A gym membership could be a fabulous gift as long as it would be appreciated.

Firstly, does the recipient enjoy exercise? Have they expressed an interest in joining a gym? For someone who is active, or wishes to be, a gym membership would be an appropriate present. It would not be a fair present to try to coerce someone into exercising if they didn`t want to. If someone is self conscious it may not be the best present either, unless someone was willing to go with them.

So you are sure that a gym membership is an appropriate gift. How long are you going to pay it for? Can the person afford to pay for the membership once the gift has been used. If it was only a months membership, or even a days membership, they would need to be able to afford to continue if they decided that they liked it.

So they can afford it once they have used the gift. Great. So how do you select the gym?

Vicinity - Is it close by? Do they live near it? It may be good to have one near work but not near home to visit either on the way to work or on the way home. If this were the case, would they feel like a gym session after a busy day at work? It would also discourage use at weekends. You need to find out when they are more likely to use it and chose the location accordingly.

Times - Is the membership going to be for every day or just weekdays? I belonged to a gym Monday to Friday 10 to 4. This was great when I worked mainly nights as I was able to attend the classes. When I began to work more days, I was unable to go very often. I then had to change my membership to 7 days a week any time when open which was more expensive. This then meant I could go for a swim before work or a class after. The membership needs to fit around the persons work.

Classes - You need to find out what classes they run and when. I used to prefer the classes to the gym but they were not always available. If classes are going to be the persons choice then they need to be able to go to them around their work. I used to find that a lot of the fitness classes were full after work and you would not be able to get in if you didn`t go every week. You need to find out their preference and availability.

The Gym - Is there a good induction? Is the gym well maintained? Is there always someone around if there is a problem? You need find out the reputation of the gym and try it to see. Is the equipment good? If most of the time is to be spent in the gym, there needs to be a variety of equipment.

Extras - A lot of gyms have saunas, spas and steam rooms. Some memberships have these and the price is included. Some memberships charge more for swimming so if swimming is likely to be a big part, these memberships would not be suitable.

If all of the facilities offered suit the individual, will they go on their own? Some people do not like going to gyms on their own. Either they lack confidence or motivation. If everything else suits, but all of their friends attend another gym, they may prefer to go with their friends.

Gym memberships aren`t cheap. Before offering one as a very generous gift, make sure that the recipient will use it and make sure that what it offers fits their requirements.

Learn more about this author, Lucy Collins.
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