No Need to be Shy! (Gyms - General)

Member Name: GuruOnAMountain

Product:	Gyms - General
Date:	03/02/05 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easier to get motivated than it is to work out at home., Plenty of choice of exercise equipment.

Disadvantages: Usually fairly expensive membership fees.

I've always reckoned that I should be doing a bit more exercise than I do and for years have avoided gyms like the plague afraid of the fact that I'll be the only "cuddly" gym member lost among a see of girls shaped like pencils and men built like demi-gods. However, January rolled around as usual this year and I had that nagging thought at the back of my mind telling me that now really was the time to try to get into shape.

Luckilly one of my friends had just got into the whole gym thing a few months previously and she was more than happy to take me along and show me the ropes. Luckier still, my Uni has its own gym which only costs £30 for a year's membership and for that fee you can also join any of the clubs and classes held there, too.

Before I knew it, I was handing over my hard earned cash and heading for the changing rooms. Admittedly, there was a fair number of skinny girls surrounding me, but although I was a little self-conscious at first, I did eventually convince myself that everyone would be far too busy getting dressed to be paying any attention to me. Once changed I headed to the cardiovascular room which was very busy. I suppose since it was January everyone else had had the same idea as me and had all decided to pop into the gym.

There were more machines upstairs, though, and so that was where we headed next. We decided on starting out on a rowing machine and these were situated next to a squash court, so we could distract ourselves a little by watching the game of squash through the plexiglass. I soon got over my self-consciousness as everyone was focussed on their own exercise and I worked my way around most of the machines giving them a go and seeing what machines I felt most comfortable using.

Face towels and water dispensers were available and came in useful. The machines were all straight forward to operate which was a good thing as I didn't see anyone on hand to help explain them otherwise.

When I finally got use of a machine in the cardiovascular room, I did feel a bit like I was at a cattlemarket (albeit, with very energetic cattle!) as the machines were so closely packed together and the room was so busy, but upstairs it was far more spacious and felt much more relaxed.

There is also a swimming pool downstairs which I haven't tried out yet and probably wont as I don't generally like swimming, but I've been told it is communal showers down there and I don't know if I fancy that much! Eek!

The next thing on the list for me is to join one of the martial arts classes on offer now and it looks like I might be going along to Aikido soon.

I know gyms can seem intimidating and uninspiring, but I must admit I've been pleasantly surprised by my experience here. I feel pretty comfortable at the gym now and I'm actually enjoying going that I go several times a week because I want to and not just because I feel that I should. I would recommend anyone who is uncertain to give a gym as go as they might just enjoy it.

Working out surrounded by other people does tend to motivate me that bit more, too, as I know if I was working out at home I'd get bored or tired and give up too easily, but I don't want to lose face when working out in public surrounded by good looking blokes!

However, I don't know if I'll continue attending a gym after I leave Uni as I don't think gyms are generally worth the expense. I can't complain at £30 a year, though, as things stand at my Uni gym so for now I'll definately be taking advantage of it!

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