WSJ: Frustrated By The January Gym Rush? You’re Not Alone

I've actually been thinking about joining a gym for awhile, but like most people, it seems like I never have any time to get anything done.

Well, apparently, January isn't the month for joining a gym.  Read more after the jump

Gordon Deal, who hosts the Wall Street Journal This Morning on KFYO, tweeted a great article about the January Gym Rush.

Those crowding into classes aren't just the newbies, says Carl Liebert III, chief executive of 24 Hour Fitness, where usage typically jumps about 20% in January. He says veteran members defend their turf by lining up outside classrooms up to 45 minutes in advance and reserving spots for their friends. "During this time of year it looks like a turnstile at Disney," he says.

Machine thievery tends to spike under these conditions. Samantha Shelton noticed a woman waiting for a free treadmill at an Equinox in Manhattan last week. When the woman went to refill her water bottle, another member swooped in and grabbed a machine that had opened up.

Another drawback of joining a gym, the territorial nature of existing members toward the equipment.