{"id":753,"date":"2020-02-03T07:55:35","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T14:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/?p=753"},"modified":"2020-02-03T07:58:05","modified_gmt":"2020-02-03T14:58:05","slug":"experiencing-a-little-gymidation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/experiencing-a-little-gymidation\/","title":{"rendered":"Experiencing a Little Gymidation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Gyms can feel intimidating, because, well\u2026let\u2019s face it \u2013 #gymculture. There\u2019s this feeling that you have to have a certain \u201clook\u201d to be there. And there\u2019s an unspoken vibe that you need to already know what you\u2019re doing and have a plan.<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019m here to tell you, that you don\u2019t, and that all bodies are welcome.<\/p>\n

Every single person working out at the gym had a \u201cfirst day at the gym\u201d at some point. Everyone there experienced gymidation on some level. I promise.<\/p>\n

I mean, how can you not with all the gymidating equipment around? You\u2019ve got a floor full of machines with wires, weights and pins, the loud sounds of weights dropping and clanking, and the cardio machines with a few too many confusing buttons and settings.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re feeling gymidation, just know that you\u2019re not alone. There is nothing wrong with feeling a little anxious; all new things are hard at first. And we\u2019re all human at the end of the day. Here at UCAN, we always suggest that you try to seek activity and movement that is enjoyable to you, and how do you know if the gym is enjoyable, if you never give it a try? Here are a few tips to help you combat gymidation.<\/p>\n

1. Go with a friend<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s like killing two birds with one stone \u2013 you get friend time and gym time, all in one. You have someone there who can encourage you, challenge you, and ultimately help build your confidence. It\u2019s also another mind who can help you get creative; together you can put together an enjoyable workout. It\u2019s always easer when you have a buddy at your side! Even if your friend can\u2019t commit (or follow-through) with regular trips to the gym, finding a friend to go the first few times can really help you ease into a gym routine.<\/p>\n

2. Try a group fitness class<\/h3>\n

NAU offers a plethora of group exercise classes at the HLC, and through the FIT program. The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, passionate, and are always willing to lend a helping hand when it comes to your fitness journey. Group fitness is an excellent place to begin when fighting gymidation because the instructor is there to guide you through some exercises.<\/p>\n

3. Go to the gym during the non-busy hours<\/h3>\n

A crowded gym floor can be a huge intimidating factor. I know I definitely get a little uneasy when machines, racks, and weights are limited. It’s awkward standing around not knowing what to do next. Attending at off-peak hours allows you to try more exercises, get your workout done faster, and it also feels like there are less eyes on you.<\/p>\n

4. Don\u2019t worry about other gym-goers<\/h3>\n

Everyone is there to just get their workout in. And one thing to keep in mind, not everyone knows 100% what they\u2019re doing, so you do not have to worry about being judged. Everyone is doing their own thing and are probably hyper-focused on how they look in the giant mirrors anyway. Just be yourself!<\/p>\n

5. Ask for help<\/h3>\n

I know, I know, this sounds totally horrifying. However, most people in the gym are willing to help you out with an exercise or give you advice on what to do. We all have to start somewhere, so there is no shame at all when it comes to asking a question or two. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll find yourself a new gym buddy! Another idea is to sign up to see a personal trainer. Just a few sessions with a personal trainer<\/a> will dramatically boost your confidence and comfort in the weight room.<\/p>\n

6. Remember your motivation for going in the first place<\/h3>\n

This is the last tip and probably the most important one. If you\u2019re stepping in the gym, you are motivated in some sort of way. Everyone has their own reasons. For me, I find that the gym provides me with mental clarity and a burst of sustainable energy to get through the day. Because of that, it is something I look forward to, even if I feel intimidated at times. I challenge you to reflect and find your motivation, and keep it in your mind as you walk through the doors into the gym. There is nothing that is stronger than the power within yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n \n \n \"\"\n \n Tommy Houston, Health Coach<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/a><\/span>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gyms can feel intimidating, because, well\u2026let\u2019s face it \u2013 #gymculture. There\u2019s this feeling that you have to have a certain \u201clook\u201d to be there. And there\u2019s an unspoken vibe that you need to already know what you\u2019re doing and have a plan. Well, I\u2019m here to tell you, that you don\u2019t, and that all bodies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":359,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/359"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=753"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":757,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/753\/revisions\/757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}