Why Massage Therapists Should Dress for Success

Dress for Success is a popular adage based on sound advice ~ advice that actually works! More and more, I'm afraid, that saying is going by the wayside, particularly in regard to more casual vocations such as massage therapy. There are many reasons why massage therapists should Dress for Success.

I'm a keen observer of the world around me, especially when it comes to bodywork and bodyworkers. Over the years, I've witnessed enough examples of how not to Dress for Success that it would blow your mind. I'll share a few in this post to make my point; which is simply, when you Dress for Success, you're more likely to achieve success than if you don't.

I happen to live in an area teeming with massage therapists, and mobile therapists in particular ~ there's hardly a week goes by that I don't see a therapists carrying a table in or out of a session as I drive around town ~ and I've had therapists come to my house for sessions as well, so I have plenty of examples of how not to Dress for Success to share.

What if you were to put yourself in a new client's shoes? Not necessarily your client unless you fit the description below (and for your sake I certainly hope not!), but think of yourself as just a generic client looking for an in-home massage.

Let's imagine you've called a therapist and booked an in-home appointment with her. You've never met the therapist before ~ you either saw an ad, internet or otherwise, or someone referred her to you. You have a conversation with the therapist on the phone, she tells you her rate, let's say for fun it's $100 for 75 minutes, and you make an appointment. Before she arrives, you make sure your house is clean and tidy and you've showered, shaved and washed your hair out of courtesy for the therapist. You've sent the kids packing, the husband golfing and put the dogs in the backyard and turned off the phones. So far, so good, right?

The doorbell rings, and you, in your robe, peer through the peephole in the front door. You're expecting a clean-cut, well-dressed therapist ~ a professional ~ but what you see is an unkempt slob who looks like she just left the gym after a sweaty workout. If she wasn't carrying a massage table, you probably would not have opened the door, but since she is, you do. Open the door that is. In comes a woman wearing rumpled sweat pants, a t-shirt with a semi-lewd saying screen printed on the front and a small hole near the neck, dirty sneakers, and you're pretty sure her hair hasn't been washed in a week.

At that point, it won't matter if the therapist is Mother Theresa herself (in disguise as a bum) come to give you a massage, because throughout the whole session, you're going to be wondering why this slob is able to charge $100 a session when she obviously has no respect for her clients. Also throughout the session you'll be thinking about who else you can get next time because you don't want this icky person to come back. Chances are, you won't enjoy the massage and you sure won't remember anything good about it or her.

I'd like to say I'm exaggerating in my "let's imagine" scenario, but I'm not. Clearly, that's not how you Dress for Success.

Here's some of what I've actually seen ~ whether it's a therapist on the street as I'm driving by, or therapists coming to my own home that did not Dress for Success:

I've had a therapist come to my house who looked like she climbed out of bed and threw on whatever she found lying on the floor. I've seen a therapist pulling a table out of her car wearing short-shorts (I'm talking "no mystery" shorts), flip-flops and a wife-beater t-shirt. Seriously. I've seen therapists wearing tank tops and gym shorts, therapists wearing holey jeans, and therapists wearing hoochie-koochie mini-skirts and low-cut, tight-fitting spaghetti-strap tops with no bra. I've also seen more wrinkled (meaning, un-ironed) therapists than you can imagine. I saw a guy headed with his table into a private men's resort looking like he crawled right out of a dumpster. It takes all kinds, and I suppose that look is appealing to some, but I sure wouldn't hire him. Don't even get me started on dirty shoes. I've seen therapists wearing shoes that looked like they'd just been to a stable shoveling manure. I've seen therapists wearing sandals with chipped and peeling nail polish and... dirty toenails. Can you imagine yourself as a client looking at those gross feet through your face cradle?

I have to admit, just writing these descriptions makes my skin crawl. Even if any of those therapists weren't going to a paying client, but perhaps to a friend's house, my impression as a passerby was a terrible one, and obviously, it's a lasting impression. I've also seen therapists who were very impressive in their attire. Clean and crisp, carrying themselves with complete and utter confidence. I'd think, "Wow, that's a sharp-looking professional ~ that's how you Dress for Success! And... I bet they're really busy."

Now, I understand that being prior military where starch and shoe polish have been on my regular shopping list for the last thirty-five plus years, that I probably have higher standards for my work attire than most people. I understand that, but I also know that experience gave me a competitive edge over therapists who didn't have as high standards as I have. I know the first impression I made on a first-time client was one of a neat, clean, professional therapist.

That's really what the whole concept of Dress for Success is all about ~ making positive lasting impressions. Here's another popular saying: "The first impression is a lasting one." It's popular, because it's true.

I'm old enough to remember my parents always dressing to the nines whenever they went out for the evening, whether it was dancing, a party, the local bar or some special event. My dad, a truck driver in construction, wore a suit and a tie, and my mom always wore a dress and high heels. Yes, my truck driver father owned no less that seven or eight suits, numerous ties, dress shirts, and of course, his perfectly polished Florsheim shoes ~ a brown pair and a black pair. I used to marvel at his suits as they hung in his closet. There was the charcoal suit, the shark skin suit, the brown suit, the tan suit, the black suit, etc. Even as a truck driver, his pants and shirt were always ironed and his work boots always polished. My mom worked in an office downtown, and she always dressed to impress. I don't think it's a fluke that she was very successful in her career. What's interesting is that all of their friends, and well, pretty much every adult I knew dressed up when they went out where today people wear jeans everywhere for practically every occasion. The point is, how my parents dressed made an impression on me that has lasted my whole life thus far. That was a different era, indeed, but it always serves to remind me of how important it is to respect yourself in your attire, especially when you're engaged in running your own business.

I think my parents' lasting impression on me is why perhaps the easiest part of Basic Training for me was the ritual taught to me of caring for my uniforms. I always had the sharpest creases in my shirts, and even my combat fatigues, and my shoes and boots were highly polished to glass. In the military, whether you work at a desk or as a mechanic, whatever your job, your attire must be neat, clean, pressed and shined ~ always. Obviously, if you're in the middle of combat, not so much, but in the general work day, there are grooming standards you're required to keep. We were very aware of our standards at all times, and could often be found "grooming" each other, especially for an upcoming inspection. Yes, of course there were some who didn't take the standards seriously, but they were also the ones whose work was sloppy and showed a lack of pride.

