Your health: What to ask before joining a health club
What to ask before joining a health club
Is your New Year's resolution to get healthier? Then, you might be considering joining a health club.
“It's a fact that about half of people with gym memberships don't really use them,” says Steven Bronston, certified personal trainer with Life Time, which operates more than 115 health and wellness centers nationwide. “To fix this, and to meet your health and fitness goals, you'll want to ensure that any health club you join has lots of amenities and programs that fit your lifestyle.”
Bronston offers these questions to ask yourself when choosing the right club:
1. What gets you fired up?
If you enjoy working out in a group setting, your club should offer a variety of group fitness classes without added costs. If equipment is what inspires you, make sure your club has the latest in both weight and cardio machines.
2. Is there a sense of community?
The staff should be friendly and inviting, as well as knowledgeable and well-trained. Various groups, like run clubs or basketball leagues can also help facilitate a sense of belonging at your club.
3. Will the club help you meet your goals?
Does the club offer a personalized approach to achieving health and fitness goals?
4. Is this club convenient for your lifestyle?
Look for a club that operates and offers classes during hours when you are available to work out.
5. What other amenities are important to you?
Check to see if the club offers amenities you want, which might include kids activities, spa services, a cafe, social activities, particular sports, or swimming.
New app tracks local disease trends
Some tech folks at NorthShore University HealthSystem have designed a new digital tool that tracks and maps disease trends in the region, such as flu, strep throat, pertussis, gastroenteritis and pediatric asthma outbreaks.
It is now available to the public via a mobile application. The ‘What's Going Around?' app (WGA) is available for free download in both the Apple and Google App stores.
For example, a mother in Northbrook whose child has a sore throat could access the app and see that strep throat is going around in her area, which would help her make healthcare decision for her family.
It was created through a collaboration between NorthShore's HIT experts and the Center for Biomedical Research Informatics.
WGA compiles data on every patient seen by a NorthShore primary care physician every day, and then uses algorithms to analyze the data and generate graphs and maps demonstrating the epidemiology of these conditions.