| Getting in shape is a very healthy and smart | | | | - Find out when it is open, or if it is open all the |
| choice. But, what is the best way to do this? | | | | time. Also, make sure you understand if you can |
| Dieting and/or exercising on your own, with a | | | | come anytime or if there are certain times when |
| friend, joining the "Y", joining a heath club or spa, | | | | you can't come - for whatever reason. |
| or what? All have their pros and cons, but out of | | | | - Do they have special trainers, or maybe even |
| all these, the health club or spa is probably the | | | | classes, that you can get help from. If so, what |
| most risky - as one looks at it from financial basis. | | | | types of qualifications do these people have? |
| Why is this? The number one reason is the cost. | | | | - As mentioned in the first question above, make |
| Out of all your choices you will probably pay the | | | | sure you are familiar with all the details that they |
| most for a health club membership. Then, too | | | | say are in the contract. Tell them you would like |
| many of them make you sign a contract and lock | | | | to take the contract home and read over it. You |
| you into a rate and specific terms. Now this isn't | | | | don't want to be trapped into making a hasty |
| necessarily bad, but you should know what you | | | | decision by signing on the spot. |
| are getting into before joining one. | | | | - Ask about canceling the contract. You need to |
| Therefore, before signing on the bottom line, | | | | understand this well because you never know |
| make sure you ask all of these questions and | | | | what will happen in the future if you have to |
| make sure they are adequately answered and | | | | break the contract - you may or may not be |
| understood by yourself. | | | | able to get a refund or a partial refund. On the |
| - Can the Club, or spa, explain the fees and the | | | | other hand you may not get any refund and may |
| requirements that will be associated with signing a | | | | even have to pay out the remaining payments in |
| contract. | | | | your contract. Ask if there are any special |
| - Can you visit the spa and look around? If you | | | | allowances for cancelling, like if you injure yourself |
| do, make sure you visit when you would plan on | | | | or move away. |
| going there. This way you can see first-hand how | | | | - Lastly, this isn't a question to ask the health club |
| busy it will be when you are there and you won't | | | | or spa, but you may want to check with your |
| be in for any surprises on your first visit. Also | | | | local authorities (i.e., consumer protection agency |
| while visiting, check out the cleanliness and the | | | | or similar) to see if there have been any |
| type and age of the equipment. | | | | complaints from members of the club. |
| - Does the club offer trial periods in which you | | | | There you have it. Nine important questions you |
| can go a few times and see how it will be? If so, | | | | need to know before signing up at a health club. |
| you need to find out if this is free or will there be | | | | Joining a health club can have very many |
| a charge for it. This may be more expensive | | | | wonderful benefits, but more times than not, it |
| now, but it may save you much money in the | | | | can also cause you much grief as you find out |
| long run. | | | | something that you didn't expect. When this |
| - Find out about how many members they have. | | | | happens, it is usually too late to do anything about |
| Now all of them probably don't come, but maybe | | | | it, because if you signed a contract, you are |
| they can fill you in on how many active members | | | | stuck with it for the long haul - just as with cell |
| they have and when the busy times of the day | | | | phone companies and their contracts they lock |
| or weeks is. | | | | you into. |