While you certainly don’t need a gym to tackle your health and fitness goals, a lot of people benefit from working out in an environment full of others who are striving towards a similar goal. But gyms can be intimidating places. There’s the rooms full of machines that look like torture devices, trainers and fitness buffs who make the rest of us look like mere mortals, and mirrors in almost every direction serving as a constant reminder as to why we dragged ourselves to the gym in the first place. So how do you walk into the gym with confidence and tackle your workouts like a pro?
1) Ignore everyone else.
Easier said than done, we know, but it’s really the first step to getting over any gym related anxiety. The fact is, most people go to the gym in order to focus on themselves. While you may get the occasional glance from a passerby or that dude behind you on the stationary bike, most people are too concentrated on what they’re doing to really care about what you’re doing or what you look like. If you need a little help with ignoring everyone around you, pop in your headphones. A good workout playlist can help amp you up and get you into a state of mind to simply workout and not care about looking like a gym newby.
2) Start small.
Do a little walk around tour on your first visit and maybe stick to a machine you know, like an elliptical, bike, or even hit the track. Move on to those other fancy machines or free weight rooms when you feel more comfortable.
3) Don’t be afraid to ask the staff for help.
It’s no secret that the little diagrams and directions on the majority of workout machines are highly confusing. There’s nothing worse than using a workout machine incorrectly. It can lead to injury and ultimately result in the embarrassment you were trying to avoid in the first place. Ask a staff member to show you the ropes. There’s absolutely no shame in this, and once you’ve mastered using a machine the proper way, you’ll look like one of the pros that seemed so intimidating before.
4) Avoid hitting the gym at peak times.
Obviously this one depends on your real life schedule, but try to avoid the gym during peak visitation times if you can. Gyms experience their busiest times early morning (8-11AM) and late evening (4-7PM). If you’re an early riser, go to your gym as soon as it opens. If you have flexible working hours, go mid-day. And if you can manage to find the energy later in the day and your gym has late hours, plan your workout for after the sun goes down. You won’t have to deal with so many people and will be able to focus more on your own workout.
5) Sign up for a fitness class.
This is probably one of the best ways to feel comfortable at a gym. Most gyms offer classes from yoga to Zumba to weights and there will always be people who feel outside of their comfort zones in each one. There’s no shame in looking like a fool when everyone else is too, is there? Plus, committing to a weekly class can give you something to look forward to and ensure that you’re actually making it to your gym. You may even make a few friends along the way…
6) Do some research before hand for workout inspiration.
This is one of our favorite ways to hit the gym. If you really feel lost on what to do once you’re at the gym, do a little bit of internet or social media research before hand. The internet is an incredible resource. All you have to do is google something along the lines of “beginner gym workouts” and you’ll be swimming in ideas. Visit one of your favorite fitness gurus on social media and pull some ideas from their workouts. Write down a little workout routine in a notebook or in your phone notes and use it while you’re at the gym. It’ll keep your workouts exciting and eventually you’ll start to learn what you like and don’t like until you develop your own routine.
In the end, there’s really no better way to tackle the gym than to just jump in. Don’t be afraid to look stupid or silly. We’ve all been there. Eventually you’ll reach a point where going to the gym brings excitement rather than anxiety. That’s when you know you’re really on track with your health and fitness goals!
