subject: Braving the Fitness Class [print this page] Braving the Fitness Class Braving the Fitness Class
It was my first Body Attack fitness class and before the first track was even finished I was already thinking to myself, "What the hell am I doing here?" "Oh no, everyone's laughing at me," and even "Look how experienced everyone is."
Arms flailing, two steps behind the beat, mirrors catching every incorrect move, completely out of sync from the rest of the group. The people behind are smiling and even giggling.
I immediately realised that this is the thing about people, we like to think we have a natural talent or a Midas touch for everything we do and try. Anything that's not achieved in the first go frustrates or even intimidates us and that's just the standard we have set for ourselves throughout the years.
Anyways, the awkward feeling lasted for the entire fitness class. It's the kind of awkward feeling you get when you're at the supermarket, late at night, in your pyjamas and your boss enters the same aisle; there's that horrible moment where you have to decide whether to quickly run the other way and hope she hasn't seen you (or your adorable fluffy bunny rabbit slippers) or whether to keep walking, head held high and get through it hoping that it doesn't go as bad as you thought it could.
Needless to say I battled my frustrations and feelings of inadequacy for the rest of the fitness class. Afterwards my face was red as a beetroot and I was exhausted. But strangely enough I felt like a million bucks. I had just done the best and hardest work out of my gym life and it felt great, not to mention all the calories I'd just burnt off. The instructor Verity said I'd done well and that everyone has to start somewhere.
That's when it hit me. She was completely right. We all have to start somewhere. Looking back on that experience I realised that those smiles and giggles weren't to make me feel out of place, it was the girls' way of welcoming me and saying "I've been there."
Eight months have since passed and I now get involved in as many fitness classes as my week can possibly handle. The benefits of having a likeminded and equally determined group of girls around that have also come for the best workout they can get far outweigh any training that you can do on your own.
You just have to get past the fear, push the doubt and the can't do this' attitude aside and get out there with your fluffy bunny slippers and your pink monkey pyjamas and strut your stuff.
Show the world that you can do anything you want and that you can't be intimidated. It'll be the best thing you can possibly do for yourself and who knows, you might even make a new friend or two along the way or get one step closer to being able to fit into that dream outfit.
