by Coach Manny A.
If someone has not been dragged into a CrossFit gym by a buddy, the very first step in most people’s CrossFit journey is using some google magic. Common phrases to start this search are: “best gym near me,” “CrossFit gym near me”, “best CrossFit gym”, etc. This isn’t a bad start, but there are some things to consider besides which gyms are closest to you. Choosing the gym closest to you may be your most convenient option, but not your best.
If convenience is the difference between making it to the gym or not, then I fully support it going with the closest. However, if getting to your goals efficiently, effectively, and safely is a priority, here are my tips for choosing the best CrossFit gym for you:
- Browse Their Website
- What problems do they solve? Which niche(s) do they serve?
- Look at services: is it one-size fits all? (RED FLAG)
- Does the website use stock photos or real member photos?
- Is there a clear process for how to join? Is there a consultation process? (no consultation = red flag)
- Do they provide an On-Ramp or any formal 1-on-1 training before joining? (Red flag if they don’t).
- Instagram Audit
- Does the gym post flashy photos and videos for likes or do they post to showcase who they are and what they do?
- Do you feel like you know what the gym is all about by looking through their posts?
- What kind of captions exist? Are the captions authentically written, AI generated, or just plain lazy?
- Could you see yourself being a person in any of their posts?
- Google Business Audit
- 5-Star reviews are important, but the quality of the review is even more important.
- Check out how many reviewers share their stories and experiences. Look for people who talk about outcomes and results. If there aren’t many comments on the reviews or comments only referring to very broad and general things like, “great coaching, community, facility” I would consider this a red flag. Although the gym may not be bad, it certainly isn’t going to over-deliver on achieving your goals.
- Questions To Ask!
- Have you worked with people like me before? How have you solved their problem?
- What outcomes can I expect from (insert service)? How long will it take?
- If I get injured or fall off track, how can you help?
- How are you guys different from others?
- How would you differentiate my training from (insert a person with a different goal)?
- Are your coaches full-time or part-time? (Having mostly part-time coaches signals a less professional and committed staff).
Thoroughly vetting your future place of fitness is important because it protects your investment. We believe that fitness works for nearly 100% of people. The issue is more centered on not being in the right place for you to succeed. My goal with this piece isn’t to convince anyone to sign up exclusively with NorthEast. But according to our clients, we are the best CrossFit gym in Westchester and one of the top CrossFit gyms in the world. Maybe, they are a bit biased, but we tend to agree!