Today, so many people are ultra casual in their dress for almost every occasion. When I was younger, I thought casual dress was everything, but now I'm not so sure it's such a good thing. Several years ago, I remember while visiting my widowed uncle in Las Vegas, he and my mom decided to go to a show on the Strip. They decked out as they always did; he in a suit and tie, my mom in a beautiful dress. When they got to the door, the ticket taker said it was so nice to see people all dressed up for a change ~ everyone else was dressed casually so they really stuck out from the crowd.

Because I live in a resort town, I do see an overabundance of casual wear, and I admit, I'm too often guilty of it myself. But I think too many therapists take that as meaning because everyone's casual, or because they work for themselves, or because they have a physical job, they can be careless in their attire; when in fact, the exact opposite is true.

When I taught massage, I was a stickler for neatness in my students' attire. I'll admit it, I was somewhat of a drill sergeant. Clean, stain-free, unwrinkled scrubs, clean shoes, clean nails, neat hair were a requirement in my class. I got a lot of flack from my students who thought that even having to wear scrubs was an affront to their sensibilities, but I didn't let it deter me from teaching my standards. Whenever we had practical finals, my students would line up while I gave them the once over, marking them down for stains, wrinkles, hanging threads, etcetera, which would affect their overall grade. The first line-up was a nightmare because they didn't take me seriously; and, as a result, they paid the price. After that first inspection, you never saw a neater, cleaner bunch of therapists lined up waiting for their once-over. What was more striking than their neatness was their changed attitude. The first line-up they were surly, with terrible posture and honestly, looked like hobos who didn't care. After that first disastrous line-up, they stood in their line proud as could be! Their posture was straight, their eyes beamed with pride and their overall demeanor was that of unwavering confidence. Even their practical massages reached a higher level of confidence!

Those students who embraced my strict standards for attire found it much easier to secure positions at the higher-end spas which have their own high uniform standards. High-end spas and hotels know their employees are judged on every aspect of their existence from what they wear to their behavior ~ every second of the day and night by their guests. As a result, they drill their standards into their employees, even having their own line inspections at the beginning of shifts. It's important to note that high-end hotels and spas aren't successful by accident ~ there's a reason for their standards. Dress for Success is certainly an important aspect of their own dress protocol.

The bottom line is this: If you want people ~ your clients, the public ~ to treat you as a professional, you have to act like a professional. Acting like a professional includes a lot of things, and dressing like one is right near the top of the list. Dress for Success doesn't mean you're to massage your clients wearing a suit or a dress, but particularly when you're going to someone's home, you want them to look at you and before you even lay your hands on them, you want them to have total confidence in you and your abilities. There's an entire experiential aspect to massage that goes beyond our hands. It's the feel of the table linens, the comfort of the table (warm in the winter, cool in the summer), the feel and aroma of the oils, the relaxing music, your touch, and... you. It's all incredibly important to the overall experience and it starts the moment the client opens their front door.

Whether your work "uniform" is sweats or shorts and a polo shirt, or even scrubs, it doesn't mean you can't take pride in your attire and yourself. A therapist arriving at a client's house who has bathed more recently than several days earlier, wearing clean, ironed clothes (or at the very least unwrinkled clothing), perfectly clean shoes, clean nails and neatly combed or styled hair is going to make a positive and lasting impression on the client. You can be the most awesome therapist with the most awesome hands in the world, but if you stink, if you look like you stink, if your clothes are wrinkled and stained... it won't matter how amazing you are, because your client won't want you to touch their body ever again. Remember, Dress for Success is a popular saying because it works ~ when you put it to work.

Jules Hamland is an author, educator and massage business consultant, California Certified Massage Therapist, Certified Raw Food Nutrition Specials, and Advanced Health Practitioner.

Home Gym Workout Routines

Creating successful routines for your self can be both easy as well as fun. There is no mystery to the process, and in fact most people over complicate the process; bringing it to a level that introduces unnecessary steps that only act as a barrier to your home gym workout routines rather then help you in your quest for fitness. There are however a few steps that people should take to ensure they stick to these.

The most important thing a person can do to ensure the success of their home gym workout routines is to set a scheduled time that they observe each day that you plan on working out. Adding this element of routine makes it more difficult to "cheat" and skip a workout. Additionally having a scheduled time means that you will be able to avoid scheduling interruptions. Lets face it every on is busy now a days, and it is not uncommon for our schedules to become full without even realizing it; but by having a set scheduled time for your home gym workout routines you will avoid this common pitfall.

Scheduling your home gym workout routines should not only be limited to times, but also dates. How common is it for people to put off a workout till the next day thinking that they only need to do 4 workouts a week, and there are still plenty of days left? Only to then realize that things keep coming up preventing them from getting in all of their weekly home gym workout routines. Preventing this is so incredibly easy that people often over look it. All that is required is for people to "pencil in" their daily home gym workout routines in to whatever schedule keeper they use.

Having a set of workout cloths also helps to get you in the proper exercising mood. When you dress for success (and in this case success is completing your workout) success will find you. More simply, by dressing to work out you put your self in the mindset to successfully complete your home gym workout routines. These cloths do not need to be anything special, just comfortable, and only used for your workout.

Music is another popular addition to any home gym workout routines. Music is generally seen as a motivator, and successfully used by many people to help push themselves farther and faster; reaching those exercise heights, and crossing those troublesome plateaus. Most people choose upbeat tunes, something with a driving beat and a fast rhythm to keep them motivated, however it is really a personal choice and if classical music feels like the proper accompaniment to your home gym workout routines then by all means enjoy your Mozart.

