One thing I hear frequently from folks when they hear I own a gym is, “I’ve been thinking about joining a gym, but I feel like I need to get in better shape first.” Or some variation of “Oh, I could never handle a workout like that, I’m not fit enough!”
From a practical standpoint, this doesn’t make a lot of sense. If a fitness program requires you to be fit before you can start…it’s probably not a great program. At the very least, it tells me the “coaches” don’t know how to modify movements.
At Ripple Effect, there’s no prerequisite of how fit you need to be before you can start. As long as you’re cleared for exercise by a doctor, you’re good to go! We can modify any workout or movement to work for any body. You don’t need to wait — just start!
From an emotional standpoint, I can totally understand the logic of wanting to be “in shape” before starting to go to the gym. Nobody likes feeling self-conscious. Nobody likes that feeling of not quite knowing what you’re doing.
For many folks, their experience with fitness — whether that’s in elementary school P.E., or the high school weight room, or at a traditional “Globo Gym” — has been strongly associated with those negative feelings of embarrassment and not feeling good enough. In those scenarios, they were constantly being measured against others. Sometimes formally, via tests like the “Presidential Physical Fitness Test” in school. Sometimes informally, just by looking around the gym and feeling like folks are judging their appearance and capabilities. Either way, it can lead folks to equate exercise with shame. Not good.
The good news is, there’s a different option — a supportive fitness community like Ripple Effect! Nobody here will judge you — not for how you look, how much you can lift, the modifications you need for movements, or anything else. We’re all here just trying to get a little stronger each day, by showing up together and having fun in the gym. Yes, I said FUN in the gym! It’s a real thing, I promise.
You don’t need to wait to be in shape to start here. Just start. Just show up. We’ll help with the rest. We’re all in this together.
Sign up for a Free Intro Session to take a big step in the right direction!
