Membership:   New Members: Membership Types How to Choose a Club Arrange a Tour Membership Inquiry Complimentary Guest Pass Membership Forms Corporate Memberships: Why invest in Corporate Wellness? Membership Options Arrange a Corporate Consultation   How To Choose a Club:     Throughout the year many of us make the decision to invest more time in our health and join an exercise facility to help reach our fitness goals. Unfortunately, most people fail to reach these goals and cancel their memberships at their respective exercise facilities. Why does this happen year after year? In most cases, the average person has not taken the time to do their research. While Columbia Athletic Clubs offers unmatched service, amenities, and value, we still may not be the club that best suits your needs. We strongly urge you to use the following tools when deciding to join a health club. Feel free to contact a sales representative to set up a tour. Preliminary points to consider before visiting a club: How far will you be traveling to use the club? Any more than a 10-minute drive will increase the probability of failure as it creates another obstacle to reach your fitness goals. What time of day do you plan on using the club? It is much easier to find a program that works with your schedule than to adjust your schedule to fit a club. Remember to visit the facility at the time that you would normally exercise! What are your short and long term fitness goals? When would you like to reach them? Pick a date, mark it on a calendar, and look at it often. What to look for when you visit a prospective club: How are you treated when you visit the club? It is important that you feel comfortable in this new environment. Attentive, friendly front desk staff is a good indication of a club that cares about your success and values your business. How clean is the club? A dirty facility is not only a health hazard, but also a de-motivating factor. Would you look forward to coming to a dirty club? What kind of assistance will be available to you? A professional team of club representatives will be a priceless asset to your success. Fitness trainers with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in exercise science and/or a personal training certification from a nationally accredited agency should be an absolute minimum. Columbia Athletic Clubs requires one of the following certifications: ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), or ACE (American Council on Exercise). What are the membership terms? Are you locked into a long-term contract, or is the membership month-to-month? Are there AED's (Automated External Defibrillator) on site and is the staff trained to use them? Are the club's employees CPR certified? AED's save lives! When exercising you want to ensure that should you have a major emergency, the facility and staff are going to be able to effectively handle the situation. What is the real cost of the membership? Enrollment fees, towel fees, locker fees, class fees, etc… Often a cheap membership can become very costly once you calculate all of the hidden costs. Many clubs that offer low monthly dues often charge additionally for group exercise classes, towel service, etc.