CONGRATULATIONS! If you’ve kept up with your New Year’s fitness resolutions to this point, you’ve made it past national quitters day!!!
For those yet to begin, we’ve got you covered. If you’re eager to embark on a fitness journey, consider the following options:
1. **Big Gyms (“Globo Gyms”):**
– Pros: Affordable rates, ample equipment.
– Cons: Limited guidance, potential for feeling lost.
– Ideal for: Autonomous individuals who thrive with self-directed plans.
Globo Gyms rely on volume (3,000-10,000 members) and the fact that only a fraction of those people will show up on any given day. Prices range, but are generally pretty cheap ($20-$40 for basic globo gyms and upwards of $300/month for a gym like Equinox). I think of these places like libraries. Lots of resources available, but very little instruction and accountability. People often join, but then feel lost, overwhelmed, and give up because there’s no path or accountability. The folks who do well at globo gyms are what I call “autonomous” – they can come up with a plan for themselves and stick to it. All they need is access to equipment.
2. **Commodity Franchises (e.g., Orange Theory, F45):**
– Pros: Structured classes, moderate pricing.
– Cons: Large class sizes, simplicity in movements.
– Ideal for: Cardio enthusiasts seeking structured workouts.
These places typically have classes and rely on memberships ranging from 400-800 members. Because they’re often in retail locations, they’re trying to maximize operational capacity by packing 25-35 people into each class and rotate them through stations. Rates will range, but are ballpark $175-$250/month depending on how often you want to go and what kind of geographic location you’re in. There is also very little barrier to entry – you can go there, sign up, and start classes right away. There is some “coaching” (I would consider it more cheerleading than coaching) and movements are kept simple enough to account for the volume of people in each class. I think one of the potential cons is that people looking for more complexity might be wondering “what’s next?” once they’ve reached a certain level of fitness. In terms of the school analogy, I think of these places like college lecture halls. There’s more structure than a globo gym both in terms of “curriculum” and schedule, but still larger than I like. Or think – peloton, but in person. I generally find they’re good for the “cardio junkies” who want to just move and sweat for an hour.
3. **Specialized Gyms like EverProven in Dover:**
– Pros: High accountability, diverse workouts.
– Cons: Initial learning curve, varied pricing.
– Ideal for: Those valuing attention, constant challenges, and a supportive community.
The highest level of accountability would be through 1:1 personal training, but even for our group members (we cap classes at 22) We pull reports each week of people who are not showing up to class and we contact them to see what’s going on. Movements vary from gymnastics to olympic lifting to running/rowing/biking, etc. This actually creates quite a steep learning curve at first which is why many gyms like ours require an on-boarding process when you join. Think flying lessons before you become a pilot. Again, this can create a barrier to entry at first, but pays off in the long run because there’s always something new to master. Prices at places like ours have the greatest range: $165 for a couple of group classes per week up to $1,000+/month for daily personal training, individual design programming, and nutrition coaching. Ultimately what you’re paying for is attention, so I equate our group classes to a small college class and our personal training to having a private tutor. Ultimately, what you invest in is the level of attention and guidance you receive. Group classes can be likened to small college classes, while personal training or small group training feels like having a private tutor. We even have a more white glove concierge service that is lifestyle management focused (higher level coaching with accountability, assessments, and completely individualized optimization of your health factors). So you’re not just getting coaching the hour you’re in the gym, but coaching the other 23 hours of the day. Your choice depends on the level of attention and support you desire.
So, as you consider your fitness journey, remember that it’s never too late to start. Choose the path that aligns with your goals, and take that step toward a healthier and happier you. Your fitness journey awaits – make the most of this opportunity and give one of our professional coaches a call so we can help you decide which path is best for you (even if that means it’s not with us!)