Stepping foot into a gym can be overwhelming, if you can fight your way past the high pressure sales people and personal trainers, you’ll find a large room full of all sorts of equipment that look like a medieval torture chamber, so where do you start? Your body is capable of so much and so limiting yourself to only certain types of exercise will not only make it more challenging and limiting for you to reach your goals but can also lead to injuries, overtraining and pure boredom. Most gyms offer a wide variety of ways for people to be engaged and active. It all just comes down to your interests and goals, what works for someone else may not work for you and that’s perfectly okay. Don’t feel
pressured to invest into something you simply don’t want or feel comfortable with. Take the time to try different things and see what you like; there are a variety of different options to choose from:· One on one/ buddy training (personal training): One of the most common and helpful ways for you to learn how to structure a workout and step outside your comfort zone is to hire a personal trainer. Focused, individualized attention and program planning that is custom to your goals and capabilities as a person. A personal trainer can help you learn new exercises and even push you outside your comfort zone more so than you ever thought possible. Having that accountability of working with a trainer as well can help you stay motivated.
· Group Fitness Classes: Very popular format and a fun way to meet new people, it is a general workout that is designed for a wide variety of people and goals. There are many types of classes offered that all have their own particular benefits; they are more high energy, bring in a diverse group of people and can be a great way to really get engaged in a program.
· Small Group Training: Similar format to both group fitness and personal training. Consist of a smaller group, usually no more than 8 with a more focused and specific workout to the goals of the people within the group. More one on one attention but with the benefits and challenge of working with other people.
· Athletics: Adult sports are becoming much more popular, there are many leagues and teams out there of every sport you can think of. Whether it be a team sport or an individual sport. Getting involved is a great way to meet new people, get active and help establish more substantial goals for you to accomplish. There are a variety of leagues, and sports out there to choose from including Colorado Gay Volleyball Association, Denver Gay Flag Football, Colorado Frontrunners, Squid Swim Team among hundreds of others. It’s a great way to get in touch and have something in common with people, it’s fun and is a great way to set goals as well!
In the end, nothing beats just putting on your headphones and zoning out from the rest of the world, just you and exercise is all you need. These different things are great to help you add some variety and spice to your workout. Stay motivated and have fun!
David Smith is the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group Fitness.
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