Ten Things to Look For in a Fitness Program

1.� What is your goal?� Are you looking to burn calories?� Do you want to improve cardio-vascular function?� Do you need to relieve stress?

2.� How much money can you spend?

3.� How do you prefer to work-out?� Do you like a social setting in a small group?� Are you comfortable in a large facility with lots of peers?� Do you need one-on-one attention?� Would you like to work out alone or specifically at home?

4.� When can you fit your workout time into your schedule?� This is an important question.� Get out your calendar.� Get our your family's calendar.� Look for the clear slots.� And then write it in.� Commit to these times.

5.� Check out the facility.�� Visit unannounced.� Is it clean?� Is the equipment in good condition--even if you don't plan to use it.� Are people smiling?

6.� Check out the instructor's credentials.� Remember that you can now buy credentials on-line through an on-line course.� Never accept an on-line certification if it is the instructor's primary cert.� An instructor might learn a bit intellectually this way, but no one has actually witnessed this instructor's teaching method, nor double checked their safety knowledge.

7.� What is the class structure?� Are you going to be comfortable in the class no matter what level you begin in?

8.� Do you need any special equipment or clothing?� For example, a yoga class may ask you to bring a sticky mat.� A running workshop requires running shoes.

9.� Does the class progression make sense to you?� Does it inspire you?� Does it sound overwhelming?� If it sounds overwhelming, it probably is.�� Look for something easier for your first foray into the field.

10.� Will you have fun?� If you� don't enjoy this, it will quickly become a chore.� And then, it will quickly become a bore.�� One person may enjoy running because the scenery is always changing.� Another may find it boring because the activity never varies.� It's up to you.� Know yourself.� And get to it!