Let’s face it, the New Year isn’t always so great for those who work out faithfully at their local gym.
But all those newbies filling up the cardio classes and treadmills may not be such a bad thing, experts say.
Some gyms such as Equinox add more classes to accommodate the increase in people and even choose January to launch new classes for members, said Julie Valenti, regional director of group fitness in Chicago for Equinox.
The extra boost in members can affect your wallet too.
“For the most part what I tell people [is], yeah, it’s an inconvenience for maybe a month or two months, but the great thing is the influx—I truly wish everyone would stay with it—having those new members come in helps keep gym prices down,” said Todd Beisch, club manager of the Cheetah Gym in Wicker Park/Bucktown.
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Atop the resolutions list every year is getting healthy. Nearly 40 percent of people vowed to lose weight in 2016, behind the No. 1 resolution to “enjoy life to the fullest” and No. 2 to “live a healthier lifestyle” in a survey commissioned by GOBankingRates. In other surveys, weight loss tops the list.
Gyms typically see a spike in membership in January and February. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, a trade association representing fitness clubs, said in a report that, on average, 12 percent of all memberships are sold in January and 9.3 percent in February.
“It’s a time of new beginnings, and people want to become their best self in the New Year,” said Kate Kreissl, customer service director for Chicago Athletic Clubs.
The Chicago Park District is enticing new members by offering a free week through Sunday to try out its fitness centers and classes.
Come March, inevitably some members will give up on their “new year, new you” motto. And before you gym rats continue to rant about how crowded the gym is, consider the upside (and give the newbies some credit for trying to be healthy).
But until then, here’s a list—courtesy of Chicago-area gyms—of faux pas to avoid if you’re coming to a gym for the first time in a while and to keep the peace with workout fiends.
Avoid going Monday and Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings if you don’t like the crowds. Otherwise, be prepared to wait to use some equipment, and your classes might be full.
Remember the rules you were taught in kindergarten: Put things away, share and clean up after yourself. Please wipe down the equipment after using so it’s not sweaty.
Skip the perfume or cologne. Nobody wants to catch a whiff when they’re huffing and puffing during their workout.
Don’t talk on your cellphone. It can distract you from your workout and distract others around you.
Ask the gym staff questions about how to use the equipment. Sometimes trainers will give free sessions or consultations.
Check out a group class if you get bored easily with a routine. Please follow the instructors. It’s distracting if you start doing your own thing in a group setting.
Keep all your personal stuff such as coats and bags in the locker room. Nobody wants to move somebody else’s things if they’re hanging on the equipment.
Commit to something achievable and set realistic goals and expectations.
Don’t come to the gym if you’re sick. Give your body a break. Don’t spread your germs.