| More and more insurance companies are offering | | | | can sometimes signal that the club is in financial trouble, |
| discounts on health and fitness club memberships in | | | | especially if the condition inside the club has recently |
| the Dallas and Houston areas and throughout Texas, | | | | taken a turn for the worse. These are signs that your |
| so it may be a good time to join a health club to stay | | | | health club is adequately maintained: |
| in shape and continue to improve upon your overall | | | | - The club should have routine sanitation procedures. |
| health. But be careful. If your health club cuts corners | | | | - Members should be instructed to clean off machines |
| when it comes to safety, sanitation and staff training, | | | | after use. So look for adequate paper towels and |
| you may actually be jeopardizing your health by | | | | spray bottles of disinfectant. |
| working out there. Now that you know that you should | | | | - The facility should be big enough to accommodate |
| keep your eyes open, here's what you should expect | | | | members, even during peak periods. Find out if the club |
| from a health club: | | | | limits memberships to keep crowding to a minimum. |
| 1. Instruction on the proper use of equipment and | | | | - Exercise equipment should be relatively new, not |
| facilities. | | | | outdated. |
| When you join a health club, someone from the club's | | | | - All equipment should be clean and in good repair. |
| staff should ask you to fill out a health history | | | | Worn or torn equipment may be a safety hazard. |
| questionnaire. If you have a serious health problem (e.g., | | | | - Instructions for use should be attached to each |
| a heart condition or a bad back), the club should | | | | machine. |
| require that you obtain medical clearance before | | | | - Mats and flooring should be clean and resilient enough |
| starting an exercise program. You should also be | | | | to protect against injury. |
| invited to a new member orientation session, which is | | | | - Showers and locker rooms should look and smell |
| usually a one-on-one session to learn club rules and | | | | clean, with absolutely no mold or mildew visible. |
| how to properly use the exercise equipment. Staff | | | | - The pool and hot tub should be sanitized regularly. |
| members should also work with you to design an | | | | Signs of inadequate sanitation include pool water that |
| exercise program that meets your needs, taking into | | | | burns your eyes or foam in the hot tub. |
| account any health problems or physical limitations you | | | | - Rules of use should be posted in the pool or hot tub |
| might have. | | | | area. |
| 2. Staff members who test your fitness when you | | | | - First aid kits should be well stocked and readily |
| start an exercise program. | | | | accessible to both staff and members. |
| Staff members should check on you periodically after | | | | 5. Adequate security in and around the club. |
| your initial consultation. Even after you've been there | | | | Health clubs often post signs warning members not to |
| for a few months, they should be readily available to | | | | leave valuables in their lockers. Because lockers are |
| answer questions and teach you proper exercise | | | | notoriously easy to jimmy open, petty thieves often |
| techniques. This is possible only if there's an adequate | | | | target them. This doesn't necessarily mean that the |
| instructor-to-member ratio. If there are only a few staff | | | | health club has lax security, but it does mean that you |
| members on duty, they may not be able to give you | | | | should find out if the health club is going the extra mile |
| the personal attention you need to exercise safely. | | | | to protect you and your possessions. Determine if |
| 3. Qualified and well-trained staff members. | | | | your club has: |
| All staff members should know about health and | | | | - Security measures in place to ensure that only |
| fitness issues and should be trained in CPR and first | | | | members or their guests can enter or leave the |
| aid. In addition, exercise instructors should be certified | | | | building, such as membership cards, surveillance |
| by a nationally or internationally recognized organization | | | | cameras or gates. |
| such as the Aerobics and Fitness Association of | | | | - Well-lit parking areas. |
| America or the American College of Sports Medicine. | | | | - Security guards, if the area is especially dangerous. |
| 4. Equipment and facilities are clean and safe to use. | | | | - A well-attended child-care facility, if the health club |
| Check out the condition of the equipment and the | | | | offers childcare. |
| cleanliness of the facility. Even though state and/or | | | | If you notice that your health club is not as clean or |
| local governments must license health clubs, there's a | | | | safe as it should be, talk to the club's director. If your |
| chance they may not be closely regulated. However, | | | | concerns aren't resolved or if serious health violations |
| they may be certified by a national organization, such | | | | exist, contact the local or state authority responsible |
| as the International Health, Racquet and Sports Club | | | | for monitoring business or sanitary practices in your |
| Association ( which requires members to maintain | | | | area, such as Texas' Attorney General's office or |
| clean, safe facilities and adhere to a strict code of | | | | your city's Health Department. |
| ethics. So dirty locker rooms and broken equipment | | | | |