Brenda Keppler works with personal trainer Talia Rosenberg at New Mexico Fit. Photo Credit - Marla Brose/Journal

The elliptical machine is calling your name. The bench press beckons.

You are not alone.

In what has become a January tradition across America, holiday revelry gives way to pledges of better health and a slimmer physique.

More people join gyms in January than any other month of the year, according to The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. IHRSA stats show that 12 percent of each year’s new memberships are purchased in January.

	Specialty options The standard gym setting isn’t for everyone. Here are a few options for those who would prefer to exercise among their peers or who are seeking more individualized attention. CedarFIT More than 40 sessions every week — circuit-based boot camp, cardio-boxing, spin — each led by personal trainers who guide clients in a group setting. Cost: $297/month or $197/month for annual signup Upward Motion Personal training for weight loss and injury rehab, plus small group fitness classes and an array of functional training and cardio equipment. Cost: $45/month; $35/half-hour of personal training Fifty ‘n Fit Members, who are all 50 or older, get the usual gym equipment plus the guidance of the facility’s physical therapist owners. Cost:  $64/month plus start-up New Mexico Fit Personal Training A private exercise studio where clients work with trainers to set and meet individual goals through one-on-one sessions and some small group fitness classes. Cost: usually $40-55/hour with trainer

If you’ve decided now is the time to join a gym, how do you choose one?

When Faith Begay-Holtrop returned to Albuquerque 10 years ago, she set about finding a gym with the up-to-date cardio equipment she was used to at gyms in Chicago. She picked New Mexico Sports & Wellness and has remained a member for most of the past decade, anchored in large part by the amenities. The small business owner and mother of two has taken advantage of group classes like yoga, spin and body pump and says she likes the convenience of Sports & Wellness’ five locations and locker rooms equipped with all the essentials: clean towels, shower products and more.

Like other full-service gyms in town — Defined Fitness, Jewish Community Center and the YMCA — Sports & Wellness offers day care and youth programming.

The chain’s family-friendly approach is a big plus, Begay-Holtrop says. She’s met other families with kids around the same age, and her daughters — who have taken swimming lessons and spent time in the club’s day care — have also made friends.

“The social component is a big plus for me — it’s helping families connect,” she says.

Not all gyms are alike in terms of size, scope or price, so it’s best to consider your individual or family needs before you sign on the dotted line. Is a swimming pool a must or are you just looking for a no-frills gym? Will you be taking your kids?

IHRSA’s advice for joining a gym involves diligence. Among the organization’s pointers:

• Weigh a number of factors — including convenience, staff, equipment, atmosphere, cleanliness, other members.

• Visit the gym in person before joining or ask for a guest pass or trial workout.

• Evaluate any membership contract thoroughly to fully understand the terms, including the expiration date and the renewal and cancellation policies.

For Brenda Keppler, two gyms are better than just one. The 41-year-old teacher splits workout time between New Mexico Fit Personal Training’s exercise studio, where she gets individualized attention from trainer Talia Rosenberg, and the traditional gym atmosphere at Planet Fitness.

Keppler says the New Mexico Fit experience has given her the confidence to tackle new exercises — she no longer fears dumbbells — and the motivation to keep going.

“I have that person that’s like ‘Really: you can do this,’” Keppler says of Rosenberg. “And, for me, what kept me from working out in the past is feeling like I’m not doing it right or that I’ll hurt myself. So, to have that personal check-in each week, I have more confidence.”

The personal training arms Keppler with a strategy for her four to five visits each week to Planet Fitness, a place she chose because its lack of frills make it inexpensive. For $10 a month, Keppler gets access to one of the chain gym’s seven Albuquerque area locations.

“It offered convenience,” she says. “I really wanted access to weights and cardio. I’m not a big (fitness) class person, and I don’t have kids, so I don’t need to worry about childcare and all of those extras.”

So what are you looking for in your gym? To help you sort through the variety of options offered in the Albuquerque area, we’ve put together a round-up of some of the local offerings. Please remember that prices may vary and many gyms are offering special rates and discounts for new members in January.