Watching television or reading is generally not recommended as a diversion while doing your home gym workout routines. These are seen as more distracting then music, and rather then pushing you harder in your workout, television and books tend to pull you out of it, causing your heart rate to lower and you to loose focus. Of course if you have to have the television on to be successful in your home gym workout routines then by all means watch it. Having an only partially successful workout is still better then no workout at all, and since you are working out for your own wellbeing then you may as well enjoy your home gym workout routines. Do what it takes, and have fun! This is your special time and you should embrace your home gym workout routines and really make them your own.

A Men's Guide to Dressing Well and Looking Polished

Being well dressed takes a lot more than just an expensive suit. A man can have the best suit money can buy and still not look polished. In order to present your self as a prosperous member of society you need to bring your look together by paying attention to detail. It's within the details that the full picture really begins to come to fruition. These tips will help you go from a boy in a suit to a polished and successful looking man.

If it Doesn't Fit Don't Wear It: Just because you have a really nice, expensive suit, or a pair of stylish dark denim doesn't mean your in the fashion clear. You need to make sure you clothing fits properly if you want to look your best. Pants that are too tight or suit coats that are too big will make you look anything but polished no matter how much you spent on them. If you find that your clothes aren't fitting the way they should consider visiting a tailor to have them let out or taken in.
Get an Iron and Get Rid of Wrinkles: Nothing says ill prepared and lazy like a wrinkles shirt. To make sure you look your best make it a point to iron you pants and your shirts. If you find that you don't always have time to put those important creases in your collar consider investing in a few wrinkles free shirts and pants and keeping them nice and neat on hangers until it's time to bring them out of the closet.
Invest is Some Nice Socks: Nothing ruins a strapping suit like a pair of white cotton running socks. Keep your gym socks for the gym and fill your drawers with at least five pairs of nylon dress socks that will match your suit. What if you don't wear a suit to work? As a general rule those white socks should be kept for sneakers only. If your wearing dress shoes do the same with your socks.
Make it a Point to Accessorize: Sure any man can throw a suit on and a pair of dress shoes, but it's the men who take five seconds more to add some accessories to their ensemble that really look polished and ready to meet the business world with open arms. Invest in small yet essential things like cuff links, tie clips and watches to make sure you're always dressed your best.
Don't Clash with Busy Patterns: If you want to wear a patterned shirt give up your pin striped pants for the day. Likewise, if your going to wear a pair patterned pants (Stripes and plaids only please), choose a solid color shirt. While yes, it is occasionally fashionable to mis match, it's not fashionable to clash. When it comes to dressing to impress clashing is a major fashion don't.
Sneakers are Never the Right Choice: Sneakers have come a long way and they have made their way past the gym and into our everyday lives. Unfortunately, no matter how comfortable and how stylish they are they are never appropriate footwear for a polished man. Leave your sneakers at the gym and look for classy comfort in the casual shoe.

Type 2 Diabetes - Overcoming Gym Fear For Woman With Diabetes

If you're a female with Type 2 diabetes looking to get healthier, lower your blood sugar and shed a few pounds or gain more muscle strength, chances are you're thinking about signing up to a local gym. You want to get in there, do some strength training and get your cardio work in.

But, you're feeling a little anxious...

you're worried what other people will think of you as you are a little overweight.
you're worried about exercising in the company of men.
you may be worried you just won't know what to do when you get to the gym and suffer embarrassment from this.
If these are all thoughts running through your mind, rest easy - they are all easily overcome.

Here's how to get past gym fear so you can get on to a new, fitter you with lower blood sugar levels...

1. Book A Session With A Trainer. First, if lack of knowledge is what's stopping you, it's time to book an introductory session or two with a trainer. They'll show you the ropes and help you feel that much more confident each time you step foot in the gym.

You don't necessarily have to train with them on an ongoing basis if your budget is limited, but one or two sessions will be the perfect way to jumpstart your effort.

2. Join An All Female Gym. It's also a wise move to consider joining an all female gym. If you're uncomfortable exercising around the men in the weight room, this is the ideal solution.

Or, look for a gym with an area just for females. Many now introduce this so will give you a place to do your workout worry free.


3. Dress Comfortably. It's also important you dress comfortably. While you may want to keep up with the latest fashions in workout wear, remember if you aren't comfortable, you will be miserable the whole time you're there.

Dress in something you feel good in. Function should always come first when choosing workout wear, fashion second. Not the other way around.

4. Take A Friend. Finally, you might also want to consider taking a friend with you. If you have a family member, co-worker, or friend who's looking to get in shape as well, go about this mission together.

Having another friendly face by your side can make it much easier to face your gym fears and also make the workout much more enjoyable as well.

This gym buddy set-up may also help you stick with it better, which will then mean better results for both of you.

So don't let gym fear get to you any longer. There is always a way to overcome whatever issue you are facing so you can get on to becoming a fitter you in control of your Type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar and your body weight.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

Selecting a Fitness Club: 10 Tips on Choosing a Great Gym

Place

If you choose a fitness club on the other side of your city, will you be capable to remain motivated and make an effort to visit regularly? Probably not. Particularly on those days when your determination is on a minimum and your work agenda is beyond busy. A good fitness club location will ideally be someplace between your home and your job. Having a fitness club in the area is going to reduce your stress level, keep you doing exercises and save you a lot of travel time.

Charges

Joining a fitness club can be a big financial investment. Gym membership charges aren't to be taken lightly and are often the main reason why people choose a specific gym. Inexpensive gym subscriptions may seem like a much better option in the beginning, but could be a poor choice if these gyms can't accommodate your needs. The same thing goes for more costly fitness gyms. You may be paying too much for what you are receiving. Additionally, many fitness gyms will require a registration fee. You might simply wait for any special offer to save on these fees, but you may also speak to the staff. Suggest that you're considering several other gyms as well and figure out what kind of offer they can present you with right away.

Services

Gym amenities and fees go hand in hand. If you are not planning on using much of the facilities the gym has to offer, you might be over paying. Alternatively, if you like a sauna or a decent swim after your regular workout, a less expensive gym without those amenities may not be right for you. Be sure to discover what the gym's facilities are and how regularly you will be using these. Modern facilities can be a good way to get your attention to sign-up, but you have to be sure you will need all the gym has to provide. If you need specialized facilities such as no cost car parking, group classes or group classes, see whether they are included in your membership or whether you need to pay extra for these.

