Wanting to get strong

[sonia]

I had my first-ever personal training session yesterday. It went well! There's a gym one block from me that I've had my eye on ever since it quit being a Crossfit gym and went independent. I was dubious about exercising in an indoor space, but a friend pointed out that their big open warehouse door means that they have a lot better ventilation than most gyms.

I finally got in touch with them, and after some logistical hassles, I had my appointment with a tall, kind, strong young woman. She seemed easy in her body, and calmly gave me instructions and feedback in a way that felt welcoming and safe. I said I wanted it to be gentle and gradual because my body tends toward strains and injury, and she gave me exactly what I asked for. We focused on upper body, and did rows with hanging rings and bench presses with free weights and some pushups at a 45 degree angle because I can't quite do them lowering to bench height. It lasted an hour and I thought I would be sore today. I'm mildly achy, enough to tell me I did something, but not too bad.

I never thought I'd be the kind of person to lift weights or have a personal trainer. I liked being strong when I was moving house, and I'd like to get stronger again without having to pack up everything I own. And if I'm going to do that, I need some personal help to learn how to do it properly. They have some strength classes that I'm hoping to join once I understand the basic movements and how to do them safely for me. And I have some weights at home that I might be able to use in between.

I never had private lessons in anything as a kid. It was a big step for me to start taking singing lessons a few years back, and that has been wonderfully healing, as well as improving my singing over time. Getting some personal training sessions feels like self-love, permission to pay for the help I need instead of trying to tough it out on my own.

Comments

[threemeninaboat]

Wonderful!

[sonia]

<3

[sheafrotherdon]

This sounds wonderful! I know a bunch of women who've done weight training recently, and that feeling of being strong has been so welcome for each of them

[sonia]

<3 Good to hear!

[panisdead]

Yay!! I hope you continue to enjoy this.

[sonia]

Thanks! Me too...

[ofearthandstars]

Awh, I hope this works out for you! It used to feel weird to tell people I have a personal trainer, because I had a sterotype of what type of person that is...but it's really been one of my best decisions. It really helps me because I struggle with knee pain and it's allowed me to find ways to work around that and to reduce the pain. Also increased strength just helps prevent injury in everyday life. I find it really fulfilling, and yes, a definite form of self-care. I hope you do as well.

[sonia]

I'm glad it's working for you, and yes, it feels strange to join the ranks of the personally trained. I hope I can work it into my life in an ongoing way.