Best gym you've ever been to?

[Dan C]

Pierini, thanks for the link, the comments and the offer... I may just be taking you up on that - I could certainly use another set of eyes to glance over my business plan.

[JMike]

Loving this thread. Who doesn't want to open their own gym?

I think I can help with Westside's comments.

The problem isn't actually about machines/no machines. It's about fear, experience and commitment. If you've no interest in going to the gym, then it's unlikely that you're going to go, regardless of any incentives. But that's only a really small amount of people. On the other side, you have guys like crossfitters, powerlifters, strongmen etc. where the gym is one of the most defining things they do. But in between there's this huge grey area. A lot of those grey folks, want to stay fit and look good, but they're not going to kill themselves doing it. These are the people that you tend to see on the steppers.

The anonymity that the vast swathes of machines provides is a haven for them. When you don't know how to do something or are new to doing it, it can be mighty scary. But everyone can walk, run, or step, so there's no danger there. In a free weights gym you're also in front of all these people who are watching not just how you lift, but how much, and passing judgement. They can smell that you're new, they're laughing at how little you lift and every clanged plate echoes a thousandfold with embarrassment.

We (as experienced lifters) know that's not the truth, but it doesn't matter if it's true. It's what new people think. So they head for treadmills where you don't have to break that comfort zone. Where you're just one stepper amongst 30 and no one's looking at you. Hell the machine verily encases you.

But take that self-consciousness and fear of free weights and put it in a gym where they don't recognize half the equipment, with no familiar fall back or steppers and you're in real trouble. Heck, some of the stuff you've mentioned I've never heard of.

So that's the problem. The nail that stands up gets hammered down. Lifting is an inherently independant exercise, and coupled with the effort, easily quantifiable comparisons (he's lifting 30kg more!) and people staring whilst resting it can be dangerous for newbies. But don't worry there's a solution! The first will get you those guys and gals that lift weights, but aren't hardcore. The second will bring in some steppers.


Classes. Something that crossfit definatly gets right is the learning sessions. If you offer these as non-members welcome, you'll expand that skill bracket hitting your gym. As I understand the gym now, you'd be getting people that knew what they were doing and couldn't find the facilities to do it anywhere else. If you offered say a 'You don't know Squat!' class, where you spend 2 hours going through the three main squats (overhead,front,back) detailing the finer points, I'm sure you'd pull in members of other gyms that were happy there, but are interested in learning more about the squat. By tailoring these to different skill sets (Olympic lifts, introduction to the barbell) and having a group of people working at the same time, there'd be a sense of anonymity, and you'd also be establishing a base line skill set, so there wouldn't be that apprehension.

Cover it in chocolate. If you say barbell deadlifts to a typical female stepper, she thinks monstrous russian bodybuilders. If you say ass sculpting she thinks "awesome" and "maybe ass isn't the approriate word". Either way the trick is to disguise the unfamiliar. This is something I can really see working with the kettlebells. Including them as part of an aerobics style class would be a great way to use them without the focus being on weightlifting.


Gah! Speaking of which. I gotta get to the gym!

Hope that all makes sense.


Mike

[westside24]

yes that makes sense... well said, the first 4 paragraphs said what I did, just better.

[pseudonym]

Good call JMike - great post (and I agree; great thread to read).

[Dan C]

Great post Mike. If anything else comes to mind, let us know!

[JMike]

Ha, thanks guys, soon as I make my millions I'll be opening up Mike's Gym! Complete with ball pit, bouncy ball hall and hammock lounge.

Mike
p.s. The ball pit idea is trademarked, copyrighted and in every possible way protected. If I hear about a new gym opening up with a ball pit I'm going to be on you like bicep curls on a newbie! :P

[westside24]

Originally Posted by JMike

Ha, thanks guys, soon as I make my millions I'll be opening up Mike's Gym! Complete with ball pit, bouncy ball hall and hammock lounge.

wait, are we talkin about DZ discovery Zone???

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by Dan C

I'd like to hear about the best gym you've ever been to. I'm going to be opening a gym in the near future and I'm just trying to get an idea of what most peoples likes and dislikes are.

Detroit Barbell . You'd love it here, except I'm sure you'd tease all the gear whores. But we have a ton of strongman equipment now as well.

I went to my sister's gym to help her with learning some exercises and that gym SUCKED. I was thankful for my gym for sure.

Likes:
Alot of free weight equipment
Alot of attachments
More than 1 stand-alone flat bench because someone is always hogging the one the gym has.
Ab work contraptions, most gyms don't have enough ab stuff in my opinion, other than balls, or hammer strength ab crap.
Hvae a glute/ham Raise station
Never seen a typical gym with squat bars besides a standard 7' bar...would be nice to have other options (but depends what type of gym you want to open).

Best of luck, i hear they are tough to get going on your own.

