ample, why pay for a palatial
locker room with blow dryers and
designer soap if you're never go-
ing to use it?
• Consider specializing. If you
don't need a full-service club, in-
vestigate a weights-only gym, an
aerobics or yoga studio or a com-
munity swimming pool if those
are your special interests. You
may save money, and there are
advantages to facilities that spe-
cialize.
• Pick the right atmosphere.
Some gyms are like a singles bar,
with everyone strutting and
preening and flirting, and there's
nothing wrong with working out
and meeting the love of your life
(or at least a date for Saturday
night). Other exercisers prefer
a more low-key family atmos-
phere, or a women-only gym, or
one that caters to serious weight
lifters.
• Learn about the staff. A
bubblehead at the front- desk
might not be a problem, but
staffers who actually work with
members should be qualified.
Ideally, they are certified by the
American College of Sports Med-
icine, the Institute for Aerobics
Research, the American Coun-
cil on Exercise or the Aerobics
and Fitness Association of Amer-
ica. At the very least they should
be familiar with the machines
and able to get you started on
a basic program.
If you want more personal at-
tention, find out if the gym has
on-staff personal trainers or can
refer you to a qualified trainer.
• Try it out. Ask if you can join
an aerobics class or try it out for
a week before signing on the dot-
ted line. Some gyms offer short-
term trial memberships.
• Ask about future plans. A
club that has plans for expanded
programs or facilities is probably
in sound shape.
• Read the fine print. Read the
membership agreement careful-
ly. Initiation and monthly fees
should be reasonable (initiation
fees should be no more than 10
times the monthly dues).
Bear in mind that clubs charg-
ing high initiation fees and low
monthly dues often have a high
membership turnover.
Make sure you can freeze a
membership in the event of in-
jury, or transfer your member-
ship to an affiliated location if you
move.
• Look for ways to save mon-
ey. Some gyms offer reduced
rates for off-peaks-hours mem-
bership. Others sell lower-cost
partial memberships for use of
some, but not all, of the facilities.
And some health clubs offer
a discount to members who pay
a year's worth of dues in ad-
vance. 111
Alision Ashton writes for Copley
News Service.
efore choosing a health plan, make
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The DMC Health Care Centers.
When comparing health plans, here's
And, we're open on Saturdays and offer
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a comforting fact
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choosing a
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The DMC
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Of course, this isn't the only advantage
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