Lifestyle

Never judge a book by its cover

Stepping into the unknown can be a nerve-racking experience, especially when it comes to trying something new (and you’ve just had a baby). That’s exactly how I felt when I decided to join Greenwich Training. The mere thought of putting on a pair of lycra leggings and pushing myself in front of a bunch of strangers intimidated me, no end! And then there were my preconceived notions that the trainer was some big burly, intimidating figure that was going to stand and bark orders at me with that judgemental glare! Well…how wrong I was...

I still remember walking into the studio on the first day, a feeling of self-doubt washing over me! ‘’Will I be able to keep up?’’ ‘’What if I don’t understand the instructions?’’ ‘’Will anyone talk to me?’’ But then the session began.

I remember the dulcet tones of Beyonce quickly followed by the Artic Monkeys, something for everyone. And I quickly realised that we were a bunch of people with various fitness levels, all with our unique goals and struggles.

I also realised very quickly that judgement did not exist anywhere in the room, and the trainer made me feel completely at ease. This whole vibe felt pretty unique if you ask me and I walked away from my first session feeling the need to break away from my preconceived notions!

As the days and weeks passed, I could feel a real sense of community developing, at first recognising faces, to knowing names, to going for coffee after a session. We all shared a common experience of pushing ourselves, supporting one another in a real safe space created by the trainers. My experience of Greenwich Training has been nothing short of extraordinary.

My takeaways are to never judge a book by its cover, and stereotypes can limit our potential for growth. I broke free of my preconceived notions and I have been rewarded in countless ways for this.  My physical and mental health have improved beyond my expectations. Each and every one of these sessions has acted as a mood booster for me. If I did nothing else in a day, I still feel a real sense of accomplishment. My negative emotions, anxiety and stress all disappear. My focus and happy thoughts all increase.

It's easy for me to say now, but I really didn’t need to have those feelings of intimidation, fear and lack of confidence. Today, I can proudly say that joining Greenwich Training was one of the best decisions I ever made. I am 42 and physically stronger and healthier than I have ever been! This supportive community that I once feared has become my safe space. I stepped out of my comfort zone, I took that leap of faith and it has taught me so much about myself. Today, I am up for pushing my boundaries, embracing anything new. And as for those big burly, intimidating trainers, they don’t exist anywhere around here.  

But don’t just take my word for it, I am 100% sure you would only thank me if you came and gave it a try for yourself.