The gym is a great resource to have in your fitness arsenal. Since most gyms give free trials, guest passes, and student discounts, the gym is definitely the perfect alternative to working out on your own, and a nice way to mix things up so you never get bored with the same old routine. For some, a daily trip to the gym becomes a ritual. For others, it can be a bit of a pain, met with reluctancy and hesitation. Whether you hit up your local LA Fitness, the mini-gym in your housing complex, or the gym on campus, you should definitely take advantage of the equipment and classes they have to offer. But how can you get the most out of a gym visit if you’re not even sure what to do once you get there?
Here are some gym essentials that will help you navigate the gym!
1. Sign Up for an Orientation As with many new things, like college, an internship, or a new job, getting oriented is extremely important, as is most helpful when its done at the beginning of your new experience. You don’t have your undergrad orientation after your first semester of freshman year, right? So learning the ins and outs of any gym would be most beneficial before you start out building your routine. Most gyms have special trainers that take you through the gym and show you the ropes: they’ll go over equipment, policies, special events, and more. It will help you get your feet wet, and give you a better idea of what the gym has to offer. You’ll also get some basic details on the machines and how to use them safely.
2. Take a Session with a Personal Trainer It’s true, personal trainers aren’t cheap, but when it comes to beginning your workouts at a gym, one-to-two half hour sessions are a worth-while investment. Trainers will listen to your goals, and design a program according to what you are looking to accomplish. This will give you a great jumping-off point. You may not get the one-on-one expert attention, but at least when you hit the gym on your own, you have an idea of where to start.
3. Take a Class Classes are great because a lot of the time they are included in your fees, or there may be some free trial options to choose from. Trying out a class or two will also give you an expert overview of specific exercises that you can model on your own. If you’re looking to sculpt your upper body, take a toning class and pay close attention to the moves that target your arms and back. Once you’ve seen them done by an expert, and have tried them out yourself, you can move on to doing them as part of your routine in a gym setting. And, you’ll also get an idea of how to do the moves safely. Take advantage of the free weights and other equipment available to you, and use that when you’re at the gym, saving equipment-free workouts for when you’re working out at home. Who knows, you may even decide to incorporate the class into your gym routine.
4. Find a Workout Buddy There are definitely people out there who prefer to workout on their own! But a lot of times, it can be less stressful, and far more beneficial, to workout with a friend. Find someone who is serious about getting fit and healthy, and who will be a source of support and motivation. The ideal gym buddy would be someone who can get you up and at the gym on days when you feel like skipping out! They will help keep you on schedule, and be there to help you ease the tension of awkward gym moments – like trying out Zumba when you have no rhythm what-so-ever, or confirming that the guy doing those olympic lifts is checking you out.
5. Learn About Muscles and the Machines You may not have noticed, but most of the equipment explains what muscles are being worked. Having an idea of what the machines do will help you figure out which machines you need to accomplish your fitness goals. And understanding the muscles you are trying to target is even better! It’s important to realize that relying on the machines will not give you the best results, in fact, free weights are much more effective, particularly for women! Once you have an idea of the muscles you want to work, and the exercises that do it, you’ll be able to design a more effective workout!
6. Be A Smart Gym-Goer As mentioned, not all equipment is created equal. One thing to keep in mind is that machines are not always the best when it comes to building muscle and burning fat. Some machines target muscles that are difficult to work without specialized equipment (the inner- and outer-thigh machine, for example). But, using machines only allows you to work specific muscles, and actually eliminates work done by secondary muscles that you would be working with free weights. For this reason, mixing it up with different exercises is ideal, and making sure you include a balance of free-weight, machine, and body-weight exercises is key for seeing results. Check out this muscle cheat sheet, and do some research to learn more about your body and how to accomplish your goals.
For a quick run-down of exercising in the gym, check out this video! Don’t miss out on an opportunity to keep your workouts interesting, and achieve the results you’re looking for! And don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of hitting up the gym: it’s a lot easier to navigate than you think!
Check out past CC ShapeU posts here.
