- Ben Banbury
Social Anxiety And The Gym
Do you get anxious just thinking about stepping in a gym? So do 51% of people. I've got 3 ways to try and eliminate those feelings for good

From the word go I just want to make it really clear that although I've spent a lot of time around people with anxiety and coached a fair few clients who have suffered - I am by no means an expert on the topic
If you're really suffering with anxiety please seek professional help from your GP and talk to those close to you about it
These 3 tips are ways that I've helped clients cope / battle social anxiety
Tip 1. Learn Good Form
People seem to think that they're always being judged for their form
This was probably the biggest reason for anxiety
I coached so many clients whose heads were constantly on a swivel
Looking from person to person to see if others were looking or staring
I get it. If you're unconfident you are doing the exercises correctly, you think people are noticing, or worse, talking about you
That's a horrible feeling
When I first started training in the gym and the big guys walked in and started training, I'd pick up my things and walk straight out the front door
I remember completing a workout maybe 2/4 times a week at one point
Were they looking? Probably not
Was it in my head? Most likely
But I was sure they were looking, so I took the time to really grasp the most common exercises and which muscles they were working
It definitely worked
As soon as my form was better I was SO MUCH more confident in a gym surroundings
And I quickly learnt what to do if my machine was taken, so I wasn't standing around unsure at any moments
My confidence grew massively (as did my progress)
You can become more confident too by finding a reliable source, having a good understanding of a few exercises and where you should be feeling them
10-15 should be enough for the fist 3-5 months
Tip 2: Train From Home
Avoid people. Sounds great huh?
I'm a mobile personal trainer and of course an online coach, and I train every single one of my clients from their homes
Why? Because it's;
Convenient
Cheaper (no memberships)
More flexible
Quicker
Less stressful
After I finish writing this post I'll be driving to one of my amazing client's house to train her in her garden
My iphone tells me it's 14C and it's an absolutely stunning day
We'll be training in her garden in the beautiful sun (Vitamin D helps with anxiety by the way)
How amazing is that? No queuing, no people, no smelly gym, no commuting, no people, no faffing and no people
Did I mention there will be no people?
If you're worried about being in a gym I hugely urge you to exercise from home
Training from home is just better!
There are hundreds of quick-home workouts on Youtube (I'm bringing some out soon too!)
Or you can build your own workout using this guide
Tip 3: Get A Gym Buddy (Or Hire A PT)
Both options are fantastic for helping with anxiety in the gym
As I mentioned before most of my clients were anxious they were performing exercises incorrectly - by hiring me they quickly picked up good form and began to relax
But you can't hire a coach 3-5 sessions a week huh?
So find a like minded gym buddy! Preferably someones that's been training for a while and you know are hard working
I've been training for 9 years now and I've never worked harder than when I'm with a friend
Benefits of good gym buddy:
You'll work much harder
Competition is always good
Better consistency and commitment
You'll be way more relaxed and comfortable in the gym
In July 2018 I had a client who suffered really badly from anxiety - infact some times it was so crippling she couldn't work for months at a time
My goal was to keep her talking and try and make her workouts as sociable and fun as possible
Most of the time she walked in with her head sunk looking at the floor, and walked out 2 ft taller with a smile on her face
Having someone to chat to and keep things fun can do amazing things for your anxiety levels
So if you suffer, ask a friend for help! I'm sure they'd love the company!
Plus you'll both get far greater results training as a team!
And if you have a friend who you know suffers, offer to help them. Ask to train with them and watch their confidence double. Watching someone mentally and physically grow because of your efforts is one of the most rewarding things that you can do
Conclusion
I highly recommend you take the time to learn, ask a friend, or hire a coach to teach you the basic exercises. This will ensure you're training safer, more effectively and you won't feel as self-conscious when training around others
As well as that I'd suggest you start exercising from home. It's by far the best way to get into exercise
There are no spectators, you can watch / read the form as you're working out, it's quicker, cheaper and you can train wherever the hell you want
I'd much prefer to train in my back garden in the sun than a smelly gym.. Wouldn't you?
Anxiety is horrible and controlling. So take action and win back your freedom
It won't be easy but the tips I suggested will 100% help if you put them into practice
It will get easier and easier. Exercise has been proven to help anxiety so tackle it head on and start implementing these tips today
Good luck! And if you need any support or advice about anxiety in the gym, feel free to reach out to me today - Message me
Ben