Does a reeeallly nice gym make you more inclined to go? 👟

[Natsukine]

If you go somewhere with really lovely changing rooms, nice toiletries, maybe a posh spa, etc, do you think you’re more likely to go?

Yes absolutely. I’ve tested this theory a few times with posh/cheap gyms and I definitely use the posh gyms more. Nice showers, a pool… feels like me time

The most important factor in how often you will go to a gym is convenience.

I went to a super expensive gym near my office. Very convenient for work but what really made it was I had a full time locker there, so kept shoes, toiletries, makeup, spare kit there so literally had no excuse.

Now I mainly wfh so ho to the gym round the corner. Yes the classes are crap by comparison but I can be there and ready to go in 10 minutes.

Agree with @Covidclaire. I go to a really nice gym with good facilities, but the most important thing is that it's a five minute walk from my house.

We have one at home and even that doesn't make me inclined to go!!

no I don't think it does. I tried a really nice place but it was too far and therefore however nice it was I didn't use it. I think you need somewhere very close and convenient. I also think that if you are a reluctant exerciser then you would be better off focusing on walking more and maybe doing some classes locally.

For me, yes.

It doesn't need to be mega fancy. Just nice - with towels, toiletries and nice showers.

Yes I’ve tested this. I’m much more inclined to get up early and go before work if there are lovely showers with all the products I need and good quality hair dryers/straighteners/curlers so I can get ready afterwards without lugging all my stuff around with me.
I tend to do classes so I’m not overly bothered about fancy gym equipment but a clean pool, sauna and jacuzzi mean I’ll make more of an evening out of it and actually look forward to it.

I also agree with the convenience. I’m in a bit of a conundrum at the moment as my previous fancy gyms have been minutes from my office so easy to go before or after work. Now I only go into the office a maximum of twice a week I can’t justify paying for one in the city but there’s nowhere anywhere near decent near home so I’ve become very lazy.

I’ve been a member of loads and loads of gyms. The thing that makes me go is convenience. So a very short walk from office or station.
The gym with the most amazing convenience factor was one where you could rent your own locker there and they did a laundry service. So never had to lug my stuff around as it stayed there and after working out I put it in the laundry and next time would just collect it all nice and clean!

Yes but combined with it being convenient with on-site parking (which the nicer gyms tend to have)

No, I go to a dirt cheap gym, I go because I want to and love to work out, I like it better than the posh gym because its never too busy, people are in and out and there to work out and nothing else

Yes definitely

Convenience is a factor but I used to love going to my nice gym on a weekend, working out and then using the gorgeous pool and sauna etc

I have two gyms within a ten minute walk of my home but they’re not the greatest. (I have been a member at both.) For example, one of them holds the classes in a sort of sports hall rather than a really nice mirrored class. The other one, the changing rooms were really basic etc.

Yes, for me it does.
I belonged to a cheap basic gym 10 minutes walk from my home.
It was quite small a bit shabby with only a few classes. The gym equipment was ok, not much space though & the changing facilities and showers were a bit grotty. To be honest I hardly ever went.
I now pay quite a bit more for a luxury gym with sauna and steam 2 pools, enormous gym, loads of classes and a great restaurant and coffee bar. I go at least 4 times a week, sometimes more.

How far away is it @Chickydoo?

That’s the word, the local ones feel a bit grotty! We can’t afford to live in the nice part of town 😂

@Natsukine about a 20-15 minute drive. It's wort it though.

@Natsukine 10-15 min

Probably the opposite for me. I go to a no-nonsense gym and prefer to spend money on training rather than luxury.

Nope, in fact I've given up on gyms now and the last 4 years I've had an annual,subscription to the Jillian Michaels My Fitness app.

Turns out after all these years that I CAN exercise 5 times a week, when I don't have to leave the house or bother with how I look!

Convenience is everything

I think you need to find one that fit with the pattern of you life.

I had a nice gym but gave it up when I moved in with dh as it was too far in the wrong direction.

Nearest nice gym (I've been for spa days) where I live now is nowhere near as nice and is more expensive so has helped me decide what I am willing to pay for.

• clean changing rooms (floor especially there is nothing worse that a hairy gritty wet floor in a gym)
• decent spaces to get changed in (6 women all trying to get changed for work with gym bags etc)
• nice relaxing pool spa steam room
• pool not freely open to members children
• variety of instructors and classes
• good location - mine was in a very nice retail park next to abs ms food hall and would regularly finish the 6pm gym class and head to ms for the day10p Baguettes

So now I have a choice of local leisure centre or 'nice' gym so I decide to do neither! I really should join up again. Sadly old nice gym was shut due to COVID. Pool filled in and is turning to retail.

No. Prefer good equipment. Plenty of free weight stations and as warehouse like as possible.

I would join a really fancy gym, but they just don't exist in my bit of the SW. There is a Nuffield that thinks it is fancy, but I can only assume they have never actually seen the inside of a high end David LLoyd. What I want is one where the gym is kept dark.

I loved my posh gym which had a fresh empty pool, big nice rooms for classes and supplied warm towels etc but it’s too far from home it was next to work

I went every day at lunchtime was best part of the work set up

Agree though that location is key

Mine was next door to work