How to get ready for gyms opening post lockdown?

Excuse the clickbait title - I’m trying to respond to the kind of questions people are asking right now and this one is coming up a lot!

I have to wonder though - did people start thinking this way on their own or are they responding to the pressure so thoughtfully supplied by media and fitness influencers and all the other people who benefit from our desire to feel better about ourselves? 

Fitness marketing seems to follow a sadly predictable formula - give people a reason to feel rubbish about themselves, and then offer them a ‘miracle’ quick fix for a thing that’s not necessarily even a problem (throw is some cultural appropriation and portrayal of an unrealistic body shape for bonus points). So it’s hardly surprising that my instagram feed is suddenly awash with the message that I have to be in top shape in time for when the gyms re-open on 12th April.

Needless to say, this is bull***t. It’s an incredibly damaging message, designed to shame people into action rather than inspire them. It also feeds into this idea that only a certain type of person can go to the gym. NO. Anyone who wishes to train has the right to train, no matter what their fitness or entry level. You do not need to be in shape to go to the gym. I’m so saddened by the number of people I meet who feel they are not fit enough to train or sign up for an exercise class. We all have equal right to take up space and do something that is good for our mind and body. End of.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m not saying that gyms re-opening isn’t something to look forward to. Quite the opposite! And if the prospect of getting back under the squat rack or into your favourite group fitness classes inspires you to start moving and training more now, then even better. Why? Because these actions are coming from a place of excitement and self care. If we lay some foundations now then we’ll be more prepared to return to the barbell or the free weights, reduce our injury risk and set ourselves up to enjoy that sweet return.

But if we dive down the rabbit hole of punitive exercise and self criticism then what could be the highlight of 2021 for many people could end up being a misguided reason to feel rubbish about themselves. That moment we’ve all been waiting for, ruined because we fell into the trap of believing that we are not enough and that we have to fulfill certain criteria in order to train at the gym.

And so my advice to you all would be this:

If you rock up to the gym on 12th April in completely different shape to this time last year - THAT’S OK. Lay down your foundations, slowly build up and enjoy the process. Where you are at is just that - it’s where you are at. It’s not good or bad and your physical body is no reflection on whether you are a good human or not! Use it as feedback to plan your workouts and listen to your body as you ease back in to gym training again. Remember that most of us have moved far less than normal over the past year. Our glutes might not be so active, our posture might have changed and our core might need a little bit of firing up. Lay down those foundations and enjoy playing the long game.

Likewise, if you’re feeling like you’d like to start now and using 12th April is a useful tool for your motivation, then go for it! Just remember to enjoy the process and embrace where you’re at throughout rather than falling into the trap of equating your fitness level to your self worth.

Finally - A lot of (not all) fitness influencers want to sell you something and ultimately profit from people feeling bad about themselves. Sadly they might not have your best interests at heart. If they did, they would be promoting the benefits of adequate water intake, sleep and daily steps for your health rather than their latest workout. These are the things that actually make the most difference - but as they’re not sexy or sellable most people go down the route of selling quick fixes and 28 day challenges instead. Remember to apply your filter when scrolling through the gram and if you don’t feel better for the posts that you see then maybe think about unfollowing a few along the way.

Remember - movement can be joyful. Health is our most powerful asset. Choose wisely in where you invest your energies. 

Give me a shout in the comments section if this raised any questions for you or if you have any thoughts on the above. Your passionate personal trainers in Walthamstow  would love to hear from you :-)