Pushing past the mental barrier – sometimes colloquialised as ‘gymtimidation’ – of the gym experience is perhaps one of the most difficult things I have ever done. While this may sound like an exaggeration, it is true that many beginners, in our ill-fitting five-year-old leggings and worn out T-shirts, feel that even getting into a gym building is an insurmountable task.
Just a few short weeks ago, I could think of nothing worse than entering the gym at Pleasance. I knew two things with absolute certainty: everyone else would know what they were doing and they would be infinitely better than me at anything I attempted. I would never enter the building, and I would simply settle for the Youtube yoga classes and brief Meadows runs that had kept my mental and physical health barely sustained.
Or so I thought.
After finally willing myself through those imposing doors, the gym suddenly felt a lot smaller and friendlier than I had anticipated. Contrary to what social media previously had me believing, no one gave my curvier body a second glance. I practically skipped home after my first class, relishing the endorphin high and telling anyone who would listen how good it felt to finally push past this boundary that had held me back for so long.
Social media has warped our perception of gyms and workouts beyond recognition. I know, not the most revolutionary epiphany ever, but the truth is as follows: we exercise to feel good. Nothing compares to an adrenaline rush, especially when it is experienced in a class full of like-minded people.
Exercise shouldn’t be about punishing yourself for that extra cookie snagged from Lidl Bakery, or losing weight to the detriment of your health. It should be about feeling stronger, about taking that 45 minutes out of your day to push away all thoughts of deadlines and holding on tight to a rare moment for yourself.
In fact, in a time where more young people are going to the gym than ever, it might be the perfect place to make friends if you’re a nervous beginner like me. Shoutout to my flatmate, who I hope to drag along with me for many sessions to come!
Needless to say, this is a work in progress, and I still get just a little nervous every time I enter the gym. Pushing past years of anxiety isn’t exactly a one and done. But one thing we should never underestimate is the power of letting yourself just give it a try.
Image by Mark Chan for The Student.