[Firehawk]

Dan i didn't read all of what was written in here but just that first post you made about why you hadn't posted all of your suggestions, and you went into a little detail.

I'd suggest figuring a way to encourage people to train in groups. Nothing beats it. You only need one pretty knowledgable person, or trainer, in taht gruop with everyone learning and pushing each other. Plus it guarentees spotters all the time. It's a win/win situation for the group, and everyone gets better (faster, stronger, whatever their goal is).

Maybe you could set up some type of sign-up sheet with people that want to start a group at a set time, and see if you can get at least 3 to a group, maybe 4-5 optimally. Just a suggestion.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

I'd suggest figuring a way to encourage people to train in groups. Nothing beats it. You only need one pretty knowledgable person, or trainer, in taht gruop with everyone learning and pushing each other. Plus it guarentees spotters all the time. It's a win/win situation for the group, and everyone gets better (faster, stronger, whatever their goal is).

In addition to what you pointed out, FH, it's also a great way to get people motivated, when they know the group is counting on them.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

I went to my sister's gym to help her with learning some exercises and that gym SUCKED.

Was it a curves? LOL!

[westside24]

lifestyles. those type of gyms in my opinion are inefficient. they have 1-2-3-4-5 and 10 lb dumbells n ****, who needs those? and theyre situp machine are coated with all kinds of pillows and relaxing cushing to make it comfortable and relaxing when you workout. ridiculous...

Dan dont open a gym like this... I think that would be catering past the point I was getting at. <---we know youre smarter than that. I just like to point out the obvious. its good humor.

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Was it a curves? LOL!

Hahah no it was an anytime fitness.

She wouldnt' be caught dead in a 'curves'. My sister is 104 lbs, 5'1 , and she is over there lifting with the big boys at the free weight stations. It's funny to see on one hand, but she's got bigger biceps and triceps than most guys I know LOL.

I went with her to show her some variations and how to squat.

[ixoyc]

the gym i used to go to back home has some stuff that i think is pretty cool.

they got all their strongman equipment outside behind the gym, some tires, atlas stones, etc...

also for deads they have this "stand", which is a piece of solid metal that acts like a car jack that you use to prop the bar on to, to load weights. that thing makes loading and unloading so much easier and faster...

a platform with rubber weights so you don't have to "carefully and quitely" have to set the weights back down...

i think a reverse hyper extension would also be totally radical to have

just some food for thought...

[JMike]

Hey guys, couldn't sleep last night so I got to thinking about setting up my own gym. Then I remembered this thread. How's the place coming along?

My idea last night was about social outreach. If you're not into that sort of thing, I understand, but here's what I was thinking.

'Work to Lift': It's been shown time and time again that the regiment of lifting weights can have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of youths (and people of all ages). Similar effects can be seen in Martial Arts and the Military. Teaching dedication, perseverance and respect for yourself and others, the effects go further than the improving the physical well being of teens that are often under nourished and/or over weight.


Weight lifting is fortunate in that the results are socially desirable. This is the bait. But many of the youths who would benefit most from this program come from backgrounds where gym membership is not high on the family budget. The link between such low income families and crime is also clear.


What I suggest is providing an avenue for applicants to take, that would cover the membership costs as well as teach them about the workplace. Applicants would be on a two week probationary period where all they have to do is work-out. An instructor will help develop a routine with (not for!) them, as well as demonstrating various exercises. As long as they stick to the program, and demonstrate respect for the gym they pass. The next step provides them with free, or subsidised use of the gym and all its equipment. Including classes. In return they must work a pre-determined number of hours each week (for less pay or free). This work should not be cleaning the toilets and fetching coffee. The idea is to make them feel useful and worthwhile.


Meanwhile in addition to their work, there would be a route planned for their accreditation as a personal trainer. This would take several paths. Mentorship; whereby an experienced gym member or personal trainer takes some time (an hour a week) and talks them through an exercise, gradually improving their knowledge base. Classes; many gyms have classes or certifications that take place. Subsidised or free places would be made available for the student. Participation; The student would be required to take part in many of the gym's classes to gain a broad understanding of the motivations behind member's use of the gym, as well as a greater understanding of what is on offer at the gym.

Once fully qualified, the gym would be offered at a discounted rate to the student for training their clients (for one year).

Clearly the program would take some work on behalf of the organiser but I think the results would be worth it. Taking on 4 students a year (at staggered dates) would provide cheap labour and a likely personal trainer with little risk in losses to the gym. With only a 25% success rate you'd have one trainer a year added to your roster. But the student would have a skill that they could take with them anywhere. They'd have respect for themselves and others, and who knows where it could lead. Also, even if P.T. work wasn't for them, they'd have crucial work experience and a named reference, which is massively helpful in applying for future roles.

I'm probably living in a dream world thinking that it would work, but if I ever open my own gym, this is one of the first things I'm setting up. I'd love to know your thoughts!

Mike