{"id":42424,"date":"2015-08-13T11:15:27","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T15:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=42424"},"modified":"2021-05-20T04:35:11","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T08:35:11","slug":"tips-for-your-first-fitness-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/tips-for-your-first-fitness-class\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Things to Know Before the First Fitness Class"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"What
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bright lights, wall-to-wall mirrors and spandex-clad regulars might leave you too intimidated to even step foot inside a boutique fitness studio. Which is totally understandable. (And why we love our DailyBurn workouts<\/a> that much more.) It\u2019s natural to feel like an outsider looking in: \u201cThere are so many unspoken rules, unfamiliar machines and potentially hard-to-navigate areas,\u201d says Lisa Niren, head coach at Peloton Cycle<\/span><\/a>. But don\u2019t let your anxiety stop you from checking out that new HIIT<\/span><\/a> class or stepping on a VersaClimber<\/span><\/a>. Here, a few things you should know before you attend, plus tips from top boutique trainers on how to handle it all.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>9 Trainer Tips to Get More From Your Fitness Class<\/a><\/p>\n

6 Things to Know Before Your First Fitness Class<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cBe patient, keep trying and know it will get less frustrating the more you practice.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1. It\u2019s OK to ask for help.
\n<\/strong>\u201cWhen you first walk into a class, find your instructor or facilities staff and have them get you set up properly,\u201d says Niren. She recommends arriving at least 10 minutes early \u2014 we\u2019d even say 15 if you want to get comfortably situated before the sweat session begins. And your instructor is there precisely to <\/em>help you, especially in terms of your positioning. \u201cProper form is everything [when it comes to avoiding injury],\u201d says Marcy Modica, instructor at SLT NYC<\/a>, a Pilates<\/a> studio in New York City. \u201cIt is the instructor\u2019s job to set you up for success; tell you where to put your hands, feet and body, where you should be feeling the exercise, or how to modify it for any injuries or sensitive spots,\u201d she adds. Bottom line? If you need something, speak up.<\/p>\n

2. Comparing yourself to others won\u2019t make you feel better or worse about yourself.
\n<\/strong>While you may feel insecure, keep in mind that everyone is there for his or her own <\/em>good, not to judge your performance. \u201cNo one cares how you look or what you\u2019re wearing,\u201d or, in the case of Pilates<\/a>, how high your leg extension is. \u201cEveryone is too busy focusing on their own form,\u201d says Modica. So chill out and don\u2019t worry if you can\u2019t get into Crow Pose<\/a> (most of us still struggle after years of regular yoga<\/a> practice). We\u2019re all at different levels, and the guy in a handstand next to you isn\u2019t bothered by your newb status. If you\u2019re still feeling unsure of yourself, Niren suggests bringing a workout pal along or first trying the class at non-peak hours.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 7 Beginner Yoga Poses to Get You Through Your First Class<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Getting frustrated is part of the process.
\n<\/strong>Remember: These pro-designed workouts are designed to be tough, not unlike our Inferno HR<\/a> or Pilates: Phase 2<\/a> both are. Attending a new class is supposed to be challenging, explains Modica. In fact, it\u2019s almost \u201clike learning a new language,” she says. “Be patient, keep trying and know it will get less frustrating the more you practice.\u201d Whatever you do though, \u201cjust don\u2019t quit,\u201d says Niren. Frustration can sometimes be the ignition of true passion, even if you don\u2019t recognize that at first. The key, says Niren, is to look for signs of change, soreness being the most obvious, and generally first, sign.<\/p>\n

4. You\u2019ll want to eat something before. Seriously.
\n<\/strong>\u201cIt makes me crazy when someone shows up to class and has to stop multiple times because they\u2019re feeling faint. It signals to me that they are not taking care of themselves,\u201d says Modica. \u201cYou can\u2019t move nonstop for an hour without fueling your body<\/a>.\u201d Niren\u2019s favorite pre (and post!) workout snack is a medium size banana. \u201cThey\u2019re essentially nature\u2019s Power Bar,\u201d she says, \u201cand are packed with digestible carbohydrates and loaded with potassium, which helps maintain muscle function.\u201d Not a fruit fan? Try a slice of whole-wheat toast with peanut butter.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Ultimate Guide to Pre and Post-Workout Carbohydrates<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Dehydration can happen to anyone. And it ain\u2019t pretty.
\n<\/strong>Drinking water<\/a> is critical to a great workout: after all, it does make up about two-thirds of your body. (And forget those fancy flavors<\/a> you\u2019re seeing in the market \u2014 plain H20 is always best, says Modica, not to mention calorie-free.) Bring your own bottle, since each studio\u2019s water supply may vary. And don\u2019t worry about overhydrating<\/a>, also known as hyponatremia. It\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll drink too much group fitness setting, Modica says. It\u2019s more commonly associated with endurance sports, she adds.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 8 Cool New Fit Gear Finds on Kickstarter<\/a><\/p>\n

6. There are good days, and then there are bad days.
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s important to remind yourself that progress isn\u2019t necessarily (and in fact, often not) linear. There will be classes when you can nail a resistance you hadn\u2019t hit before or get into a new pose, and likewise, there will be classes that follow where you can\u2019t get those same power numbers or move your limbs the same way. That’s totally fine. Remember, there will be peaks and valleys. Enjoy the ride \u2014 and both the mental and physical rewards you\u2019ll reap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Worried about where to go, if you should bring water or if the instructor will help? Here, six helpful tips to ensure you crush your first fitness class (and keep coming back!). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":42433,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6,19],"tags":[265,56,341,343],"class_list":["post-42424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","category-yoga","tag-fitness-class","tag-group-fitness","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2exercise"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}