Why Are Most Gyms Full of Machines?

If you watch any of my videos, you’ll notice I don’t stick with the machines – it’s all about free weights, dumbbells, barbells, body weight exercises, and so on.

A lot of newcomers to gyms assume that just because there are so many machines in a gym, that’s the best and most logical way to get in shape. But if you look through any of the articles on my site so far, you’ll see that’s far from the case.

Machines are limited in motion and rarely engage compound groups of muscles, are often done sitting down, and are just generally not anywhere near as effective as great exercises like squats, deadlifts, or any range of free-weight workouts.

So — why are there so many machines in every gym?

Not Everyone Can Get A Personal Trainer

For your first few times off the machines, it’s tough to do it alone. And unfortunately, not everyone can afford a personal trainer (although one is almost always worth the price of the better gym experience that results).

Since most people in a gym naturally understand that you’re going to be flying solo when you hit the free weights, the bench press, or the squat cage, anyone who doesn’t have that much confidence — and there are plenty of these people for whom just coming to the gym was a huge battle — might stick with the machines.

Not Everyone Wants A Personal Trainer

There are plenty of individualists in the gym who pop the earbuds in, never really talk to anyone, and like it that way. Nothing wrong with that, of course, except that when you don’t have that much experience and are dead-set on not asking for any help, you’re probably naturally going to gravitate towards the machines, where at least there are some little diagrams that show you what to do, and it seems harder to injure yourself.

You need help knowing how to do free weight exercises right, and if you’re the type to never ask for help in a gym as long as you live, well — that’s what the machines are there for.

Turnover Rates Never Really Go Down

Most gyms experience a big number of new signups that eventually quit coming. It’s just natural — not everyone puts in enough visits to make it a habit, or they have a bad experience, or it’s just not for them — whatever reason. But gyms are still crucial in the popular imagination, and anyone who suddenly decides to get in shape will probably consider joining a gym as one of their first options.

As a result, there’s a continuous flow of new, inexperienced people coming into any gym at any time. Not all of these people are going to have the confidence to hit the free weights right away — machines are practically obligatory to ease people into the idea of working out.

January 1st.

I have to mention New Year’s Resolutions, when gyms see their biggest spike in memberships as thousands of people decide “this is the year I get in shape.” For the same set of reasons as my previous point, machines are basically necessary — if every new gym member came in and was forced to start with free weights and all the other great things you can do once you get off machines, personal trainers and gym staff would never stop working.

This is the ideal state of affairs, of course, but it’s unlikely to happen any time soon — it would drive gym membership costs way up and intimidate too many newcomers, unfortunately.

Look at Machines Like Training Wheels

The sooner you can be free of them, the better – for you, for your future workouts, and for your fitness. Getting on your feet and switching your workout routine over to compound lifts and other great, ultra-effective exercises is one of the biggest steps you can make in a gym, and it’s one you should consider the next time you swipe your membership card.

Remember – don’t rush into it, as habits are important, and make sure you study up, read up, and ask lots of questions. But the sooner you stop ignoring that one corner of the gym and instead make it your home, the happier you’ll be.