Membership contract

An excellent fitness club agreement exists in order to safeguard both your own and the fitness club's interests. Find out how the personnel interact with you and if they can be pushy. If they expect you to join on the spot, walk away. Ideally you would want to carry the written agreement home with you, read it very carefully and think about it. Figure out just how long the written agreement is good for and if there are any concealed charges. Will your agreement carry over automatically? Hammer out a deal with the staff, view it as a sport and you can frequently get significantly lower rates. Request to try the facility before signing a binding agreement, but watch out for any paper that you need to sign. Less respectable fitness gyms could slip you a contract while saying it is a form for "liability purposes". Always look into the terms and conditions of your membership contract.

Opening times

Will your favorite gym be open during the hours that you might be thinking of working out? Many people exercise in the morning, some prefer the evening hours and there are fitness gyms that are closed during the weekends. You want to look for a fitness club that will suit your hectic schedule. Otherwise, you will be paying for a gym you can't get access to at times that suit you the most.

Staff

Excellent fitness gyms have good personnel, who are supportive, warm, friendly and skilled. The personnel should answer all of your questions, help you build-up fitness workout routines and even spot you during workout sessions. Make sure to ask about their accreditations and see how they treat you as a potential new member. In case you are struggling in getting your questions answered beforehand, be skeptical of the way they're going to treat you when you've signed up with the gym. Friendliness is a big benefit. A depressed facial expression as a welcome to your fitness club can drain all of the energy away from you.

Regular members

What's important is that you choose a gym where you will feel at ease exercising. You should not feel uncomfortable, threatened or confused. Find out what kind of folks are exercising at your fitness club of preference. Are they really your favorite type of people? If you want to exercise intensely, you will not like a fitness club where friendly chat is on the schedule. If you like meeting new folks, you are better off in a gym where there's a great personal ambiance and where people interact effortlessly with each other. In case you don't appreciate co-ed fitness gyms, you could choose a ladies only or men's only gym near you.

Gym equipment

Whenever you visit a fitness club of your choice, make sure to take a look around. Exactly what do you notice? Are there sufficient machines, weight plates and hand weights for everyone? Make an effort to find out if members are waiting around in line for well-liked fitness equipment and exercises. Some gyms are famous for using time limits on fitness cardio equipment. If you're intending to do a lot of cardio, this time limit won't be good for you. If you are a truly serious bodybuilder or want to turn into one, make sure that the available dumbbells, weight loads and weight plates satisfy your desires.

Care

There is absolutely nothing worse than a fitness club without any hygiene requirements. You'll want to sign up for a gym where they have clean fitness equipment, locker rooms, bathrooms and toilets. Look around on your initial visit. Are there sufficient towels to clean the gym equipment after each use? Also make certain that staff members enforce these requirements. While you happen to be there, take a look at the locker-room, showers and lavatories. If you don't appreciate what you're seeing, you can bet your money that hygiene standards are not being enforced in that club.

Good friends

Consult people you're friends with and ask where they've been keeping fit and if they're pleased. Many times, your friends and folks you already know can give you a great insight into great community fitness gyms and warn you for gyms you must avoid.

How to Deal With the Top 5 Annoying People at the Gym

The gym is an excellent place to work out for many reasons. For me, it's because of the vast amount of free weights and equipment and the hardcore atmosphere that feels particularly motivating for me.

The problem with working out at the gym is, it is after all a public venue. This means the moment you decide to sign up for a gym membership you will have to co-exist with the other gym members and deal with whatever peculiarities they have. This can prove to be very challenging especially when you are at the gym working hard on exercising to reduce tummy and the presence of some others are making it hard for you to do so.

I've seen how many people give up going to the gym or stopped following their training program because of some bad encounters they have at the gym. Moving from one gym to another doesn't help because some of these annoying people exist everywhere.

In today's post, I will list down some of the top 5 most annoying people you might see at the gym and how you can deal with them - if you have to.

The Chatterbox:
Every gym has at least one of them. This individual (sometimes a few of them) goes to the gym primarily to socialize, bitch, gossip and basically do anything but exercise. This person would chat with you between sets and if you get caught in the conversation, you lose track of your rest periods. Then your body and muscle cools down and you are no longer in the zone to lift your next set. Your workout gets ruined.

Sometimes this person would gossip about you - your clothes, your body part, your exercise technique, etc - and deliberately let you hear it. It makes you conscious about yourself and you lose concentration.

While there's nothing wrong with socializing, we should lose track of our main reason for going to the gym. Having an extended rest period can affect your training intensity and your focus on the next set. This is definitely not what you want to achieve especially if you exercising to reduce tummy. Remember, you can always socialize after your workout.

Solution: If you know the person, try keeping the chat within a minute or no longer than your usual rest period. If the chat goes beyond, gradually assume the position of your next exercise, smile and carry on with your exercise. Most people will get the point.

If they talk about you, glance at them and make sure they notice you. Let them know you heard them and continue with your workout. Who gives a s**t about what the others think? This is your work out!

The Hogger:
The people at my gym are generally very friendly and willing to share their equipment in between sets. But occasionally we have one or two of these possessive weirdos who simply won't share and insists on completing their exercise before anyone can use it.

If they have just a few sets left, that's fine. What's unforgivable is that they are hogging the equipment for the wrong exercise. Don't know what I mean? Here's an example:

Imagine someone hogging the squat rack to do biceps curl with the Olympic bar. The reason they need the squat rack is because they can rest the bar at the rack so that it's easier for them to pick it up at the next set... (long pause for effect). And by the way, in case you think these are strong people who need the Olympic bar to curl massive weights, you couldn't be more wrong. They are just curling an empty bar.

Hoggers are not just restricted to the weights section. The worst Hoggers are those on the treadmill. Because it's impossible to share the treadmill, users should be even more considerate and be conscious of the time they spend on the machine. Even though it's clearly stated that each user is limited to 30 minutes on the treadmill, some continue on, completely oblivious to the people waiting behind. And check this out, some even have the newspapers nicely laid out in front of them as they take a stroll on the treadmill while holding onto the handles...

