How to Go About Overcoming Gym Intimidation
One of the biggest reasons people shy away from fitness, especially in gyms is because they are intimidated. Gym intimidation is rampant and is not confined to any one demographic. Over my 20 plus years as an Austin personal trainer, I’ve seen everybody from professional athletes, to beginners intimidated by gyms. Overcoming gym intimidation is crucial, however, if you want to get the best possible results from your workouts. You can buy a few dumbbells, etc, and make a home gym, but it will pale by comparison with a nice commercial facility.
Overcoming gym intimidation isn’t a one step process. First, and foremost, you should ask yourself why you are scared of the gym. Is it other gym members? Do you feel like you may be ridiculed if you don’t measure up, or don’t know how to do something properly? If so, relax. Most people, no matter what their attire and how often they beat their chests in their silly alpha male displays of prowess, don’t truly know what they’re doing in the gym. In fact, I’ve seen a great many personal trainers that are absolutely clueless as to what constitutes proper form. You should also remember that gyms aren’t center stage, so to speak, but rather think of them as backstage, where you prep for the real world. Heaving weights or doing cardio on a treadmill, for example, is what makes you stronger and healthier for the real world, where you can perform your work and live your life with greater quality and less limitations.
Some people are afraid of gyms because they perceive that there are big strong men in there who will bully them, or at the very least, annoy them. While some gyms may contain this type of atmosphere to some degree, mine certainly doesn’t. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve owned a gym for over a decade. I don’t have patience for libidos, bullying, harassing, or just plain annoying gym behavior. As most people who come to my gym with trepidation realize quickly, is that overcoming gym intimidation at my facility simply requires you to show up a time or 2, and any apprehensions you may have had will be in the rear view mirror.
The best way to go about overcoming intimidation at the gym, is simply to go to the gym. Face your fear, whatever it may be, and you’ll realize that it’s most often times, unfounded. Obviously, going to the right gym is imperative if this is to work. For example, a middle aged beginner looking for a place to do basic cardiovascular work on a treadmill, may not want to start off at the most hardcore bodybuilding gym in town. You want the gym to be a good fit for you. This means that everything from the climate inside, to the clientele, and staff are to your liking. No need to interview people, but you can certainly pick up on the vibe and energy of any place when determining if it’s a good fit for you or not. Lastly, see if the equipment is what you are looking for. Don’t join a rock climbing gym if you’re looking for a cycling facility. If you don’t know the specifics of what equipment you’ll need, or are a little nervous about approaching it alone, one of the easiest ways of overcoming intimidation at the gym is to hire an experienced and qualified personal trainer. Interview various ones until you find a good fit both intelligence wise, experience wise, and of course, personality wise. No need to be scared of the gym, or even put off by it, so long as you find the right facility and are truly ready to give it your best effort.
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Andy
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