Intimidated by the Gym? Try These 3 Tips While some people struggle to exercise regularly due to pain or busy schedules, many more find themselves holding back for one simple reason: going to the gym is intimidating. At Gold Coast Physical Therapy, we strive to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for all our patients. But we also understand that going to a physical therapy clinic is quite different from going to a gym, where you often have little to no guidance about etiquette, exercise equipment, and more. Fortunately, our physical therapists can offer a few simple tips for overcoming gym intimidation: • Take a few deep breaths. Deep breathing exercises can help calm your nerves before entering the building. Find a quiet space (your car, an empty corner in the locker room) and take five deep, steady breaths before you start your workout. • Don’t leave your cell phone in your locker. We often see our cell phones as needless distractions–but in the gym, that distraction can help soothe anxiety. One study found that cell phone usage during a workout filters out environmental stressors (like that super-buff guy lifting weights beside you). So consider this permission to load up your favorite podcast and plug in your earbuds! • Know before you go. When you walk into a gym, you’re met with a maze of cardio and weight machines, free weights, and lots of mirrors. Figuring out a workout program before you step through the doors will help take some of the pressure off. Our physical therapists can help, offering guidance on specific exercises, workout plans, and equipment and gym etiquette instruction. Workout Your Brain Sudoku
Gym intimidation is a genuine phenomenon–and the team at Gold Coast Physical Therapy is here to help combat it! Call us today to learn more. Sources: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1612197X.2020.1739108 •https://journals.lww.com/ jbisrir/fulltext/2019/09000/effectiveness_of_diaphragmatic_breathing_for.6.aspx
Patient Success Spotlight
Call 561.331.5508 Today! “I was referred to physical therapy by my primary care physician because I was a “fall risk”. The estimated times I fell in my house was a dozen times last year. The therapists who tended to my needs were very professional and gentle with the way they treated me and listened to me. They did an extensive evaluation of my problem on my original visit. I told them that ‘This is the best physical therapy I have ever gotten.’ I highly recommend that you give them the chance to serve you as well..” — S.P.
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