As you patiently wait for your turn on the treadmill, homicide at this point inevitably comes to mind.

Solution: If they are using the machine for any other exercise than what it's meant for, politely tell them that there's an alternate machine that they can use. Usually this works. Otherwise, ask them to share. The switching of weights will eventually make one party give up. Usually it's them.

The Moaner:
I bet you can find one of these in every gym as well. Their voices echo throughout the entire gym. You know exactly when they are going to start their set and when their set is going to end. They psyche themselves up with a war cry that puts the New Zealand All Blacks to shame as they lift their massive weights (or weights which they think are massive to them), and throughout the set, the grunt, moan and groan until they eventually climaxed at the last repetition before dropping their weights to the floor.

Whether these people are truly trying to psych themselves or they are looking for attention, their loud moans and war cries are a distraction to everyone in the gym. Imagine if everyone in the gym starts doing this? Others might mistake the gym as a Taekwondo dojo or worse, an adult venue masquerading as a gym.

Solution: You can try to telling them to keep it down. But I've tried and it doesn't work. So, get yourself an iPod or a set of earplugs. I do like my friend's solution though, which is to exercise next to them and moan even louder.

The Big Bully:
A nightmare to both gym instructors and members alike, the Big Bullies are hard to miss. Walking around with arms flaring out as if there are potatoes in their armpits, these oversized muscle heads share many characteristics with the Hogger and the Moaner. They use your equipment between sets without asking and they never return any of the weight they use.

The worst of them even criticize your exercise technique without even giving you actual pointers.

Many of these muscle heads are just pure muscle bulk with no definition. Some even sport a belly. But they walk around thinking that everyone should marvel at their tremendous musculature.

Solution: Handling the Big Bully needs extra care. Remember to always be polite because these are the closest things that we have to a primate living among us. Perhaps the only stations you will never find Big Bullies using are the treadmill and the abs machine. But if a big bully is suddenly use your equipment without asking, wait for him to complete his set, then tell him politely, "Lets share between sets", as you pick up the weights. If he stops you or starts giving you aggressive looks, no problem. Move on to the next heaviest weight. Let him have it. It's not worth it. You watched Planet of the Apes? Just let the primate have his toy.

The Army Ants:
Usually in a group of at least seven or eight, these people are like army ants, ravaging every machine, treadmill and free weight they set their eyes on. If they are doing dumbbell presses, you can be sure that almost all of the weights on the rack will be gone. These people usually belong to a specific sports team and have decided to bring half their squad for training at a local gym.

Their disruptive presence at the gym is obvious and even greatly magnified when they are there during peak hours. If your gym is fairly small like mine, you can either wait for the ants to finish their workout or be prepared to wait for 5 minutes between each set.

Solution: Army ants or not, you are already at the gym. So get your workout in! If they are using the equipment that you plan to use, either find an alternative or workout another body part first. There's no point sharing equipment with the army ants because you end up wasting more time waiting to do your set.

Ok, I threw in this last group of people not because they are really annoying, but the way they are training is an utter waste of time and I've seen groups like this is three gyms I've been to already.

The Bench Press Boys:
There's this group of four to five overzealous teenage boys who go to the gym pretty frequently. I've only ever seen them train one body part.

Correction.

I've only ever seen them do one exercise - the bench press. Well, you can't really blame them. The obsession with having a huge chest is not just limited to women. Having a massive chest does make one looks just as impressive as having huge arms. The good thing is, at least they are choosing free weights over machines. But once they start to lift the weight, everything else goes very wrong.

They use a weight that's too heavy for them right from the first set. The boy performing the exercise has a spotter behind him, to his left and to his right. The scene looks almost like a pit crew carrying out a pit stop at a motor race event. What even funnier is the boy who's performing the exercise continues to add weight to the next set. As his spotters struggle to help him through his last set, he looks as if he has conquered Mount Everest and with that look of extreme satisfaction.

These boys don't really annoy anyone except sometimes if you really need to use the bench; you have to wait for them to get through their 10 sets of bench press, each.

Solution: Well, they are not really offending anybody. But if you need to use the bench, ask politely to share the bench. When they see you are lifting more than them and they give you that "Whoa! Awesome!" look, you can give them a few pointers and correct their bench pressing techniques.

When dealing with any of the five annoying people above, the key thing to note is, always remember to be polite. Never use aggression even if you are bigger and stronger than the other guy. Treat fellow gym users with respect and you will get respect in return.

The gym is not the only place you can get a satisfying workout. There are also many advantages to working out at home as well. The 10 Minute Corporate Fat Loss Plan offers you the quickest way to lose weight gives you a butt kicking work out without requiring any special equipment and all at the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Find out how I discovered the quickest way to lose weight and lost 8 lbs in just one week. Download your free fat loss starter kit office weight loss tips from the 10 Minute Corporate Fat Loss Plan site.

About Purchasing Wipes for Your Gym

Your gym is a resource for people who want to stay in shape or improve their body and health. It can be a haven for people who love to work out and come to exercise classes, and a place for people to meet, socialize and learn about health and nutrition. Your gym, in other words, is more than just a business- it can provide a lifestyle for your clients. In order to manage your gym efficiently and to help ensure that customers like coming there, it is important to maintain your gym and keep it clean at all times. It is also important to offer conveniences to your customers that they will appreciate. One way to both offer a benefit to customers and to help keep your gym clean is to purchase wipes for your gym.

Wipes for Your Gym

When you purchase wipes for your gym, there are a few different kinds of wipes that you should consider. Perhaps the most obvious type of wipes to buy are gym wipes. Gym wipes are designed for cleaning gym equipment between users. Your customers can grab a gym wipe from a convenient dispenser and wipe down the equipment so that it is clean and dry for the next person who wants to make use of the machine.

