This winter I got reminded of feeling intimidated when I picked up rollerblading.

Imagine going down a busy road, a helmet on, tripping, moving as slow as a turtle, and the wind blowing so hard that you pick up some speed but can’t stop. That’s me. Feeling intimidated, sure, and doing it anyway.

Gyms can get tricky, too, I know. These tricks and mindset shifts help my most intimidated clients get comfortable with working out and with being seen at their sweatiest session.

1. Gym is a strange place by definition. Where else can a group of people get together to sweat, grunt, look weird, and make themselves feel uncomfortable. Accept it.

2. What areas of your life do you feel confident about? Bring that feeling to a workout with you.

3. Wear your most comfortable and well fitting workout clothes.

4. Hire a trainer even for just a few initial sessions. Pick her or his brain. Have them teach you how to set up machines and how to use free weights.

5. Have a trainer teach you the workout lingo.

6. Tell the trainer about any exercise, place, weight, or machine that make you feel really awkward. We’re here to make the gym your safe playground.

7. Keep showing up. Knowledge + practice = confidence.

8. Make mistakes. Being new is the best spot to make mistakes, just don’t drop a dumbbell on your toe. A trainer, especially in the beginning, will save you from many injuries.

Do you need a gym helmet? CLICK HERE to apply for your transformation session and make those iron weights feel intimidated of your power.