Nowadays it has become fashionable to lead a healthy lifestyle. If you still decide to become a client of a fitness club, you will face a difficult choice. As the experience of many, to find a quality fitness club at an affordable price, and besides being close to home is not so simple.

According to the Fitness Consulting Group, from 700 thousand to 1 million Muscovites are constantly visited by fitness clubs, annually leaving in them more than $ 50 million.

- The first thing that a person chooses when choosing a club is his location, - says the executive director of the "Union of Fitness" Alexander Popov. - On the road to the club at the other end of the city can take more than an hour. And there will be no time left for the forces or the time to study.

Fitness clubs are located in Moscow unevenly. Most of them are in the center, there are a lot of clubs in the South-West and North-East, and in the South-East there are no fitness clubs. But the situation is gradually improving. This year, the city will open about twenty clubs, mainly in the middle price segment. And such dynamics will persist for at least 5 more years.

Fitness club or "rocking chair"?.

- Fitness clubs are divided into four categories, which differ in the cost of the annual card and, accordingly, the level of service: the economy (from $ 500 to $ 1000), medium, or business class ($ 1-1.5 thousand. ), Elite ($ 2-2,5 thousand. ), And lux (from $ 3 thousand. ), - says the editor-in-chief of the specialized magazine "Fitness report" Pavel Matveev.

For a person who considers himself to be in the middle class, to pick a good club at a reasonable price in a convenient place - a problem. Most have to look for a compromise - either $ 1.5-2 thousand. A year, but next to the house, or $ 800-1000, but far away. If it turns out and inexpensive, and not far away - you're lucky.

- A solid proportion of "price-quality" is only valid until the cost of an annual card of $ 2.5 thousand. , Then money is mainly paid for the prestige and certain social status of clients, - said the president of the Association of Fitness Professionals Dmitry Kalashnikov.

The most in Moscow clubs of economy and business class. The difference in the cost of service between them is just the biggest. Such famous systems as "Planet Fitness" and World Class, work simultaneously in several price niches. For example, the price of annual subscription in "Planet Fitness", located in the Great Kislovsky Lane, is $ 2,6 thousand. , And on Varshavke, in the pool "Trud" - $ 650.

If it is not so important for you that the last models of simulators were in the hall, there was a stylish design and several dozens of sports sections "by interests" - you can register in an economy club. However, the greatest lack of their administrators are silent - this is a large number of visitors who have bought for cheapness. In the evening rush hour, from 17. 00 to 20. 00, the number of dealers can exceed the number of simulators, and will have to stand in line. The pool is also not guaranteed.

According to experts, the most successful combination of "price-quality" is provided by medium-sized clubs (cost of a subscription is $ 1-1,5 thousand. They are guaranteed a certain quality of service, and outwardly they may not differ from elite.

"These clubs have high-quality equipment, but not the most expensive and latest models, or there are no offers that you most likely will not need," says Dmitry Kalashnikov.

Standard annual club card includes unlimited time of visits plus classes in all kinds of sports sections. For additional services have to pay separately - so, the solarium will cost 20 rubles per minute, massage - from 1000 rubles per hour, personal trainer - $ 20 per hour. The more elite the club, the more expensive are the additional services, as well as the "healthy" menu in the fitness bar. If you want to purchase a card cheaper, then some clubs provide an opportunity to abandon unnecessary to you personally lessons.

Up to 15-20% can be saved by going to a club with a family or a team. If you just want to try what fitness is, in a number of clubs you can buy a card for a month or six months (with the exception of most elite ones), but in proportion it will be significantly more expensive than the annual.

Some clubs have specialization. For example, "Marcus Aurelius" is a bodybuilding, and Wild can provide you with outdoor recreation, including snowmobiles.

Most people (and according to statistics, 60% of clients of clubs are women) choose fitness for the sake of maintaining health, beauty of the body or for the purpose of losing weight. And this can be achieved even in a cheap "rocking chair", which in Moscow is the same as all clubs - about 150. The price of the annual subscription is from $ 150 to $ 500, one-time visit - 150-200 rubles. There the most simple simulators, often self-made, and locker rooms without booths. Main customers - local guys. Most of these clubs work for the Dezakh, the Sports School and schools. The "rockers" have two advantages: cheapness and closeness to home. But sometimes they outweigh all the shortcomings.

A good coach is the key to success.

As the fitness experts unanimously admit, the main guarantee of a successful training is the professionalism of the instructor, the direct duty of which is to draw up a training plan, to pick up simulators and the correct power system. And with this there may be problems. Even if the instructor looks solid or in the past a famous athlete - this does not mean that he is able to teach others.

- Every year more than a dozen fitness clubs are opened in Moscow, but there are simply no such instructors, - complains Dmitry Kalashnikov, - a certain guarantee of professionalism is the fact that the coach finishes a profile college or institute (in physical culture).

- In fact, to determine the layman level of the instructor on the move is almost impossible, - says Alexander Popov. - I would first of all advise you to pay attention to his personal qualities, ability to communicate and intelligence. A certain guarantee is the very level of the club - they do not take into the well-known and expensive bad ones, but those who work twice a year will be certified.

According to experts, the situation in the market of fitness services in the next two or three years will significantly improve - many democratic clubs will open, prices in the existing ones will decrease medicus. En.