Getting fit is for everyone, including teenagers. Most teens want to be healthy, but motivation is a factor, as it is with everyone. But does that mean that they need to join a gym? There are pros and cons to teenagers joining a gym.

Pros

When it comes to working out, it is more fun and motivating in groups. When you can bring a friend, both of you can feed off each other and get the work done.

The gym setting can be great for that. Those gyms that offer family memberships allow everyone to unwind from their day and exercise together. Larger gyms do offer these memberships and a wide variety of activities in which to participate. Not only are there weight machines, but also cardio fitness ones such as treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bicycles.

Personal training is also a big hit at gyms. For the teen who has never done exercise before or who doesn’t know what to do, a personal trainer can help. Be sure to check to see if they have trainers who are certified to work with young people effectively.

Your teen can get individual attention each week to help them combine the right amount of cardio and weights for their health. A personal trainer can also help them to set personal weight loss or fitness goals that they can follow from that point on.

Many gyms have classes. For example, if you take a yoga class, your job is to follow the instructor. Depending on your fitness level, he or she will guide your through the moves necessary to achieve success in the class.

Cons

Gym memberships are expensive. For an individual it can cost $50 or more monthly; for a family membership, $100 or more per month. Some families can’t pay that in an effort to allow their teens to work out in a gym. And, contracts are usually for one year. If your teen decides not to go or gets interested in something else, the parents are still obligated to pay the monthly fee.

Not all gyms are equipped the same. They don’t all have instructors that can teach how to use the equipment. For a teen, that can lead to doing a little exercise, but not really staying motivated.

They have to get there to work out. If your teen doesn’t drive, that means that they may have to get you to take them and may not get to use their membership that much.

Should teens join a gym? If the family is going regularly, then it won’t be difficult to go. How much there is to do will depend on the gym. But, once locked into a contract, it will be hard to break if your teen later changes his or her mind about wanting a gym membership.