前两天有外国朋友问我，想在上海的健身房办张卡，有没有什么要注意的。其实不管是老外还是本地人，去健身房办卡都极容易踩坑。分享三个经验：
A couple of days ago, a foreign friend asked me if there was anything to pay attention to when signing up for a gym membership in Shanghai. Actually, whether you are a foreigner or a local, it’s very easy to fall into pits when signing up at a gym. Here are three tips:
1. 警惕“超长年限”的预付卡 (Beware of “ultra-long-term” prepaid cards)
很多健身房会极力推销三年卡、五年卡，说“平均下来一天只要几块钱”。千万别冲动！
Many gyms will push hard to sell 3-year or 5-year cards, saying “it’s only a few RMB a day on average”. Do not buy on impulse!
上海的健身房倒闭跑路非常频繁。如果你第一次去，坚决只办月卡或季卡。哪怕单价贵一点，但即使店跑了，你损失的钱也不多。
Gyms in Shanghai close down and run away very frequently. If it’s your first time, firmly only buy a monthly or quarterly card. Even if the unit price is a bit more expensive, you won’t lose much money even if the shop runs away.
2. 认清“私教课”的连环套 (Recognize the chain traps of “personal training classes”)
办完卡后，教练一定会让你免费测体脂，然后告诉你“体态有问题，必须买私教课”。
After you sign up, the trainer will definitely ask you to do a free body fat test, and then tell you “you have posture issues and must buy personal training classes”.
私教课非常昂贵。如果你只是想自己跑步、游泳，一定要坚决拒绝：“谢谢，我不需要，我自己练。”
Personal training classes are very expensive. If you just want to run or swim by yourself, firmly refuse: “Thanks, I don’t need it, I’ll work out by myself.”
3. 检查更衣室的“储物柜” (Check the “lockers” in the changing room)
去实地看房的时候，一定要去更衣室看看。正规的高端健身房，储物柜通常是电子密码锁；而有些便宜的健身房，储物柜竟然需要你自己带锁，甚至没有锁。这种地方极易发生盗窃。
When you go for a site visit, be sure to check the changing room. Legitimate high-end gyms usually have electronic combination locks for lockers; some cheap gyms actually require you to bring your own lock, or have no locks at all. Theft is very prone to happen in such places.