We understand how tough gym anxiety can be, which is why we’re proud to be one of the most inviting workout facilities in Nyack NY!
It’s no secret how the gym can be a pretty intimidating place. We understand how it sometimes feels like everyone is fitter than us, stronger than us, and judging us on a second-by-second basis.
These kinds of concerns are the basis of what’s known as gym anxiety, and all of us at Rising Legends want to make sure that you feel 100% comfortable walking through our doors at all times.
And just remember if that you’ve felt anxious at the gym before, then you’re certainly not alone. These feelings are actually a lot more normal than you’d probably assume, and this is partly because gym anxiety and gymtimidation truly go hand-in-hand with one another.
However, just because gym anxiety is normal doesn’t mean that it’s a pleasant experience. That’s why we’ve developed this article providing a list of tips about overcoming gym anxiety, and getting to the physical and mental benefits on the other side of your fitness journey!
What Exactly is Gym Anxiety?
Gym anxiety tends to manifest itself differently in everyone, and although it sometimes gets exacerbated by existing anxiety disorders, the term generally refers to nervousness and uneasiness oriented around exercising in a public gym facility.
The common symptoms of gym anxiety are both physical and mental, and they include:
- Minor sweats or shakes
- Feeling butterflies before a scheduled group fitness class
- Avoiding stressful exercises when at the gym
For most fitness enthusiasts, these anxious feelings tend to get a lot better as they simply gain more experience at a new gym and start to meet their workout community.
What Causes Gym Anxiety?
The roots of gym anxiety vary on an individual basis, but the causes of gym anxiety often overlap with feelings of gymtimidation. This subsequently means that some of the most common causes of gym anxiety include:
- Fear of failing in front of others
- Insecurity about your physique
- Negative gym experiences as a child, or at previous gyms as an adult
- Fear of doing something embarrassing or wrong
No matter what you’re feeling at the gym, it’s important to keep the spotlight effect in mind. This refers to the psychological impact of people thinking that others are paying attention to them a lot more than they actually do.
Just remember that everyone here at The Rising Legends Academy of Fitness is just like you in that we’re all here for the same reason: to improve upon our fitness and health. No one goes to the gym to judge what other people are doing, and you might be surprised how some of your fellow gym members are sometimes equally as nervous as you are!
Tips To Overcome Gym Anxiety
There are all sorts of different approaches toward overcoming gym anxiety, and one of the best things you can do is build a gym routine/mentality that you feel comfortable with. The key here is repetition, because the more gym experience you gain, the more comfortable you’ll end up feeling while you exercise.
Here are five tips to help you overcome gym anxiety and turn it into gym excitement:
1. Starting Out Simple
One of the biggest reasons why gyms can feel intimidating is because they’re initially very unfamiliar. There might be all sorts of machines and equipment that you can’t seem to figure out, which can make you feel lost before you even get started.
That’s why it’s our advice to start out simple with things you know, including treadmills, pushups, standing squats, and other basic weightlifting exercises. You can more quickly build confidence when you’re doing exercises that your body is familiar with.
So, in some ways, going to a new gym is sort of like moving into a new apartment. The new home doesn’t feel quite like yours until your furniture and belongings are inside it, so you can start pushing yourself harder and learning new exercises once you feel a little more comfortable in your new workout space.
2. Exercise With a Partner or Personal Trainer
There aren’t many things that’ll make you feel safer in the gym than having someone you trust by your side, which is why having a gym buddy can make all sorts of intimidating experiences feel a lot more manageable.
From simply getting in the door to actual weightlifting, your partner will be by your side and encouraging you when you need an extra boost.
The same thing goes for exercising with a personal trainer, and this can be incredibly valuable when you’re new at a gym and you’re just getting used to being a part of the community. Your trainer’s knowledge and experience will help you reach fitness goals more efficiently, and they’ll know everyone at the gym and will easily be able to introduce you to some new friends.
3. Tracking Your Fitness Journey’s Progress
Another awesome way to build your motivation and keep you coming back to the gym feeling excited is classic goal setting. You’ll start feeling a lot better as you’re seeing results associated with your progress, and tracking your progress is actually a key part of fitness and athletics that’s known as progressive overload.
There are multiple benefits associated with tracking things like your sets and reps. You’ll be more easily able to linearly increase your resistance training’s intensity, all while rewarding yourself as you meet each new milestone.
You’ll be surprised by just how far this simple type of tracking can go toward keeping you excited about your workout sessions!
4. Create Your Own Gym Playlist
Another great way to build some confidence up at a new gym is to create a personal gym playlist, because music can be your best friend when you’re settling into a new workout environment.
Finding the right group of songs can set the mood just right, and it can also pump you up as you’re experimenting with new pieces of equipment.
So, if you haven’t already done so, take some time and build a playlist that you’d like to listen to while you’re at the gym. These songs don’t necessarily have to be typical pump-up songs, because it should just be the type of music that motivates you and keeps you pushing when the going gets tough!
5. Learn How To Safely Fail
One huge part of gym anxiety is the unspoken fear of failing. It’s understandable for people to be concerned about hurting themselves while exercising, and the way past these fears is to practice workout failures.
For example, you can practice bailing out of lightweight squats and dumbbell exercises. Once you build up this type of muscle memory, you’ll undoubtedly feel more confident as you approach more difficult exercises and heavier weights.
The Rising Legends Academy of Fitness — The Right Gym Environment For You in Nyack NY!
Gym anxiety is an all-too-real dilemma for countless fitness enthusiasts, but the right gym environment can make all the difference toward getting you over the hump and feeling a lot more comfortable in your workout routine.
Here at The Rising Legends Academy of Fitness in Nyack NY, we pride ourselves on being an incredibly inviting and welcoming atmosphere for people of all fitness levels.
Our team of fitness industry experts is here to help you transition into our community as smoothly as possible, and we’re 100% confident that you’ll love embracing your inner legend.
We look forward to seeing you at the gym!