i love the gym I love the sense of order. Here are the plates lined up, the cardio machines, and the dumbbells in a row. I love the sound of treadmills buzzing, barbells racking and feet thumping. I also love certain gym smells, which are a combination of spray cleaner, chalk, rubber and metal, clean towels, and hard-earned sweat.
But I didn’t love it all the time. When I first started working out in college, the gym was a really scary place. Everyone seemed to feel very comfortable. They knew how to operate all the machines, how to perform a dizzying array of exercises, how to claim their own floorspot. I was tunnel visioning my way to the elliptical, there was always sky there and it seemed pretty hard to mess up the movement. I was worried that it would be blatantly obvious that I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt like anyone who could lift a significant amount of weight deserved that space more than I did.
Eventually, I had a gym buddy to teach me the tricks. It’s helped me feel like I really belonged in the gym, slowly gaining confidence and strength over the years, along with becoming more familiar with my body and movements. I adjusted my machines like a pro and slid a bigger plate into my barbell.
After over 15 years in several gyms, a personal training certification, and later a position as SELF’s Fitness Director, I can say that I can now feel right at home at almost any gym. , I still vividly remember the feeling of intimidation, the urge to cling to the status quo, the desire to retreat.
I’m not the only one. Many people who want to start going to the gym are feeling that anxiety right now. And they are hindered not only by the internal barriers I mentioned above, but also by external barriers. Fitness He just scrolls through his Insta to be met with memes bemoaning crowds and mocking the influx of newbies (e.g., here and here).Hell, you might even encounter resistance from some gyms themselves who want to emphasize the exclusive element. reportedly We banned new members on January 1st as part of our We Don’t Speak January campaign. Fitness should be for everyone, but there are still many systemic barriers that hold many people back.
For those just starting out in the gym, these early days can be fraught with worry and anxiety, especially for a group that is generally underrepresented in the fitness space. you, that person To do Feel comfortable in a gym where you feel like you belong, and make a list of what you do and do there. A few simple tweaks can make someone feel more welcome. i know i will have
