Everyone is looking at me. My pants are riding up. I’ve definitely worn the wrong Sports Bra. Everyone is looking at me. All these machines look really scary. She looks great, but I don’t want to hurt myself. Everyone is looking at me. I’ll just go on the cross-trainer. Yes, that’s it, 30 mins on the cross-trainer and that ab workout I saw on YouTube. Everyone is looking at me.
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone if you’ve ever found yourself plagued with these thoughts as you enter the gym. A collection of the top research into female barriers to Resistance Training cites the most frequently identified being gender-based stigmas, discouragement, and negative comments, with other factors, including boredom, poor knowledge, poor gym accessibility, lack of supervision or routine, and difficulty in balancing work and family life. Add to that poor body image, diet culture, and social media portrayal of gyms being full of twenty-somethings in the latest Gym Shark twinset and it’s no wonder women aren’t feeling confident enough to make strength training part of their exercise routine.
Whilst strength training is actively encouraged for men from a young age, the benefits are extremely downplayed for women, who we could argue would benefit more. From the age of 30+, the steady decline in Oestrogen that soon becomes erratic, then dramatic, once we reach menopause can put us at risk of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and osteopenia. In fact, at much greater risk than men. Strengthening our bones, joints and muscles through strength training is the simplest way we can help to reduce these risks. You are potentially adding years to your life by lifting weights!
As a woman, strength training continues to save my life.
- It gave me a focus when I had no social circle.
- It shows me how physically capable I can be.
- It is part of my day/week that I give to myself.
- It changed my body into one I might not always like, but fundamentally I love.
- It gave me an opportunity to make the best friends of my life.
- It continues to open doors to career, relationship and personal growth experiences every day.
As a PT, the main thing I’ve learnt from coaching my clients is that what you physically do with the weights doesn’t matter. You will move the weight, and your body will change if you continue to do this in a consistent manner. You won’t see results straight away, but mentally you’ll gain strength and competence in your execution, and eventually, the results will come.
What really matters is how strength training makes you FEEL.
My attitude to PT sessions is always this; How do you want to walk out feeling? Strong? Capable? Less Stressed? Empowered? Like you’re not Mummy/Wife/Employee for this hour?
It’s YOUR time.
You deserve to feel strong. As my clients will attest to, I’ll be your biggest fan girl. You’ll lift things you never thought you could, safely and without pain, and you’ll feel incredible doing it. I will never push you past the point of what you need for that day. I’ll ask you how you are, and I’ll listen. It’s not about more weight, more reps, or going harder. It’s about just giving yourself what you need for that hour, and sometimes that’s just a chat!
Every woman deserves to feel like that, right?
How do we emulate that empowering feeling at Injury Active?
Firstly, women need to feel SAFE and SUPPORTED. One of the main motivators for training cited in female resistance training studies is camaraderie, support from significant others, supervision and instruction. At Injury Active, we have a private studio with all the equipment you’d need.
There’re no intimidating machines or walls of mirrors to catch sight of yourself in. We’re a Sports Injury Clinic, that focuses on Motion, Load and Performance. We’re about moving safely, pain-free and in a way that puts you in control of both your body and the weight you’re moving.
Both our therapists and our Personal Training team have sports and training backgrounds, and we understand the demands of everyday life. We bring all facets of fitness together into a complete package; sports therapy, injury rehabilitation, yoga classes, Personal Training and Group Training.
My main goal is to ensure every woman feels confident enough to walk into a strength training facility with the ability to execute a session and walk out feeling amazing.
Giving women the confidence and competence to own their space in the gym is something I feel extremely passionate about. Our Resistance Training 101 Workshop will aim to give you that.
Offering you professional support in a safe space, delivered by a group of inspiring women each with their own story, and giving you the motivation to inspire the women in your life to feel the same inner strength. You’ll walk away with the knowledge and tools to start your own strength training journey straight away.
