There has never been a time when fitness and mental wellbeing have received as much attention. This is because groundbreaking research consistently proves that maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is key to success in whatever endeavour one undertakes. It also builds a solid foundation for a healthier lifestyle as you get older. And so in this section, we will examine:
- Benefits of going to the gym.
- Getting a private (non-University) gym membership.
- Gym membership options.
Benefits of going to the gym:
Physical Health: Benefits of exercise to your physical health are quite obvious. Regular gym workouts strengthen your cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure, improves flexibility and joint mobility, enhances bone density and promotes healthy weight management. It can also help in reducing long-term risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Mental Health: Being active bumps up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins. As a regular gym goer, you are prone to suffer less mental fatigue and benefit from more focus. It also gives you a sense of achievement which is the ultimate tonic for your mental health.
Community: Attending the gym regularly invariably helps you connect with other regular gym goers. And most gyms offer classes where you not only get to exercise but make new friends and eventually build a small community that may help you integrate within your new community.
Integrating: Speaking of integrating, gym going is the perfect conduit for helping you integrate within your community. Firstly, because you are in an environment of like-minded people. Not everyone goes to the gym or enjoys going to the gym. So when you find a group that does, you instantly share a bond which can then lead to meetups and other activities outside the gym. Gym groups are known to organise Christmas drinks for their members and other functions (such as birthday celebrations) to foster these relationships and boost the gym-going experience.
Discipline: Arguably the most important trait you will learn from being a regular gym-goer is discipline. This is because you are forced to fit this around other priorities like attending lectures so maintaining a consistent schedule requires discipline. To achieve results would also mean leading a disciplined life when it comes to nutrition and indulging in treats like alcohol and unhealthy foods.
Some universities have their own campus gyms but not every student lives on campus or close to campus making it difficult to access said gyms.
Here are some reasons you may want to consider a private gym membership:
- Location: It may simply be the case that some gyms are located closer to you than your Uni gym. Assuming you will not be owning a car makes easy access to a gym top priority. Even if you were to own a car, parking may be another issue to contend with. Simply put, easy access to your gym would make you attend more sessions and thus get more value from our membership.
- Opening Hours: As a student, time is precious. And making time to go to the gym amongst all the other matters you attend to is made easier depending on the opening hours your gym offers. Two of the biggest gym chains in the country Puregym and The Gym Group offer 24hrs opening at most branches. That said, most of the rest tend to open well into the evening especially on weekdays. Our comparative table below sheds more light on this.
- Cost: As with everything on a student budget, cost matters. Several gym chains offer special student memberships which are discounted from what regular members pay. Even if your gym of preference comes up to be a tad more expensive than the alternatives, the convenience and cost of travelling to and from the gym might make up for it.
Gym membership options:
| Gyms | Activities | Opening Times | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Gym & Classes | 24hrs (most locations) | |
 | Gym & Classes | 24hrs (most locations) | |
 | Gym, Classes, Spa & Pool | 6am – 11pm (most locations) | |
 | Gym, Classes, Spa & Pool | 6am – 10pm (most locations) | |
 | Gym & Classes | 6am – 10pm (most locations) | |
 | Gym & Classes | 24hrs | |
 | Gym & Classes | 6am – 10pm (most locations) / 24hrs (select locations) | |
 | Studio & Classes | As scheduled | |
 | Classes Only | Online | |
 | Gym & Classes | Varies depending on location |