To help you ease into the gym environment as a new starter, I’ve compiled five simple tips for gym beginners. Take these on board and before you know it you’ll feel 100% more confident and ready to take on your new fitness challenges!
Your very first session at the gym can be quite overwhelming. There’s so much equipment, everyone seems to know what they’re doing, and it’s hard to know where to start! The truth is, the gym takes some getting used to, but being a beginner is nothing to be ashamed of. After all, even the most experienced athletes were fitness newbies at some point!
Don’t be intimidated
One of my main tips for gym beginners is don’t be intimidated. Trust me, I know that this is easier said than done. When I first started at the gym, I would avoid the free weights area like the plague because everyone looked far fitter and more experienced than I was. However, what you have to remember is that no one is judging you. In fact, people are often so engrossed in their own workouts that they won’t bat an eyelid if you start training beside them.
Don’t let the equipment intimidate you either; you have to walk before you can run. If you look at the huge dumbbells and 20kg squat bars and come out in a cold sweat, just focus on taking it one step at a time. You don’t have to start using complex equipment until you’ve mastered the basics and feel ready.
Ask for help
There’s absolutely no shame in asking for help. No one expects a complete gym beginner to walk in and know everything. Staff and personal trainers are always around, and far more often than not, they’re more than happy to help you out. If you’re unsure about anything, the best thing you can do is get some advice. Worst case scenario, if you’re blindly trying to operate equipment you don’t understand, you could really injure yourself.
Aside from the workout aspect of fitness, you may also need help with other areas such as nutrition. Speaking to people with experience is going to benefit you in the long run and help you reach your targets. You’ve started at the gym in order to improve, right? Take advantage of all the support and guidance there is and you’ll develop and succeed.
Try a class
I love classes! They’re a great way to get your foot in the door and build your confidence in the gym. Often, you’ll find a lot of gym beginners make a beeline for classes. Rest assured, you’ll be in good company and may even make some friends. Use classes to build up your fitness levels and you’ll find the transition from the studio to the main gym floor much easier.
I work as a Fitness Coach at PureGym and the range of classes on offer is fantastic. Legs, Bums & Tums, Spinning, Circuit Training and Pump are just a few examples of the classes available. During Covid-19, there has been a reduced timetable, but hopefully very soon we will get back to offering 50+ classes a week!
Do some research
As a gym beginner, you’ll feel less nervous going for the first time if you’ve done some research. You don’t have to go crazy, but just get an idea of what equipment to expect and find some basic exercises to try.
PureGym offers virtual gym tours online which is a great way to get familiar with the gym environment ahead of your visit. There are also plenty of step-by-step beginners videos online where you can get workout inspiration. Head to my Instagram page where I regularly post different exercise tips and ideas!
Take it easy
One of the most important tips for gym beginners is simply take it easy. Go at your own pace and don’t push yourself too hard. You can’t go from zero to one hundred overnight, so you need to start steady. If you go in too hard too soon, the likelihood is you’ll injure yourself and then your progress will be completely halted.
There’s no rule about how long your workout should be, or what it should involve. You don’t need to dive straight into a full hour session if you don’t feel able to, and you can even ditch the weight and just start out bodyweight. Just listen to your body and do whatever feels best for you.
These handful of tips for gym beginners may seem simple, but they’re also really powerful. Use them to grow from a newbie to a seasoned pro and hopefully build your workout confidence in the process!
If you’re a gym beginner and feel you would benefit from personal training, don’t hesitate to get in touch!