Choosing the Gym that’s Right for You

New Year’s resolutions may be long-forgotten, but with summer fast approaching, many people will find motivation to start working out again—and maybe even join a gym. With so many different gyms and ways to workout, this can be a daunting task. It’s easy to get roped into paying more for extra services when you don’t even know if you will enjoy them. A good place to start is comparing the differences between working out alone versus joining group workout sessions.

In the Danforth community, there are two different big-name gyms, each with very different ways of operating. One of them is GoodLife Fitness. At GoodLife Fitness, each member has access to the gym’s equipment (which mostly includes free weights and exercise machines). Some locations have squash courts, swimming pools, tanning facilities, and hot yoga studios. GoodLife Fitness also offers other services to their members, including a variety of fitness classes focusing on cardio, strength training, mind and body, as well as virtual fitness. GoodLife offers training programs—which tend to be a little more intense—through personal training, bootcamp style classes, and a program called PEAK, which utilizes High Intensity Impact Training (HIIT) throughout its workouts.

The other popular gym in the Danforth community is Orangetheory Fitness. Orangetheory Fitness specializes in group workout classes that are led by a coach. This coach will demonstrate, supervise, and encourage participants throughout the duration of the workout, making sure everyone is having fun, achieving their goals, and being safe. What makes Orangetheory Fitness different from other group workout classes is that they incorporate technology into their workouts so that members have instant quantifiable results. During the session, data is collected through a heart rate monitor and displayed on screens in the gym, as well as automatically uploaded to the Orangetheory Fitness app. The goal of each workout is to have every participant in the “Orange Zone” for 12 minutes or more, meaning you are pushing yourself while remaining at a safe level for your body.

Although both gyms have different options for their members, both are effective. With such a large variety of options to choose from at GoodLife Fitness, members are given a chance to discover what type of workout environment will garner their success. With access to the gym and personalized services, you can plan workouts into your schedule. Orangetheory Fitness provides a sense of community that can lead to new friendships in their class setting. It also provides a safe environment with a coach to motivate you and make sure you are doing the workouts properly.

Prior to going into the gym, look at your own personal goals and how they match the services a gym can provide. Also, take advantage of free trials or shorter paid trials, and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions when you go to check out these facilities. Keep in mind that as your fitness goals change, you might also need to change the style of workout you are completing in order to achieve those new goals. Working out is for everyone, you just need to find what works for you!