Gym wipes serve many important purposes in the gym environment. They allow for the machines to stay clean and safe to use, and they help customers to feel more comfortable making use of the equipment. No one wants to grab sweaty equipment that someone else has just been using without wiping it down first, and gym equipments make this easy. Equipment that is slick with sweat can also be dangerous, so gym wipes help to make your gym a safer place. Finally, because the equipment is cleaned more frequently with gym wipes, it will always appear clean to perspective members visiting the gym and to members who want a pleasant environment at the gym. Cleaning at the end of the day will be easier as well, since the machine is already clean from being wiped down with gym wipes.

In addition to gym wipes, you may also wish to purchase antibacterial wipes or hand wipes to keep around your gym. Like gym wipes, these have many purposes and many benefits to customers. For one thing, they can help to stop the transmission of germs. When people use gym equipment and sweat on that equipment, they leave behind more than just their perspiration- they also leave behind any bacteria, viruses or other organisms that were on their hands or body. This can cause other patrons at the gym to be exposed to these disease-causing organisms. Recent outbreaks of swine flu and other contagious diseases have underscored the importance of always making sure that you are protected from germs.

Customers will also appreciate the opportunity to use an antibacterial wipe to wipe their hands rather than having to go to the bathroom to wash them. This makes for good customer service and can help to improve the gym experience.

Gym Wipes: Helping To Keep Your Gym Clean and Keep Customers Happy

When customers are looking for a gym to become a member of, or when they are evaluating whether they are satisfied with their gym or not, they consider many different things. Some of the obvious factors include the convenience of the gym location and the selection of equipment that is available. These are things that are difficult for established gym owners to change, at least without making a large investment. Gym goers, however, are also looking at other considerations as well, including the cleanliness of the gym environment and the conveniences available to them at the gym. These last two factors are things that you have control over as a gym owner, so it is up to you to make sure you do everything possible to make your gym a clean, attractive and pleasant place to be. One way to do this is by making sure that you have gym wipes available and accessible at all times.

The Importance of Gym Wipes in Keeping Your Gym Clean and Your Customers Satisfied

Keeping your gym clean is an ongoing effort, as every time someone uses a machine or a piece of equipment it can become dirty with sweat and germs. While you need to have a regular cleaning crew available to clean the gym and the equipment, your cleaners cannot always be there to clean the equipment after each use. In fact, it would be too time consuming and expensive to have the equipment cleaned by staff after each use and this would likely turn gym customers off since it would increase the waiting time to use machines.

This is why gym wipes are such a great option. When gym wipes are readily accessible at locations throughout the gym, clients can grab them easily and wipe down the equipment either when they are finished using it or before they begin using it, or both. As such, this allows gym patrons to take some responsibility for making sure that the gym stays a clean place to be. It is faster and easier than always having professional cleaners around during the day or when the equipment is in use, and it empowers the gym clients and allows them to have certainty that the equipment is clean since they can wipe it down themselves.

Because of these factors, having gym wipes available can help to make your gym more attractive to potential customers and can help to keep regular, existing members happy. The cleanliness factor isn't the only advantage to gym wipes either. By making gym wipes available at multiple locations throughout the gym, you make their use convenient for clients and you improve their gym experience. They will feel as if you care out their health and safety since the gym wipes are there to allow them to wipe down machines. They will also enjoy and appreciate the convenience of having the wipes readily accessible.

For all of these reasons, it simply makes sense to have gym wipes available at all times and in various locations throughout your gym. Order gym wipes today to begin enjoying the benefits that these important cleanliness tools have to offer.

Common Gym Frauds and Rip-Offs and How to Avoid Them - Some Useful Tips and Hints

Going to a gym is considered to be one of the best ways to get back to shape and also to keep your figure fit and toned. You can try exercising at home, but the reality is that you do not get the kind of environment that you really need and you do not gain the rigorous workouts that you can do, using specialized gym equipment. Gyms offer many ways by which you can increase body fitness and health by doing workouts or exercise routines that are specifically targeted at various body parts.

Working out at the gym has become really popular now-a-days, but as someone considering to opt for a gym membership, it is vital that you enroll yourself into a reputed gym, so that you do not get taken advantage of by gym scams. Here is a look into some gym scams and pointers on how best to tackle them or avoid them.

Scams that you should be aware of:

One of the biggest scams is the one where you can't cancel your club membership. In fact, the problem of membership cancellation is one of the top complaints that have been lodged against fitness clubs with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently. Most often membership cancellation happens when a person decides to move to another location. The member assumes that by just informing the club about the move is enough, but the reality is that documented proof is required. The membership cancellation does not happen as a result and the resultant is often the loss of refund. In case of those who pay membership fees on a monthly basis this can translate into something bad like a low credit score or reminders for payments that are due for their period of membership.

Gyms have high-tech equipments, which if well-maintained do not pose any problem to users. However, what is noted in certain gyms is that regular maintenance is not done on time. It is not unusual to note people getting injured as a result of using equipment that is not working smoothly or accidentally because it was not checked or simply there was a design problem. Check the gyms maintenance and cleaning logs, so that you know for sure that the gym area is clean and that all equipments are working normally. Inspect a gym, its environment and equipment condition before signing up the gym contract. A gym that is overcrowded will never offer a hygienic environment and you might have to wait to use the gym equipments of your choice.

Always read the fine print on the contract. Often, the enthusiasm of joining a gym results in a person not looking into what they are in for and sales agents can be quite convincing in getting people to join. It is not uncommon for people to feel that they signed up for something that they did not opt for, like for example, they might find certain charges being made for usage of equipment, that should have come as a free feature of the gym membership. Though most gym specify everything in details in the membership contract itself, but there are times when they do not do this and this can result in you spending more. If the extra fee is a part of the contact and you did not notice, there is nothing that you can do. However, when the fees are levied suddenly, you can argue with the staff for a refund.

There can also be gyms that actually gloss over some details. For example, they may require members to attend gym sessions for a specific period of time, and not doing this can result in a penalty or an extensive membership period, which might not be in the best interests of the person who is joining. Such issues can be avoided by reading the contract terms carefully and also asking those who are also enrolled about how certain terms and condition apply, once you have joined.

