I’ve been going to fitness classes for the past couple of months, and let me tell you, it has been gratifying. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it, but I managed to. Everyone I’ve spoken to about working out has given similar reasons for why they can’t go to the gym, most reasons boiling down to “I can’t fit it in my schedule.” I promise I can convince you to start working out without letting it overwhelm you. These reasons go beyond physique and are geared more at folks such as myself who aren’t the most athletic out there.
- Strength Training
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While walking gets in some good cardio, we still need to build muscle. Doing pilates, yoga or lifting are all wonderful ways to gain some muscle. There are many health benefits to strength training, and that was my main reason for heading on over to the gym.
- Sense of routine
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You do not need to work out every day. I only go to my school’s recreational center about 2-3 times a week. Regardless, having set times in your schedule can help keep you accountable and even help you build a routine for other aspects of your life (e.g., school and work). I was on my high school’s cross country team my junior year (I wasn’t good, but that’s beside the point) and I found that being on a sports team forced me to hold myself accountable for school and not falling behind.
- Small Accomplishments
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There are so many milestones in one’s workout journey. When I first started, I made sure I didn’t dive head first and instead started “easy.” For example, instead of attending a full-length spin class, I started with a half-hour class. Not only did this help me get an understanding of what I was getting into, but it didn’t exhaust me to the point where I would turn away from exercise entirely. Over time, I’ve “leveled” up and I’m able to handle harder classes.
- You can become a fitness instructor (kind of)
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My school’s rec center was hiring people to teach classes, and while I didn’t end up applying, I was told some cool perks of becoming an instructor. One is that the training to become one costs nothing, which is great because so many programs will charge you thousands just to train you. One of my instructors mentioned that her experience teaching at the recreational center directly led her to get a job at a fitness center near her. So, that’s just one possibility that could happen to you down the road.
- Upgrade your wardrobe
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When you work out, you want to look cute. There’s no way around it. For a couple of months, I’ve just worn a t-shirt and yoga pants, but recently I’ve begun buying more clothes from places such as H&M and Target. So many people I’ve seen at the gym have the cutest outfits and it 100% makes the experience more enjoyable.
- it’s free
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If you attend a university, there’s a good chance your recreational center is free to use. Save 4 years of gym memberships and go work out. If not, just follow along to some Youtube videos at home.
Incorporating exercise into my week has been incredible and I’ve found myself coming out of my workouts feeling grounded yet confident in myself. I hope you take some of this advice with you and head on over to your local gym.
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