4 Hot Gym Deals

These are tight economic times, so odds are you're trying to reduce your expenses. And there are certainly lots of opportunities for free exercise. But -- believe it or not -- this might be the best time of all to join a gym.

Sure, gyms care about how fit your bottom is, but they are also businesses and so they definitely care about the fitness of their bottom lines. So far, it's hard to say how the recession is affecting the health-club industry; a survey by the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association found some respondents saying business was up and others reporting a slump. Regardless, when times are tough, many gyms are likely to sweeten the deals to entice new clients to sign up.

This is a good time to join -- bikinis and shorts are getting ready to leap from the recesses of your closet. If you've been considering joining a gym, why not look around and see if you can take advantage of a current promotion? Some great deals to get you started:

• Bally Total Fitness. Until March 9th, Bally Total Fitness is offering a $0 enrollment fee and $29.99 per month.
• Gold's Gym. Many Gold's Gym locations are offering enrollment for only $1 right now. Check with the location near you for details.
• 24 Hour Fitness. If you're a first time-guest, you can get a free seven-day pass to try out a 24 Hour Fitness near you. And many locations are offering a reduced initiation fee and $29.99 monthly fees -- but you have to hurry ... that offer expires on March 5th.
• Crunch. Want a little less commitment? Until March 31st, Crunch is letting you sign up for a month-to-month plan with a $49 enrollment. Plus, they're throwing in two complimentary training sessions.