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| | | | new, not outdated.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