I always hear about how people are nervous to start going to the gym, which is exactly how I felt when I began. It wasn’t exactly the smoothest transition for me when I started spending my time at IM East during my sophomore year at Michigan State University (MSU). It took a lot of consistency to adjust and feel comfortable, but my self-discipline and willingness to learn allowed me to adopt a hobby that I’ll keep with me for the rest of my life.
In my opinion, the most terrifying feeling is when you walk through the front doors on your first day. It’s such an overwhelming sight: machines covering almost every square inch of the building, the sounds of weights clattering, and the presence of individuals who look like they could crush metal piping like an empty coke can. It’s a culture shock, to say the very least. When I first started, I wouldn’t go to the gym without my brother. I was completely uneducated when it came to things like gym etiquette or using the machines, but I was lucky enough to have my brother by my side to walk me through the basics. I get embarrassed easily, especially when others are watching or I’m unsure of what I’m doing. At the time, my biggest fear was embarrassing myself in the gym, but I felt less self-conscious knowing that I had someone to guide me.
In my first months, I found that the biggest, scariest-looking people in the gym are often the kindest people you will ever meet. I can recall a time where my legs were giving out when I was on the squat rack without a spotter or any sort of safety catch (horrible idea, don’t do what I did). I thought I was going to crumple under the 210 pound barbell that I had on my shoulders until I heard an “I got you” and felt the weight lift. Thankfully, a girl had noticed me struggling and came to my aid. I had seen her before in the gym, and I remembered being intimidated by her; she was always lifting heavy weights and often had a no-nonsense facial expression. Yet here she was, rescuing me and asking me if I was okay. The moment I said I was fine, she told me about how she had the same thing happen to her a couple months ago. Mind you, I’ve never talked to this girl before. I didn’t even know her name, but she was still helping me and reassuring me that my mistake wasn’t something to sweat over. Although this interaction was relatively brief, it made me feel a lot more comfortable; it’s nice knowing that there are people around who are willing to help me out.
At some point I noticed how many individuals opted to wear over-ear headphones. My brother owned a pair as well, and I asked to try them on. I didn’t really expect to like the noise-canceling headphones, but I figured I’d give it a shot. For me, the difference was unreal, to the point where I decided to invest in some noise-canceling headphones for myself. While it might seem like a small change, my noise-canceling headphones are one of the biggest reasons why I feel more confident in a gym environment. Previously, I was hyper-aware of the noise I was making with my weights; I always felt like I was being too loud even when there were louder noises present. Instead of focusing on how loud I’m exhaling or how often I clank the weights, I’m more focused on my form when I’m working out.
Although I faced a lot of learning curves, I’m glad that I drove myself to consistently exercise at the gym. The additional support I got from my friends and family was also a large driving factor for me to stay committed to exercising. As intimidating as a gym might seem, it’s comforting to know that everyone there is trying to better themselves, not to judge others. If anything, my gym experiences as a beginner made me feel more welcome and accepted, even if I did encounter some hiccups along the way. Looking to the future, I hope to encourage others and to show that a gym isn’t as scary as one might think.