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Gym Membership Tricks
Your Gym's Dirty Little Secrets
Before you re-up for another year, there's a thing or two you should know about health clubs
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What Your Gym Doesn't Want You to Know
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1
They'll Fight to Keep You
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2
Monthly Contracts Can Be a Rip-Off
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3
The Place Is Crawling with Germs
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4
They Hire Some Dud Trainers
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5
You Can't Trust Them With Your Life
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6
They May Keep Charging You After You've Canceled
They Hire Some Dud Trainers
Don't be distracted by his ripped biceps and "staff" tee: There are hundreds of ways to get certified as a personal trainer--some via an at-home, open-book test. "It's a completely unregulated industry," says Walter Thompson, Ph.D., a Regents' professor in the department of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University. Before you shell out extra dough for a session with someone who may have learned everything he knows from Personal Training for Slackers, ask the gym manager about the hiring criteria for trainers. Check for years of experience and a certification that's accredited through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. (Look for one of these acronyms: NSCA, ACSM, NASM, or ACE.) Resume aside, watch the way a trainer interacts with clients, says Pamela Kufahl, editor-in-chief of Club Industry. If you want a Chris Powell and he's more Jillian Michaels (or vice versa), keep looking. Another red flag: He doesn't ask questions about your fitness level, past injuries, or other medical issues. A good trainer won't tell someone with a sore shoulder or tennis elbow to drop and give him 20.
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