'I wanted to get in shape before joining the gym.'

You’d be surprised at how many times we have heard that during consultations over the years - or variations on that sentence. And while you may be reading that and thinking how silly or illogical it may be, it is a genuine stress and concern for many people, and one we should treat with respect.

The truth is, for a lot of people - particularly those who have never gone to the gym before - it is a really scary thing, even if you are looking at going into a private facility, and working 1-2-1 with a coach. They often worry about being judged by the other members of the gym they are joining, or even by the coach they are looking to work with. As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire, and the fact is these fears that many people have haven’t materialised out of nowhere. Unfortunately, in the past gyms have been an intimidating place to enter - especially for beginners or women - and while many people won’t have experienced it first hand, they will have heard of or seen the way people can be treated in certain gyms, and even by certain trainers.

Fortunately, the fitness industry has come a long way in recent years, and it’s definitely the case that gyms are a lot more welcoming than they used to be. Even so, part of the reason we have opted to keep Core Training a private facility is that it means we have more control over the environment we create for our members, and how friendly and welcoming the atmosphere is, even for newcomers. It also helps to have a community of friendly, open members (as we do) to create a welcoming environment).

Despite this, it is still true that people worry that they aren’t ‘fit’ enough to join a gym, or even to work with a Personal Trainer - so they decide to start getting in shape on their own before taking the plunge. The sad thing about this, is that it’s actually just slowing down or delaying their progress. In blunt terms, if you are able to start getting yourself in shape before working with a Personal Trainer, you probably don’t need a Personal Trainer all that much. So, by trying to get started before working with a Trainer, all you are likely doing is 1) delaying your progress, 2) increasing your risk of injury and 3) missing the point of what a Personal Trainer does.

So, let me be perfectly clear as I say this: there is no minimum fitness level requires to join a gym, or start working with a Trainer. There is no requirement to be in shape, or have any idea what you are doing when you set foot in a gym. And no Trainer worth training with will ever make you feel inadequate for not being ‘fit’ or ‘in shape’ already - it is literally our job to help you achieve that.

And if you still have concerns, book a meeting or a call with a Trainer, or at the gym you want to join. Personally, we insist on all of our new members starting their journey at Core Training with a consultation with one of our coaches - it allows them to get to know us (and us them) before they even step foot on the gym floor. We are able to talk about where they are, and (more importantly) where they want to go. It allows them to raise any of their concerns, and for us to explain how we deliver our services. We find that this not only breaks the ice, but also gives new members more confidence when attending their first session - which also helps them settle in (and thus get ‘in shape’) more quickly at the studio.

Joining a gym, or working with a Trainer, is a scary thing for a lot of people - and the fitness industry still has a lot of work to do to appear more welcoming to newcomers. If you have this fear about getting started on your health and fitness journey, don’t worry - your fears or concerns are both genuine and valid. But don’t allow them to stop you from getting started - as in the long run you will only regret not starting sooner.

If you are experiencing any of these feelings yourself, pop us an email at coretrainingpt@gmail.com - we’d be happy to talk through your feelings with you, and hopefully allay any fears or concerns you have.