Palm Beach Gardens, located in Florida, just north of West Palm Beach is known for its many gated communities and for being the headquarters of the Professional Golfers Association of America. Home to over 50,000 people, the city also has numerous high-end department stores and boutiques, restaurants, and many outdoor activities.

More and more people are making the move to this city because of the potential business opportunities that are available. One such example that people are capitalizing on is the fitness industry. 

Like many other cities, Palm Beach Gardens offers a wide variety of options when it comes to fitness, and there is something there for everyone. One can find everything from aquatic fitness classes to dance and yoga classes and boot camp and tai chi classes to stroller power classes.

A few added bonuses that the city has to offer are its amazing beaches and great year-round weather, which allows people to enjoy their workouts for the 12 months in the year.

Gyms in Palm Beach Gardens also offer personal training options for those who want that one-on-one attention. One can also find the standard small group classes which have anywhere between two to ten people, as well as the larger classes which are on a first-come-first-serve basis; those can have as many as 50 people at once.

According to Yelp, there are over 100 gyms in Palm Beach Gardens, so the options are endless. You can find everything from major gym franchises like Crunch, Planet Fitness, Orange Theory, and LA Fitness, to the locally owned gyms like Core Evolution Palm Beach, Palm Beach Sports Club, and Gardens CrossFit. 

But when looking at gyms, there are a few things that you need to research before you know whether it’ll be a good fit for you and help you accomplish your fitness goals. Here are three things that you should keep an eye out for when looking at gyms in Palm Beach Gardens:

1. Costs

While it may seem like the obvious thing to do, many people are easily distracted by the amenities and the people working out, and they completely forget about how much their monthly payments are going to be. Not everyone can afford the high-priced memberships of the elite clubs and that’s one of the great things about the gyms in Palm Beach Gardens- there are plenty of affordable options.

If you’re looking to cut your costs even further, some gyms in the area have “discount seasons” where monthly rates are almost slashed in half. The month of January is usually a good time to join as there is usually a New Year’s special; September is another good choice because it’s when students head back to school. 

Another thing that people tend to forget is the termination fee. Some of the gyms in Palm Beach Gardens allow customers to sign contracts lasting as long as three years and it’s not very often that they tell you that there is a fee if you decide to leave before the end of your contract. One of two things can happen, you get “locked in,” or you will pay anything from $58 to $128 to cancel your membership. Be cognizant of that before you sign anything.

2. Programs and Perks

While there are many gyms in Palm Beach Gardens, not all of them will have the classes that you’ll be interested in taking, and those that do can be quite costly.  By simply asking for the gym’s schedule, not only will you be able to see the classes offered, but you will also find out if the time slots fit your schedule, which leads to our next point. 

People work out at different times of the day and according to Spark People, peak hours are usually between 8 and 11 a.m. and 4 and 7 p.m. If you don’t have a strict workout schedule, then it would be best to work out at a gym that is open 24/7.

When it comes to perks, each gym is different. Some, like Crunch, offer guests privileges like free t-shirts and advanced HIIT classes depending on the membership option you chose. The Orange Theory locations allow you to book classes online and gives attendees the flexibility to attend other studios nationwide. 

3. Its Members

Every gym has different types of members, and it would be ideal to choose one which has a good mix of the different kinds of gym-goers, including the procrastinators, the division one athletes and even the human pretzels. If you notice that there is a significantly larger quantity of one type than another, chances are that the gym caters to a specific type of people.

For this reason, Palm Beach Gardens has adopted the “specialized crowd gyms,” which means that you can find some which are specific to different age groups, as well as the type of training; CrossFit and Pilates included. If you would like more diversity in your workout, then you might begin to feel uncomfortable very soon. 

Another critical factor when it comes to gym members is the sheer numbers that attend the location you’re thinking of going to. According to ABC News, some of the biggest gym pet peeves include people who leave puddles of their DNA (mostly sweat) on machines and benches after using them, and people who hog up floor space and equipment. These things are more likely to happen in gyms that are larger, and one of the easiest ways to kill the workout is by cleaning up after people and waiting to use the equipment.

Other things to look for when visiting gyms in the area include the type of equipment and the condition of the equipment, the gym’s accessibility, as well as how clean the gym space is. All gyms have their advantages and disadvantages but what makes a gym a better fit for you is determined by your assessment of these gyms and making sure that they have exactly what you are looking for.

The gym scene in Palm Beach Gardens is expected to expand over the next few years, so if you haven’t found the right fit, then it might just be heading your way in the near future.