|
|
|
|
 |
Email
|
Consumer Tips: Find the Gym for You
6 Signs You Joined the Wrong Gym—and What to Do About it Now
These solutions to your membership misfortunes will help you navigate through the haze and see the bigger picture down the road
By
-
Fixes to Common Health Club Complaints
-
1
“It seemed clean when I visited, but now I’m grossed out”
-
2
“My favorite treadmill/ elliptical/ weight machine is broken”
-
3
“It’s so crowded I can’t get a workout in edgewise”
-
4
“The location near me closed”
-
5
“I’m getting nickled and dimed”
-
6
“The instructors are too busy checking out their own form to correct mine”
“It seemed clean when I visited, but now I’m grossed out”
Why it’s a problem: Wearing shower shoes in the locker room isn’t going to protect your entire body from germs lingering on equipment if your gym doesn’t have an adequate scrubdown protocol. Unclean equipment—especially those you spend a lot of time on, like yoga mats—can become a breeding ground for skin infections ranging from athletes’ foot to herpes and MRSA, according to a 2010 position statement from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
More: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Before Joining a Gym
What you can do now: If you like everything about the gym but the unexpected filth, don’t assume it can’t be fixed. “Remember, the janitors aren’t navigating the gym in the same way you are, using the water fountains, picking up the resistance bands, and sitting on the machines,” says Ben Greenfield, a certified strength and conditioning coach based in Spokane, WA. So talk to the general manager, who has the power to ratchet up the cleaning. “But give him some sugar first,” recommends New York City based personal trainer Jeff Teta. Tell him what you love about the gym, then about the sanitation problem. “If you go in with guns loaded you’ll probably wind up with an 800 number to call,” says Teta. In the meantime, B.Y.O. yoga or Pilates mat (the borrowed ones can transmit athletes foot and plantar warts via barefoot contact) and scrub it thoroughly with antibacterial soap after your session. (Video: Yoga routine that helps burn fat and relieve stress)
Next time: Do a water fountain check before you join. If it’s clean—no discoloration on the basin or gunk clogging the drain—that’s a good indicator, says Greenfield.
The 10 Worst Germ Hot Spots
More: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Before Joining a Gym
What you can do now: If you like everything about the gym but the unexpected filth, don’t assume it can’t be fixed. “Remember, the janitors aren’t navigating the gym in the same way you are, using the water fountains, picking up the resistance bands, and sitting on the machines,” says Ben Greenfield, a certified strength and conditioning coach based in Spokane, WA. So talk to the general manager, who has the power to ratchet up the cleaning. “But give him some sugar first,” recommends New York City based personal trainer Jeff Teta. Tell him what you love about the gym, then about the sanitation problem. “If you go in with guns loaded you’ll probably wind up with an 800 number to call,” says Teta. In the meantime, B.Y.O. yoga or Pilates mat (the borrowed ones can transmit athletes foot and plantar warts via barefoot contact) and scrub it thoroughly with antibacterial soap after your session. (Video: Yoga routine that helps burn fat and relieve stress)
Next time: Do a water fountain check before you join. If it’s clean—no discoloration on the basin or gunk clogging the drain—that’s a good indicator, says Greenfield.
The 10 Worst Germ Hot Spots
More From
| Related Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
Related Content
Advertisement
There's More on Twitter!
Get up-to-the-minute tips on fitness, healthy eating, weight loss and more
Must-see on MSN
