Do you too, find going to the gym intimidating?
How do those machines work… Is everyone watching me? Yeah same!
It’s terrifying when you don’t know how to use equipment in a gym full of lads… or even as a guy I’m sure it is just as intimidating.
Going to classes, you can sometimes feel watched, under pressure to perform and be fit. But it shouldn’t be like that, and everyone has been new at some point so lets try tackle this together!
I’ve been trying to get on top of my fitness for 2 years now…but in no way has it been consistent. I’ve been going to classes at cool gyms where the lights are dark and no one can watch you! I like that… but these classes are all over London and not really close to my house so not always convenient. I still like going to them when I can but I’ve been wanting a more consistent way of keeping fit.
So I figured have a proper gym membership which i can go to at any time and which is near my house would be best. So I’ve started going to Virgin Active and I’m really stoked about it.
They have classes, a good mix of gym equipment, a pool and a spa. Basically I can get my mind in the right place by telling myself if I go to the gym for an hour I can then go chill out in the spa for 20 minutes in the sauna or pool… And it’s a really good incentive!
Also I went to the gym twice before signing up to see what it was like, but I still didn’t really know what I was doing. So I decided the best idea would be to ask for an induction. So here’s my tips for not being intimidated at the gym.
TIP 1 – Induction
Ask for an induction and ask to be shown all of the equipment. That way you feel more confident about what you are doing alone. They will also give you a rough training idea based on what you want out of going to the gym… i.e. weight loss, or muscle building…
TIP 2 – Watch the classes first
Take a look at the classes before trying one out. So the classes rooms are around the gym and you could have a spy while one is on from the outside of the room before actually signing up to it. This way you know what you are letting yourself in for.
TIP 3 – Plan
Use all of the above, build a plan i.e. write down what you learned in the induction so when you arrive at the gym you can think right I’m going to start with the chest press or weights etc…
TIP 4 – Music
Get a good pair of headphones so you can get in the zone with your own music and zone out everyone else. I hate thinking people are watching me so I blast Metallica in my ears and pretend they don’t exist. It really helps!
Check out your local club here: https://www.virginactive.co.uk/
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