What are the facilities offered at Fitness Centers and Health Clubs?

Commonly referred to as a ‘Gym’, a Health Club is a place where exercise equipments are commonly found and used for the sole purpose of exercising physically. A health club or Fitness Center may feature a variety of facilities and services.


Free weights or exercise equipments utilized for strength training (use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles) like dumbbells, barbells and other exercise machines are a must in any fitness center. These equipments are commonly located in the main workout area of most health clubs. Most often than not, the main workout area also has mirrors in order for exercisers to monitor and maintain correct posture as they do their work out.



A fitness center’s Cardio Area or Theatre includes treadmills, rowing machines, stationary bikes, elliptical trainers and other equipments for cardiovascular training or aerobic exercises intended for the improvement of the cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen to the body necessary for the body's metabolic or energy-generating process. This cardio area may also feature audio-visual display systems which are either integrated into the equipment or installed on the area walls)to better facilitate and provide entertainment to exercisers during the long sessions of cardio-training.

In health clubs which are considerably recent establishments, they offer group exercise classes supervised by competent fitness instructors. There are different types of group exercises but they are generally based on aerobics, cycling, boxing, regular an hot yoga (Bikram), pilates, yoga, muscle training and high intensity training. Aqua aerobics classes are offered by health clubs equipped with swimming pools.

Bigger health clubs also have sports facilities to offer to their clients. Swimming pools, squash courts or boxing areas are examples of the sports facilities which are often times charged for additional fees when requested for use.

Personal Training is yet another part of most gyms. Personal trainers are available to members of the club for training, fitness, nutrition, health advice and consultations. These personal trainers could devise a fitness routine for each individual that may include a nutrition plan which may help clients to achieve their personal goals in body building. Personal trainers are responsible in monitoring and training members, however in some cases , personal training may cost additional fees on an hourly basis.

Aside from the above stated facilities and services, modern and larger health clubs include health-shops, snack bars, child-care facilities, restaurants, member lounges and cafes. There may also be facilities for sauna, steam shower or wellness areas for members. Of course, these health clubs may charge fees for visitors to access these prime services, equipments and courses.



These mentioned services are offered to members and visitors of a gym or health club on various levels or accessibility. Members usually are offered with premium services covered by the price they have already paid and subscribed to. Health clubs offering basic services may offer lower costs than fully equipped and modern fitness centers. The level of membership may also determine the degree of services a member is allowed to avail such as plain membership(good for a certain period of time only, usually a year) or Gold and Platinum memberships(which may last for years or even lifetime).