AN IMPORTANT REMINDER!!!!
For the entire year, but especially January:
To all the friends/family/acquaintances/strangers you see beginning or restarting their fitness journey – BE ENCOURAGING. BE KIND. BE PATIENT.
People succeed when they’re part of a supportive group of people sharing a similar goal (in this case, becoming healthier). Be part of that group for them. It’s hard enough to be consistent with a fitness routine. Don’t make it more intimidating for beginners.
If you’re working out for the first time, starting up again, or trying to ramp intensity up – BE ENCOURAGING, BE KIND, BE PATIENT – with yourself.
It will be hard at first. Know that with consistency, it becomes easier. Don’t dwell on what you could do in the past. Life is static and we change. How boring would life be if we didn’t have continual hiccups giving us an opportunity to demonstrate our resilience?!
I’ll never forget the January a few years ago when I decided to redeem a Groupon for a few classes at a local kickboxing studio. I was stoked – I love kickboxing. I ended up being disappointed.
The instructors made a judgment on my abilities before they spoke to me and put me in a group below my abilities and left me there. No effort was made on their part to find out I’d done this before – although I think they quickly realized I had, yet they still didn’t challenge me, reach out to me, or communicate effectively with me. Did they not want to put any effort in me, because they thought I was some “resolutioner” who wouldn’t take classes again? They certainly made me feel that way.
As someone regularly attending fitness classes and on the heavier side, I was frustrated with their judgment, but it encouraged me to work harder (and yeah, I never went back, because the atmosphere was obviously not right for me).
And they can suck it, cause now I teach my own fitness boxing class. Nope, not bitter. Ha!
I doubt it would have that effect (to work harder) on everyone, though. What about the people who were starting out there for the first time, as their first workout, in a long time? How would it make them feel? How about some communication with the new students? How about making people feel welcomed? How about asking them about their goals, strengths, weaknesses and contraindications?
I’m grateful for that experience, because it taught me to never be that way as a personal trainer. To never judge someone new, no matter the time of year.
It also made me realize one of the coolest parts of my personal trainer job – being a cheerleader! I get to see my students work hard, grow, accomplish their goals and set new ones, and I get to cheer them along. How cool is that?! Rah rah!
But you don’t have to be a personal trainer to be a cheerleader. You can CHEER and be ENTHUSIASTIC for anyone and yourself! Remember that friend who mentioned starting a fitness routine? Inquire about it. Feeling frustrated with how hard your workout was? Be enthusiastic that you gave it a go, anyway. It WILL get better.
And please, PLEASE, keep in mind that there is something different for everyone. Don’t brush off the fitness program someone decides to do because it’s never what you’d choose, or because it wouldn’t be challenging for you. Don’t be pushy about what you do, or judge people for not being able to do what you do. How boring would life be if we all did the same thing?!
Ok, preaching over.
But one more time: rah, rah!
Themocracy
I think this is a lot of why teaching/training is such a PERFECT job for you!
Starting to work out can be SO intimidating if you’ve never done it before, or don’t think you look like someone who should be working out, feel out of shape, or whatever. I still remember the first group fitness class I took at my gym before I knew anyone there – I felt like everyone was years ahead of me in experience, and since they all knew each other, I assumed they were all judging me (and probably all thought I was too fat to be there). They probably weren’t, and once I started working out with Katy, I felt more confident in those classes and even started making friends. But it’s hard to be new, especially when you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing!
I do have to say, you do a really great job at making sure everyone in your class feels welcome and like they belong there. I was a little nervous last week since I felt like I had lost most of my fitness, so it was so cool of you to introduce me, show me exercises I didn’t know yet, and make sure that my partner wouldn’t totally kick my ass (only a little, ha ha). And it was also helpful of you to continually nudge me toward coming back to class 🙂
It IS hard to be new – whether it’s your first time working out or first time at a specfic studio – and you’d think instructors would recognize this and help people feel welcome! I am happy Katy helped you with that and that you had your crew there – that is really fun at a gym! And I bet no one was judging you – they were probably focused on themselves! 🙂
Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words!!! I am happy your first class back at Efit was a good experience! I am looking forward to this Sunday’s class with you! Are you going to kick Melanie’s ass, this time?! 😛
Great post Kim! Love it.
The be patient/encouraging/kind with yourself part is something I really needed to hear today, after I had a really bad run in the morning and beat myself up over it. After all the times I’ve preached to people not to let one bad workout mess with their heads, you’d think I would know better!
PS, your kickboxing teachers were asshats. Good for you turning their negative into a positive via your own journey.
Thank you! 🙂
I am happy this helped you today! It’s hard not to beat ourselves up! But look back on how well you did at that 10K the day after speedwork!!! You’re a good runner. Your body just didn’t want to cooperate today! Grr 🙂
Totally, right? I am happy to have learned the lesson, though!
Loving this post so much, Kim! So many people who are fit turn into almost fitness hipsters this time of the year, like they were healthy before it was cool. You’re so right about focusing on supporting and encouraging. And boo to that kickboxing studio you went to. That’s terrible! Are they still in business with attitudes like that?
Thank you, and thanks for the FB share!
Some people do, right?! I almost wrote in this post – “we are all on the same team, TEAM HUMAN.” LOL! I don’t get why people get mad about people starting to work out in January.
They are! Seeing their posts on Facebook this week is what got me thinking about this!
Excellent post! I am glad you ended up getting something positive out of that kickboxing experience. Yeah, some people can be really elitist about their sport sometimes and make no room for a newcomer, which is a shame.
Thank you 🙂
Elitist is the right word. That reminds me of an old school runner I was reading about earlier this year who thinks people who run 4:00 hour marathons shouldn’t be out there. They’re tainting the sport. Um, what?! So weird.
(Wow, I love your new header image. It looks so peaceful [and cold]!)
Thank you for writing this; it’s so considerate AND so important. People get so mad about and disdainful of people getting into fitness at this time of year, and while I’m sure it’s annoying to have the gym become really crowded, it’s unwarranted to treat people unkindly.
Thank you! That is the lake right by our rental house! 🙂
Yes, exactly. It’s annoying sure, if things are crowded, but deal. Be nice. Help people out. You get it 😉
Am I allowed to be annoyed at the new guy who showed up at my gym who has the WORST SMELLING FEET? Seriously. He wears Vibrams sans socks and the smell just emanates off of him.
Seriously, though. You’re right. We were all new once. I especially like that you mentioned being patient with yourself.
Ha ha ha. You can be annoyed with anyone with smelly feet… but what does it matter if he’s new? Ha! That would be annoying with anyone 🙂
Yes! Be patient. Small improvements happen each day, but not always the visible/measurable ones. But you know that 🙂
Hahaha, I actually don’t know for sure if he’s new but we didn’t start being able to smell his feet until this week! Which might indicate he’s NOT new and it’s just taken this long for his shoes to start stinking.
I’m way behind on my reading but loved this!
Thank you! 🙂