Last Saturday I went to the gym on my college campus. I'm more of a yoga in my room and walking around town for exercise type of a girl, but I figured getting a serious elliptical workout would be good for me. It was 1:20pm and I expected to see the place packed with fit-loving college students. Instead I was met with an empty gym complete with wide open doors allowing easy access for hundreds of touring high school students and their parents to walk through. Also, there was no music playing at all. I immediately became self-conscious and felt as if I really didn't belong.
Why did I feel this way? I'm not really sure. Most of the time people feel weird when the gym is packed because they think everyone is staring at them. This time I felt weird because the gym was empty and anyone passing by had the perfect opportunity to stare at me. In both cases, I can assure you no one cares that much. I am pretty sure that people come to the gym to workout not stare at other people. The only time anyone would be starting is if you are extremely fit and they need motivation or if you have no clue what you are doing and they need entertainment. Since I don't fall into either of these categories, I am certain no one stares at me while I'm at the gym. Either way, I only lasted 15 minutes and left before anyone one else had the chance to not stare at me.
Today I was internet surfing and stumbled across this article from Self. It discusses this idea of feeling uncomfortable in the gym and gives strategies for overcoming anxiety. I'm not one for self-help articles or books, but this one actually makes good points.
Although I'm not sure I would purchase $98 Lululemon workout pants just because they give "great butt lift" and will help you get over the common anxiety of "I don't look as cute as everyone else" nor would I try a completely different workout move just because "this one is so humiliating" I did find some strategies to be helpful. One that stuck out the most was the idea of downloading workout apps for your phone so you can easy find the right ways to use certain machines and practice certain moves that may be complicated. I would also imagine that using your phone while working out would make you appear to care about both fitness and maintaining a social life, which in today's society is always important.
I'm sure another day will come when I feel like the gym is just too much to handle. This article did help to clear things up a bit and offered good tips on how to get over gym anxiety. A media source giving us confidence about health practices? Definitely something out of the ordinary but something I will try. As long as they promise not to stare at me.
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