Once you have assembled the Iron Gym, there are a few things to consider related to safety before you start working out.

First thing first, make sure you have enough room at the top of the door frame to safely install the Iron Gym pull up bar securely. It is suggested you have at least a quarter of an inch worth of space at the top of the door frame to securely fit the iron gym pull up system. While the minimum suggested is a quarter inch, a half inch worth of room is your best bet to ensure the best results. If you try to install the iron gym without the appropriate amount of space, chances are on your first pull up, you will wind up on your rear end with a sour look on your face.

Next, assure that the black bar at the top of the unit is snug against the wall, above the door frame. You do not want any play between this black bar and the top of the door frame, you will want a tight fit. If the bar is loose, or the Iron Gym is able to move freely in any direction, take the unit down, and try installing the iron gym again. The reason you want to put an emphasis on a tight fit is that a lot of people “”bounce”” when they reach the top of their pull ups. If the system is loose, chances are after a few successful pull-ups the unit will detach from the wall. Again, causing you to wind up with a sore bottom.

Last, but definitely not least, work out sensibly. Having a home based work out system can be both beneficial and hazardous at the same time. A lot of people will hit the iron so hardcore, they burn themselves out. Remember, it is a smart idea to alternate between working out different sections of the body. You do not want to work your arms and upper body extensively without taking breaks or working another body section. Doing so could lead to muscle fatigue, muscle soreness, strained muscles, tearing of ligaments, soft tissue damage amongst others. Also remember to drink plenty of fluids when you are working out on the iron gym pull up system. This will also help prevent muscle cramps as well as fatigue.

The first of the two Turnaround King episodes takes us to a Whippany, NJ Gold’s Gym franchise that’s on the verge of closing. Gym proprietors, the Puleos family, are faced not merely with losing their business, but are also at risk of losing the family home which had been mortgaged to keep this business afloat.

Grant begins the show simply by entering the fitness center incognito – furnished with a concealed camera disguised as a button on his suit. He starts noticing problems at once. As a potential customer, Grant isn’t really dealt with adequately, and finds it difficult to find a person to take care of him. Youngest son Jon sits behind the counter and isn’t very attentive. Grant asks questions. “Where is the pool?” Jon points toward an Olympic sized pool off in the distance. Grant notices an empty refrigerator. Asking about the price he is told $10 a month.

Jon explains this is because of the competition. There have been several gyms opening in the vicinity and the Puleos want to give the lowest price. Grant leaves the fitness center with nothing but a free 7 day pass. There wasn’t any real attempt to sell him on Gym membership or another product.

The Puleos family thought it would an easy task to run a gym after they first bought the place. They had seen other gyms succeeding. Now, two and a half years later, they are really struggling to remain open.

Grant sits down together with the Puleos family to talk about what is going wrong. Why are they struggling, and what can they do to correct things, to turn things around and save their business along with their home? The family mentions the hard competition as well as the high franchising fees they have to pay for the Gold’s name. Their solution to the issue of completion has so far been to make an attempt to offer the lowest prices in town.

Grant does not agree. Why are they wanting to provide the lowest price when they have one of the nicest gyms in the neighborhood?

Staff Debriefing

Grant gathers the owners and staff together for a meeting on the gym floor. This is where he reveals his visit while using the hidden camera. Grant plays the tape for everyone to check out. It isn’t a flattering portrait of how to treat a client and the owners appear uncomfortable watching this video.

Grant makes some initial observations: The empty fridge – just looks bad. They don’t seem to be doing business for the Twenty-first century – they’re not using email, cellular phone, and other technology advances that’s all so crucial to run a successful business here in 2011.

And perhaps most significantly, they need a step by step process for enrolling a new customer. They didn’t even mention the gym to a prospective customer, they didn’t show him around. They didn’t even try to sell their product.

Grant asks the owners to leave the room. He wants to talk to the employees alone – they’ll be more open. Immediately, various personnel did open up. They had definite opinions of what the issues were. Gross mismanagement. The right hand doesn’t really know what the left hand is doing. They have to have a leader – someone who will step up and take charge.

If you have decided to take up yoga practice then the best place to start learning all about the poses and postures is by working with a yoga teacher. But should you look for a class at the gym or a specialised yoga studio?

There are five areas you will want to think about when making your decision and these are: cost, convenience, the instructor, the ambiance and the community. In this area we’ll look at each of these in turn to help you make an informed decision.

1. Cost

Yoga is most effective when practiced at least three times a week, so you will need to keep this in mind when considering the cost of classes. If you are already a member of a gym then you should ask whether they offer yoga classes and whether the cost is included in your membership.

If you’re not a gym member then you might want to consider a yoga studio instead. The class costs might be more expensive but you need to keep in mind that you can take drop-in classes without signing up to a contract, which is usually the case with a gym or health club.

2. Convenience

When do you want to do your yoga practice? First thing in the morning, during your lunch hour or in the evening? Take this into account when choosing a class as it might be more convenient to find a location near to your office so you can go to classes on the way to work.

Yoga studios are likely to provide more options in terms of number of classes and times, especially the larger studios. Gyms on the other hand have to offer a number of fitness classes so you might find the yoga classes are few and far between.

3. The instructor

Finding a good instructor is probably the most tricky part of your search. You’re probably more likely to find a dedicated teacher at a yoga studio; some gyms have been known to ask their trainers to cover yoga classes on the side.

You’ll want to talk to the instructor and find out how long they’ve been practicing yoga and whether they practice in their own time. Finding a good yoga teacher is like finding a mentor and you should look for someone who you connect with.

4. The ambience

Most gyms are noisy places with lots of loud music and sweatiness and people milling around; while this atmosphere works for most exercise it’s not really suited to the calming, meditative nature of yoga.

A yoga studio on the other hand is built for the sole purpose of yoga practice and the environment and ambiance will be much more relaxing and welcoming. Many play mood music and some even burn incense.

5. The community

If you want to meet other people who enjoy yoga then you might opt for a studio where this sort of friendly atmosphere is encouraged. Some studios have lounge areas with couches to encourage people to stay awhile after classes to get to know each other.

Gyms on the other hand are often much more impersonal, but this might suit your needs better.

To reap the benefits that yoga has to offer you need to practice at least three times a week and you will learn much more quickly if you are comfortable with both your instructor and your surroundings.

You also need to ensure that you can afford to take the classes regularly, and that you don’t have to go out of your way to attend them.

Take these things into account when choosing a yoga class and you’ll be on your way to reaping the benefits.