It’s Okay to Feel New

As gyms, studios, and other service providers are slowly opening up, it is okay to feel “new” to the world again. We have all been through a lot, and have our own reasons and apprehensions about rejoining the world. For each of us, that is going to look different, and that is okay. Some people can’t wait to get back into the (socially distanced) studio, while others are still working out virtually with me. 

One of the biggest things I am hearing from my clients is that they feel like they are brand new to working out again. Trust me – I feel the same! Even though I kept up teaching mat Pilates and did some personal training, I barely touched the equipment these past two months. I even woke up on June 1st, day one of re-opening, and I felt nervous! 

We Are All Feeling Nervous

I had to take a minute and think about what I had lined up for the day and why I was feeling this way. I remembered that in all of my years of teaching and personal training, I would always feel a bit anxious before teaching a new client, class, or substituting for another teacher.  It’s the unknown – how are things going to go? 

I had a little talking to myself. “Okay, Melissa:”

1. Be kind to yourself. We have never experienced a pandemic. We have had to adjust, adapt, and pivot, but we are all in the same boat. 
2. I get to start the day with a run with the same person I’ve run with for 7+ years, and it will feel awesome. 
3. My first class is on Zoom, which I’ve been doing every day since March 18. I’ve got this! 
4. Then I get to teach a private client again, who has been with me for nearly three years. It will be great to see her again! 
5. My last class of the day is an apparatus class with three clients who are sooo excited to be getting back into the studio. It will be fine. 

I managed to talk myself out of the nerves – I had nothing to worry about! But still, teaching in person felt a bit weird at first; especially on the equipment that I had been neglecting. Once I stumbled through a few minutes of class, though, I was flowing with it again.

What Does Your “New” Look Like?

If you are feeling like working out or rejoining Pilates is brand new to you when you do your next class, don’t worry. You aren’t the only one! We have all changed the past few months, and so have our bodies. What does your “new” look like?

Maybe you:

• Forget how to do certain movements, or how to use an apparatus
• Are weaker or less flexible? 
• Are excited to be back!
• Will feel a bit sore after your first few workouts.
• Are stronger than before, because you kept up with your workouts.
• Tried a new activity during quarantine, and your body is different.

However you feel when you show up isn’t as important as the fact that you ARE showing up! I am here to meet you where you are today. Together we will work to get you back to where you were before all of this, and where you want to be in the future. 

Keep Working Out at Home 

I am encouraging everyone to add in some additional workouts at home, to gain momentum in your workouts. 

Join me on the b.Pilates & Fitness App, and subscribe to Sweat with Melissa. By simply adding in a couple of mat classes and one or two strength workouts a week, you’ll be amazed with the progress you make.