Is There A Difference Between A Health Club And A Gym?
Answer this question in one respect and the answer would be no; gyms and health clubs both have the main focus in mind to have people who want to keep fit and lose weight pay a monthly premium to use their services.
This, however, is only a very basic view and once you get away from this, the answer is yes – health clubs and gyms are different, sometimes considerably so.
Let’s start by looking at a gym and what is generally considered to make up a standard gym.
Most people would agree that if they were to walk into a gym today, they would expect to see a selection of cardiovascular equipment (treadmills, exercise bikes and rowing machines as a minimum); an extensive range of muscle building equipment (basic bicep, pectoral and thigh development machines); some traditional exercise accessories (stand alone weights and exercise mats, for example); showers and changing rooms and then an area where at least basic refreshments could be purchased.
Irrelevant of the type, size or location of the gym in the UK, chances are it’s going to include all of these points at least, with some of the larger gyms having additional facilities in place.
Look at a health club, however and whilst you’re likely to see most of what can be found in a gym, chances are you’ll also be able to take advantage of a whole host of different health and fitness facilities.
For instance, aside from your standard gym equipment, you’ll generally be able to use several less exercise intense pieces and more health and fitness options and services, which can be anything from a swimming pool and sauna right through to deep massage therapy rooms and in some places, spa services.
What’s more, you’re likely to find a range of different sessions to make use of, making working out that bit more fun and enjoyable, as well as having the chance to play several sports, such as tennis, squash and badminton.
And then there are the cafes, restaurants and bars that a lot of health clubs offer.
Furthermore, chances are that you’ll find a different set of people in a health club than you would in the gym, which in turn affects the whole atmosphere and ambience.
In gyms, as the primary focus is to get fit, lose weight and tone up, the people who attend are often either overweight and in the process of losing weight or have already lost their weight and are toning up or developing their muscles.
Seeming to constantly need to be motivated, loud, thumping music is regularly played, as it’s generally accepted that the rhythm of dance or rock music is great for self-motivation whilst working out.
In a health club, however, people tend to go for relaxation first and exercise second, so apart from the age range generally being older, the people in general are often neither overweight or particularly toned, with the ambience of the whole place being peaceful, relaxing and calming.
Whilst health clubs and gyms have the focus of helping people get fit and healthy, as they do so in different ways, there can often be a substantial and noticeable difference between the two. Although neither is better than the other, it’s important that you choose the most suitable one for you, so to ensure your weight loss and fitness programme is as enjoyable and as successful as possible.
For more information about joining a health club, visit the Fitness First website.
