Fitness expert Hayley Newton shares her advice
Leisure centres across the country are offering a year’s membership for the price of just nine months for those who pay in advance.
Gyms know, that doing more exercise features highly on lists of summer resolutions, and many will run special offers to encourage you to part with your cash. But before you sign up for membership to a health club, or take that credit card to the cash desk, make sure you know what you're letting yourself in for.
The average monthly spend on gym membership is currently £41.95, according to the FIA.
Now if you only visit once a month that is a costly visit….
However, Leisure centres and gyms are all offering some great new deals.
My local gym LA fitness offers: ‘After one month, if you are really not interested and can find someone to take over your membership, you can transfer the name for a nominal £15 fee.’ (As long as you can find someone who is willing to take it over).
They are also offering a 6 week membership for £79 which is a good way in testing how much you will use it.
One of my favorite sites ‘this is money’ has given some fabulous advice on the subject.
I love the fact that they suggest you haggle with the club, something I would never normally think to do!
Keeping fit is really important, whatever else is going on in your life, your health should always feature somewhere at the top of your priorities.
It really doesn’t have to cost the earth. You don’t need to pay huge gym membership fees or massive amounts on home gym equipment. If you really need to save money you can actually keep fit on a budget of absolute zero, or something very close. Just use your body….
A few low budget ideas
1. Stairs
Running or walking up and down the stairs in your house or apartment building can be a great high intensity cardio and leg workout. One option for those starting out is to add walking intervals every few floors. For example, leave the stairwell and walk the length of the hallway and back before resuming your ascent.
2. Zumba
Are you ready to party yourself into shape? Forget the workout, just lose yourself in the music and find yourself in shape at the original dance-fitness craze. Sometimes we let our students at Italia Conti Arts Centre (www.italia-conti.com) have this as a warm up class which they all enjoy and breaks the boredom of normal exercise. Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before you know it, you'll be getting fit and your energy levels will be soaring! It's easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating. You can also just pay when you attend the class in most areas. This shouldn’t require a monthly fee.
3. Shopping Centre Walking
When I was in America and the weather was too extreme, walking outdoors is not an option, do laps inside your local shopping centre. For the average person, a brisk one-hour walk can burn 400 to 500 calories.
To take it up a notch:
If there are multiple levels in the centre, climb stairs or walk up escalators to challenge your leg muscles and burn extra calories.
It’s also a good way to window shop and you don’t spend a penny if you have will power ;)
Tagged in exercise fitness tips Budget Hayley Newton