There have been times when gyms have collected money from people for membership, but they never opened. Usually the offer is that of a discount or a lower rate for an early joining, but in the course of a couple of weeks, what happens is that money is collected from a lot of people but the gym never opens. Always go to a reputed gym, that offers a decent membership policy and which can show proof of a hygienically maintained environment.

It's not unusual to see gyms sporting certificate that authenticate their functioning. However, it is vital to check the accreditations to find out that they are from a really prestigious and note-worthy organization. Instructors in such gyms are trained and certified, but it is vital to check such certification as well. Often people with certain health problems visit a gym to get the pain caused by a particular problem treated by suggesting appropriate exercising routines. However, this does not work as well even if the instructor is a certified professional, because they do not understand the complete medical dimension of relating exercise to a health problem.

If you are someone with health problem, it is vital that you be realistic about the kind of exercises that you can do in a gym. Gyms always promise that you will get the kind of results that you really want from exercising, but they are not medical professionals, who define exercises and workout routines based on a personal health status. There have been many stories of people getting a sudden cardiac arrest, while working out at the gym. Practically, staff in most gyms is not equipped to handle such situation and so it is advisable not to take up workouts that can be tough on them physically.

You can avoid gym scams by researching about the gym that you are considering to enroll. If you check out the gym facilities thoroughly, you can find out whether the gym environment is well-maintained or not and this will help you determine if enrolling is worth it. These days there are many discussion boards and forums where people discuss gym facilities and the general environment of a particular gym, so you can gather useful information about different people and their personal experience.

Important Things to Consider While Negotiating With Gyms!

Keeping you body healthy, fit and well toned needs regular exercising and also intake of a balanced diet. Exercising can be done at home, but if you want to get the best results, working out at a gym would be a better choice. Gyms offer an environment that motivates you to get into various forms of workouts and exercising under close supervision. That will definitely show positive results on your mental and physical health. Today's gyms offer the best equipments, well trained and certified trainers, dieticians etc. so you can achieve your desired goals efficiently and effectively.
 
Every gym has its own terms and conditions, therefore to get the best offers on a gym membership requires careful research on various membership offers. Before you get down to negotiating on rates, it is important to check out on various factors.
 
Gym Type
 
There are different kinds of gyms so you have to look into what it is that you what to achieve by going to a gym. Do you want to enroll into a specialized gym, where you have a separate training instructor for yourself and a training course that is specially designed to help you meet your fitness goals else do you want to enroll into a regular gym where you are trained along with others. Those looking for a completely new approach to fitness training should consider enrolling into something like Yoga Studio.
 
Compare Gym Rates, Check Discounts and Other Offers Carefully
 
Plan ahead and see what you can spend and establish a budget for yourself and then compare gym rates. Some gyms have discount offers during the off season, while some give special offers to attract people. Look into the gym rates for various programs and check what their competitors are offering. Usually gyms offer membership discounts at the time of the New Year and some of the offers can be really lucrative like a couple of months of free membership, availability of free gym gear, or a two year membership available at the price of one. The best way to gain information on discount offers is to sign up for the gym's newsletter and have a close watch. Most gyms have their own websites, where they will put up information on monthly contracts and almost zero-enrollment fees.


 
Negotiate Skillfully
 
Once you have chosen a particular gym, you have to negotiate with them. Make an offer that is below you budget. Most often staff will state that they cannot change rates because of the gym policy on membership dues, but if the gym is a small gym or has started recently, they will be ready to consider. In case of larger gyms, you have to skillfully convince the staff that you expect a discount on enrollment. Specify competitor rates, but most often gyms are aware of what their competitors are doing, but it is a good approach to get a reduction.
 
In addition to bargaining on the membership rates, you should think about negotiating on trainer's fees. Usually trainer's fee is negotiable and it is not unusual to see free personal trainer sessions offered for those who become new members. When you decide to continue with the trainer's services, negotiate a rate that comes within your budget. Trainers are usually flexible and usually accept member rates.
 
What you need to understand about gyms in general is that they will always show out that their rates are non-negotiable, but the thing is that you can bargain with them and bring down the rates. The competition is high and every gym has to meet its monthly targets to keep it going. Usually gyms employ a staff of commission-based sales team with whom you can negotiate and they will be flexible, if you skillfully make your point on rate reduction.
 
As someone who is going to be using gym facilities on a regular basis, you should get your money's worth, so if you find a gym with rates that are satisfying to you, check out others.
 
Check Your Company's Employee Offer for Gyms
 
It's not uncommon for companies to have deals with local gyms by which their employees get a discount offer or rates that are highly slashed down to a third of the original rates or even free membership. So, if you are employed at a company, it would do well to check out on this with the staff at the HR department.
 
Do No Opt For Long-Term Membership or Advance Membership Fee Payments
 
Usually there is a lot of enticement from the sales agent to sign up for a long-term contract. Unless, you see yourself serious usually a long-term membership fully, opting for a month-to-month membership agreement is the right option. You can cancel the contract whenever you want and there is no need to pay any penalty. Sales agent may also suggest that you pay for a year in advance, but this is something that you should avoid because in case the gym suddenly closes or you have to move away, the paid money would be wasted as you will not be using the gym's facilities.
 
In case you are not planning to utilize the gym facility for throughout the week, ask the gym for a limited weekly access plan, because this will work out cheaper. Many people work out only three or four days a week, so cutting out payments for days that you would not be using the gym helps to save money.
 
Find Out On All Applicable Fees
 
The fees that you have to pay to the gym at the end of every membership period, should not come as a surprise to you, with hidden costs added, so much so that what you see on the bill is far above what you are expected to pay. This is where you need to be alert and check out what you are really in for by checking up with the sales agent on all payment related information. If you find certain fee demand to be too high or unacceptable, mention this at once to the sale agent. They might show you a program in which you do not have to make certain types of fee payments and enjoy just the kind of facilities that you really need for your workout sessions.

