The gym is a scary place for many. It is a place where people feel vulnerable or that they don’t belong. First of all, you do belong. Second of all, the people there play a massive roll in the environment. I had two interactions this week that showed both sides of the coin clearly. The first, I saw a guy struggling to do a certain workout. He was working out with a friend who didn’t seem to be super encouraging or helpful. After watching him struggle a few sets, I walked over and said “hey, when I was starting out I did … to help me with this exercise.” It was true advice, I thought I presented it well and in a way that was encouraging and helpful. His friend chimed in and said “he can keep doing it this way, I’m teaching him the hard way” in an incredibly rude and arrogant tone. For me, it was just annoying, but that makes a scary place even more unwelcoming for someone just trying to get started. Maybe I should have kept to myself, but I think creating a community that wants to help each other in a place like the gym benefits everyone. On the flip side, I saw a guy working out with a piece of equipment that I had been curious about. I asked the guy what the benefit of doing the lift that way was, and he could not have been more helpful. He explained why he was using it, had me go through a set to show me how to use proper form, and encouraged me to let him know what I thought next time I saw him in there. That kind of encouragement goes such a long way. The lift turned out to be exactly something I had been needing but hadn’t quite figured out the best way yet. Long story short, and my advice…if you have good advice, offer it in a helpful way, if you need advice, don’t be afraid to ask and if the person isn’t kind, screw them. Love you all, peace!
Put Your Shoes On 