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To Gym or Not To Gym - Fitness Works of Morro Bayby Chuck AbbeWe all know we need to work to achieve or maintain our health and fitness. We are bombarded from all sides with fad diets and workouts. We can easily be overwhelmed with all the choices. One of the important things to consider is whether we need a gym membership or if we should workout at home. Choosing HowSome people do not want to work out where other people are around to watch them. Others get motivation from seeing people working to improve their health. On your own, there is a broad variety of books, internet sites, and friends to help stay on a good program. It can be more difficult to retain motivation when working out alone. At the gym you can get personal help and instruction. The Cost FactorA gym is a profit-making business. They will charge you a monthly fee to be a member and access their services. If you don’t want to add gym membership to your budget, you can work out at home with exercises using just your body weight. You can also walk or jog around the neighborhood for free. You can make your own personal gym with modest investments in dumbbells, stability balls, and other items. Or, you can turn an unused room into a fully-equipped workout space complete with exercise machines, mirrors, etc., and work out by yourself on your own schedule. Working out at home, you just get out of bed and go straight to your workout. If you choose the gym, you have to dress and drive to the gym. This can be daunting if you live a good distance from your gym. All are valid options, it just depends on what is your comfort level and what you want to invest in your health. Lets pump the weight!If you utilize a good gym, you will have a lot of options to do what is known as strength training. Your own needs will determine which works best for you. Many people prefer to use what are known as free weights. These are the dumbbells and barbells that you choose according to their weight, or, in some cases, choose the weight by adding or removing iron plates. These are very good for targeting specific muscle groups but have to be used with proper form to get expected results and avoid injury. The other option for strength training at the gym is using what are known as selectorized machines. There are machines designed specifically to work each muscle group in the most efficient manner. There are many different companies making selectorized equipment. On some, you merely push buttons to select the amount of resistance. On others, you insert a removable pin in the appropriate place to select the proper weight. It is important, as in using free weights, that you use proper form. The machines will have various adjustments to assure that your body is properly aligned to perform the exercise without injury. This can be a little intimidating the first time you use a machine, but a good gym will have someone there to assist you in properly setting up for your exercise. Get That Heart Rate Pumping!One of the best things about a good gym is the wide variety of cardio opportunities. There will most certainly be treadmills, upright cycles, and recumbent cycles. There will also likely be rowing machines, stair-steppers, and other specialized kinds of cardio equipment. One nice thing about cardio machines is that they are adjustable. You set the equipment to get just the workout you need. For instance, on a treadmill you can choose to follow a programmed workout, such as hill climbing or speed intervals. Or, you can set up your own profile by manually selecting speed and amount of incline.. The treadmill is especially good for what is known as H.I.I.T. (high intensity interval training). On a stationary bike - either normal upright or recumbent - you can adjust the seat and set the intensity. Working Out TogetherA good gym will have a wide variety of group fitness classes. These should range from low impact - such as yoga, Nia®, Pilates and Tai Chi – to high energy cardio or strength based, such as Spinning®, circuit training, Body Combat™, Body Pump™, and even African or Latin dance routines. These classes are a wonderful way of getting a superior workout from trained and certified instructors while engaging with a group of like-minded people. Look for the AmenitiesA well rounded gym will provide wonderful amenities. These should include locker rooms with shower facilities, child care, and available sports drinks and snacks. It may also include a pro shop where you can buy clothing and equipment, utilize massage therapists, and enjoy a relaxing lounge after your workout. Look for cleanliness, good lighting, and a professional staff FitnessWorks of Morro BayFortunately, we have just such a gym right here on the Central Coast. FitnessWorks has everything I have talked about and more. Started as TherapyWorks in the late eighties by Ross and Debbie Dover, it has evolved to a fully equipped gym while maintaining the original TherapyWorks for quality physical therapy. Located at 500 Quintana Road in the old Rite Aid building, FitnessWorks has a professional staff that is highly involved in the community. As well as maintaining a full complement of strength and cardio equipment and group fitness classes, they also sponsor RunningWorks to help get you outside for your cardio training, and SeniorWorks to work specifically with the needs of seniors. If you are ready to get out of the garage and expand your workout opportunities, stop by and see the friendly staff at FitnessWorks of Morro Bay. If you are one that prefers working at home be assured that you have every opportunity to increase and maintain your fitness right where you are. In the future I will offer some suggestions specifically for home workouts. 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