Joining A Gym? 5 Questions To Ask Yourself To Choose The Right Gym

There are tons of gyms to join these days in even small to mid-sized towns. How do you pick a gym to join? After all, it's pretty expensive, especially if there is a hefty up-front initiation fee and/or contract. Pick the best gym for you the first time around.

Here are the 5 steps and questions to help you pick the best gym to join for you.

1. What type of workouts do you do?

There are all kinds of gyms these days - free weights-focused, machine-focused, cardio-centric, running clubs, full service, strip-mall circuit training gyms, public centers, racket-centers, golf club-focused gyms... you name it, you can sign up for about any type of gym.

You need to think about what type of workouts you like doing. If you've never belonged to a gym before, do as many 1 week trials at gyms around you as you can and see what you use and like. Get scientific about it and make some notes or charts. Consider:

Do you only use the cardio machines? If so, find a gym with the best cardio equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, etc.
Do you like the latest weight machines? Some gyms invest in some pretty cool weight lifting equipment. Try it out.
Do you like fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, a running club, cycling classes, martial arts, etc. If so, see which gym offers the best classes. Make sure you check whether there are additional fees for classes.
Are you looking to play racket sports and/or golf.
Do you like swimming laps?
Do you like doing everything (like me)? If so, look for the best full-service gym.
2. How much can you afford?

Most gym memberships charge a monthly fee. Some charge an up-front fee and then a monthly fee. Other gyms require that you sign a contract committing you to a gym. I prefer an up-front and no contract.

IMPORTANT: almost every gym will negotiate terms to suit you. Do not accept the terms unless they work for you. The terms typically negotiated are up-front fees and contract length.

The monthly fee is what adds up over time. Expect to pay anywhere from $15/month (for a small retail circuit training facility) to $300 plus per month for a swanky, full-service urban gym. Most gyms cost $30 to $70 per month.

The way I look at is if I go twice a week, I'm getting my money's worth. Usually I go more often, but I almost always go twice a week.

3. Do you like using spa and other facilities at your gym?

Do you like using steamrooms, saunas, pools, hot tubs, etc.? I know this is a factor for me. These features help me unwind at the end or middle of the day. However, many people never bother with these pricey features. Are there other facilities you like such as studio space to do yoga or martial arts?

4. Is the gym conveniently located?

This is critical. Look for a gym that you will actually go to - whether close to home, work, or both.

5. Women: do prefer a women's gym only?

More and more full-service gyms offer a women's only area. There are also many strip-mall circuit training gyms cropping up as well.

Don't forget to give any gym on your shortlist at least a 1 week trial run.

Most gyms will let you try out the facility for free for one week at least. I strongly recommend you take them up on the offer and go there at least 3 times before making a decision.

Don't sign up at 4 gyms during the same week because you won't sufficiently try out each gym sufficiently to pick a gym. Dedicate one week to one gym. Then the next week pick out another gym to try, and so forth.

Regardless of which gym you're thinking of joining, you want to ensure it is clean (again, the 1 week trial run will help you notice cleanliness) and that the customer service is friendly and helpful.

If you're not sure about picking and joining a gym, maybe you're looking to establish a fitness regimen at home.

Do You Want A Regular Gym Membership Or Should You Buy Some Good Home Gym Equipment?

Is having a good home gym really better than going to a regular gym? Is a regular gym membership a more sound investment than buying home gym equipment? Many would say that it would depend on a person's physical needs and maybe even a person's physical abilities. Others would say that economics could play a vital role in determining whether the latter can be more practical than the first. To draw a more accurate conclusion, it may be better to point out the advantages and disadvantages of both subject matters.

What are the advantages of owning a good set of home gym equipment? For one thing, having the luxury of working at home doesn't put pressure on a person's daily schedule. The home gym owner gets to go home straight from work or errands to get some exercise rather than spend several minutes (or hours depending on the road traffic) going to the public gym. Another advantage is that the owner gets to workout at his or her own pace instead of waiting in line to use certain gym equipment or machines. Having a gym at home also eliminates the hassles of monthly fees and unwanted contact with other sweaty people. Owning personal gym equipment also avoids the possibility of embarrassment of falling or awkward movement during failure of certain exercise manoeuvres. Of course with advantages also come disadvantages of having a home gym.

First of all, initial investment on purchasing personal gym equipments or machines is quite pricey (unless one has the patience to search for used equipments). Aside from the price issue, there is also the matter of space. Gym equipments require a spacious and safe area especially if the owner has kids around the house. Finally, although not true for everyone, owning personal gym equipments can promote procrastination. Since everything is already there, the owner may have an excuse of putting off a workout since he or she has all the benefits of personal time.

How about going to a regular public gym? What are the advantages this option presents as opposed to owning good home gym equipment? Initially, a person wouldn't have to invest a big amount on membership. Twenty or Fifty dollars is definitely cheaper than 1,000 dollars. Another advantage is one can get the benefits of a training partner or gym instructor when it comes to performing challenging exercises. Some public gyms even offer members sauna, spa, and massage treatment - perks that one can definitely not receive when exercising at home. Public gyms also offer more variety when it comes to equipment and forms of exercises so a person may get a better workout. Public gyms also create an environment for interaction and socialization.

One may learn more or even meet interesting people for a larger set of friends. Disadvantages include having to drive through traffic or walk through heavy rains just to get to the gym. Also, although initially a gym membership may be affordable, in the long run, the cumulative expense comes much higher than the initial expense in the purchase of good personal gym equipments. Another disadvantage is waiting in line to use certain equipments. This not only ruins a person's exercise routine but also extends his or her time in the gym and away from home.

As it turns out, both subject matters present their own shares of advantages and disadvantages. So how are people going to determine whether they should just buy good home gym equipment or join a public gym? The decision would have to fall on the prerogatives of the individual. If a person can't afford personal equipments but feels the need to get a good workout, then he or she should just join a public gym. If a person has no extra time in his or her daily schedule to hit the gym or the person has to be home right after work or errands, then he or she would have to spend some money on good home gym equipment. The most important thing to do, whether one is exercising at home or in the gym, is to actually exercise.

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