Are staff members degreed or certified?
“Some places will take a warm body and throw them back there,” says Decker. “There’s no set standard.” His advice: Look for certification from the American College of Sports Medicine or the American Council on Exercise or degrees in related fields, such as kinesiology, exercise science or sports medicine. And make sure instructors are also trained in CPR and first aid, Decker says. “If you find a place where everyone is certified or has a degree,” he says, “it’s probably a pretty decent place.” 4. Has anyone ever been hurt here? Granted, you might not always get an honest answer. But if you seem to be getting along well with the staffer who is showing you around, you ask anyway, says Siler. “Sometimes if you catch them off guard, they may say ‘Oh, I’ve seen a couple of things,’” she says. Bottom line: It can’t hurt to ask. 5. How old is the equipment? “Like any other technology, exercise equipment is constantly changing,” says Decker. If you want a club that’s going to be around, look
