Don't you want to go to the gym? Anxiety about going to the gym is a regular problem nowadays. That's also why "exercise for the shy" is emerging. What do they look like?
If you've ever even considered going to the gym to work out, you've probably thought of a number of related questions. However, the main thing that weighs on those who have never been to the gym (or have been, and their experience is not a happy one) is whether they will be awkward and ridiculous while working out. It's actually not surprising, if someone is heading to the gym for the first time, they have a reason - they want their body to look better. And it follows that they're not exactly happy with the way their body looks at any given moment. And so he is concerned with how such a body will look during physical activities. I mean, to be clear: everyone in the gym doesn't give a damn about other people's bodies because they're busy enough with their own. But that doesn't mean that "first-timers" (yes, we just made up a totally wacky name for people who go out to exercise for the first time...) aren't entitled to their anxieties! In fact, gym anxiety is a totally relevant problem - and so even special exercises for the shy are being created...
You may have witnessed this too. You're sitting at a table in a restaurant and suddenly your eyes slide off into the distance where someone is giving their all on a treadmill. Yes, gyms, which to some extent are like shop windows where you can observe people puffing away in pursuit of a better body, have become quite popular lately. But this exercise exhibitionism is simply not everyone's cup of tea. Some people don't feel comfortable exercising in front of others. This is simply a fact - which, by the way, is certainly behind the creation of special gyms for women only. Many women simply don't want to "throw a spanking" from left to right in front of the eyes of muscular beauties and make weird noises (ugh! Ugh!). And since the current culture puts a lot of emphasis on appearance and body, it's no wonder that the anxiety of going to the gym bothers more and more people - and sometimes the feeling is so strong that it simply discourages people from exercising. After all, it's said that at least 50% of all Americans find exercising in front of others downright nerve-wracking!
Zdroj: GiphyWhat is "gym anxiety"?
While it might seem that we all suffer from some form of gym anxiety (especially those of us who consider going from the couch to the fridge to be our biggest sport), the fact is that it really is a problem recognized by experts. Moreover, they believe that the pandemic is playing a role in the rise of this anxiety. Not only have people lost a number of positive exercise habits, but they have also not infrequently put on the pounds because of lockdowns. And that makes it much harder for them to start doing something about their bodies.
Anxiety about going to the gym can take many forms, but at its core it involves worrying about what others will think of your appearance or abilities (after all, even exercising on different machines is quite a science). Given that, according to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety disorders are currently the most common type of mental health disorder, manifesting as muscle tension or simply a desire to avoid a problematic activity, if you haven't hit the gym yet, you may finally know the real reason. And it's not laziness.
Yet back in 2018, a scientific study revealed the reasons why women don't usually engage in so-called resistance training at the gym. The result? Although the women themselves were aware of the benefits of this type of training, they preferred not to do it because they didn't want to sweat too much in front of others, they were worried that their non-athletic physique would start to look ridiculous, they would make uncoordinated movements, and they were also worried about exercising the wrong way. The authors of the research then went straight on to offer several strategies to overcome these obstacles - so their tips can basically be used even if you're struggling with "gym anxiety".
Exercise for the shy
Today's age is also great because it can find a solution to virtually any problem in a hurry. Those who suffer from gym anxiety thus have a variety of options to combat it. A variety of expert tips can thus be found countlessly on the internet. They start with the fact that there is no point in rushing for big things right away. Especially beginners should "feel" the gym and everything in it (except for the other muscular exercisers) in peace. Another option is to hire a personal trainer - who can at least take away the fear of using different fitness machines - or to visit the gym with an accompanying person, someone else who is also motivated to exercise. If there is no one like that on hand, group classes come into play - because group exercise takes away the anxiety of not knowing what to do in the gym (er, yes, working out...). But it can also be helpful to keep track of when the gym is less crowded, and try to attend at those times. And, of course, positive thinking. But when none of that works, the real exercise for the shy comes in. This is the current hit on TikTok.
Social networks are powerful - so if you're shy about going to the gym, just visit TikTok. You'll find a whole host of tips on how to exercise either at home or at the gym (so you'll be in the know). It's just to say that it's not enough to just watch the video, but to follow it too. And no more making excuses for "exercise anxiety"!
