A Letter to my Fitness Community
My first fitness love is running, but in the last few months I have fallen in love with my Body Pump class. I love that in just one hour I can do strength training for my whole body. On average there are 12-15 people in the class until this week…when there were 30! As I was waiting for class to begin I overhead a couple of the regulars quietly wondering how long the class was going to stay this full. And that’s when it hit me…that was entirely the wrong response! And so I wrote this letter to my fitness community to address our gyms suddenly teeming with “New Year’s Resolution-ers”
If your gym is anything like mine it has been more crowded than usual the last week or so. While you might usually be able to find a treadmill when you stop by the gym after work it may have been more difficult than usual the last few days. In years past this has really annoyed me and I’ve often thought, “Don’t come and take up space at my gym for a weeks at the beginning of every year!” As I scrambled to try and find the equipment I wanted to use I would just remind myself that I would only need to put up with this busyness for a weeks…a couple months at most. By the time my birthday rolled around in March they gym would be back to its usual level of busyness.
But this year I realized something…
What if we were more welcoming?
It takes a lot of courage to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new and I can’t imagine how it feels to try something new only to then be met with glares and stares. If you have limited experience at the gym it can be confusing and overwhelming to figure out how to work some of the machines, how much weight to use and understanding gym etiquette.
So instead of muttering under our breath about how crowded the gym is this time of year and remarking about how long we think these new people will stick it out, let’s smile and help them feel welcomed to our fitness community!
Here’s to having a gym still filled with people in April!
Julie
22 Comments
Seana Turner
I love this idea. Trying to do something new is very difficult, and to feel like the more experienced people are wagering on the date of your failure really doesn’t help. Everyone needs some encouragement when they are pursuing a new goal!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
So true!
Andrea
What a great philosophy to have! I am probably one of those people who start up at the beginning of every year 😉 http://nomoneywilltravel.com
Katie@LifesNextBigStep
I love this. In my opinion, we all had to start somewhere. Whether it was January 1 or some other time throughout the year, we were all a new-gym-goer at some point, and we all need support to help us to KEEP going so we don’t have to start over again. I love meeting new people at my gym (I do CrossFit so it’s a bit more personal, class-wise) and try to make everyone feel welcome…it’s something we should all strive to do 🙂
Keisha | The Girl Next Door is Black
You make good points. I do commend people for making the effort to go to the gym, but the realist in me knows a majority of them won’t stick to it. I definitely haven’t been rude to the resolutioners (at least, I hope not!), just huffy to myself (and maybe a snarky post on Facebook ;)). I don’t belong to a gym anymore, but if I do join one again, I’ll adjust my attitude when January 1 rolls around. 🙂
jmdenouden@gmail.com
It can be easy to make snarky comments on FB and to friends (I’ve done it!) because often times the resolutioners don’t last at the gym but I’ve begun to wonder if we could help them stick it out
Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments
Great point! I think people really should stop and think about others more often. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes goes a long way!
Lucie Palka
Thanks for the reminder. A bit different from your situation, but in my last blog post I talked about being annoyed by the seniors walking side by side and over taking the running lane on an indoor track. Perhaps I should applaud them for staying active instead!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Seniors are some of my best inspiration at the gym because I think it’s so great that they are still active!
Jen @ pretty little grub
I love this! I completely agree. The gym can be a scary place for a lot of people but the world would be a better place if we were all more active so we should be friendly and help out the newbies not get annoyed or make snarky remarks.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
The world would definitely be a better place if we were all more active so we should be all about encouraging each other to do that!
The Frugal Exerciser
Instructors should also reach out and make newcomers welcome and have the class memebers introduce themselves to the newbies. #wowlinkup
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Very true!
AmyC
I’m not a gym member anymore, but I hear people complaining about the crowds at theirs. It makes me sad to think that someone might stop going because they felt the judgement from the regulars.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
It makes me sad too.
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club
I seriously welcome all of the newcomers and the folks coming back. It gives the gym life and it is a great way to meet new people. No grumbling here because that was me one time long time ago. Someone helped me so I look to help someone. #wowlinkup
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think that’s great and I hope more people adopt your attitude because you’re right…we were all newbies at one time!
Heather @ Divas Run for Bling
I love this! I don’t go to a gym, but I do remember how crowded it is this time of year. The important thing is to be supportive and hopefully help some of them to stick around #wowlinkup
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Yup! I think the more supportive we are of new comers the better their chances of sticking around!
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories
Great letter! I am exactly one of those who fizzles on their exercise goals two weeks into the year. I usually feel out of place at a gym though I used to go all the time in good ole college days. Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday linkup.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think it’s so important to find a gym where you feel comfortable! I joined my first gym when I was 16 and I recently switched gyms because I realized I had outgrown the atmosphere (a little bit like a meat market lol) of my gym…and now I am loving the gym again!
William Jai
Thanks for sharing Article.I really appreciate your posts. Keep up the awesome job you are doing. I look forward to your future articles.