Fitness centers have sprung up everywhere. We seem to find them in every hotel and shopping mall. But are they really necessary? Surely we can get enough exercise without these special facilities.
Well the fact is that we can’t. We spend most of time in our cars or sat behind a desk. It is rare for us to walk to work or school. In the evenings we sit at home and watch t.v and usually eat and drink too much. The result is an obesity epidemic.
Most of us live in towns that are pedestrian unfriendly. There are no sidewalks and those that do exist are unpleasant to walk along, or even dangerous. That is why we need special places to get fit.
A good fitness center will provide a range of options. Some may have swimming pools but this tends to make them more expensive. If you want to keep within a budget you may not want one like this.
Some fitness centers will have their own physical therapy departments. You will be able to get treatment for injuries and services such as massage. This may be an advantage to you if you are recovering from an illness and trying to rehabilitate your body. Expert help may be a benefit to you.
The physical therapy centre may offer hydrotherapy facilities. These typically consist of a hot pool with water jets that massage the body, sauna and steam room. These can be of great help to anyone who suffers from arthritis or has experienced physical injuries. Hydrotherapy helps to maintain mobility and reduce pain.
Every fitness center should have exercise machines such as elliptical trainers, tread mills, rowing machine, exercise bikes and cross trainers. Obviously, you could buy one of these machines yourself but the advantage of a fitness center is that there is more choice. Working out on the same machine everyday can become boring.
At a fitness center you can change your routine. You can work out a whole circuit going from one machine to another. Each one tends to make slightly different demands on the body.
As you become fitter you can move on to more demanding routines. There is no need to stick at the same level as you might working out in the comfort of your own home.
A fitness center will also have weight machines and free weights. Weights can be a little daunting for the novice but there are very useful in attaining your fitness goals. The advantage of a fitness center is that you have the services of an instructor to explain how to use the machines and how to begin free weights.