Your Gym Should Be Either Very Close or Very Pretty
Getting into the habit of going to the gym a couple of times a week isn’t easy, but a new report shows that there are two things that can help you get off the couch: comfort and quality.
A report by New York-based firm Dstillery, published in the Wall Street Journal , is based on anonymous information from 7.5 million mobile devices that were delivered to fitness centers across the country during February and March. According to Dstillery’s analysis, the average gym goer doesn’t go too far to sweat. In fact, the less they have to travel, the more likely they are to travel with some regularity.
We talked about how important location is when choosing a gym , but not how much travel distance can affect motivation. The best location turns out to be about 4 miles. People who drove just 3.7 miles to the gym walked five or more times a month. People who have driven about five miles or more visit the gym about once a month. Distance was less of a factor, however, for people who opted for more expensive gym sessions. Places like Equinox, The Barre Code, and SoulCycle guaranteed trips nearly twice as far as cheaper competitors. Someone might really like the better facilities, more suggestions and the cleanliness. Basically, a mediocre gym five miles away is the worst option you could possibly choose.
So having a gym nearby doesn’t guarantee you’ll get more exercise, but it does remove a major hurdle for those of us who are always looking for excuses. It’s hard to say that you don’t have the time or energy for exercise when the gym is so close. But if you don’t feel this loaded chain a few blocks down, a nicer gym farther away may also give you the boost you need. The promise of various benefits and post-workout relaxation may be more to your liking. It just depends on what motivates you.