variety of programs (aerobics, yoga, pilates, etc.) for you to remain motivated and achieve your goals?
• Does the club offer a sufficient number and variety of programs for you to achieve other goals (stress management, relaxation, physical therapy)?
• Is childcare available if you need it?

   Speak with current club members. Find out what a friend or someone with similar fitness interests thinks of the club.

The Gift of Health and Fitness is the best gift you could give yourself or someone you love. It is found that individuals who exercise regularly are less likely to develop: heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure high cholesterol levels, certain forms of cancer, and osteoporosis. And individuals who exercise regularly are more likely to: maintain a healthy body weight, maintain lean muscle, which is often lost with increasing age, have higher levels of self-esteem and self-confidence, continue to perform activities of daily living as they grow older, and experience overall feelings of well-being and good health.