I recently started my second season of TRX training. Not exactly ground breaking news – until you consider the fact that two weeks into the last season of TRX, I had decided that there had never been anything on this Earth that I hated more than TRX (ok – it still isn’t ground breaking news, but maybe it is at least slightly more interesting?).
I started January really excited about TRX and was really looking forward to the classes. But to my surprise, I really struggled with the first couple of classes. The workouts were so much harder than I expected (which I know is a good thing – but it can be hard to remember that when you are rolling around like a fish out of water trying to get your heels into the TRX straps). And despite the fact that I had an awesome trainer helping me through the class (thanks Tracy!), I felt demoralized after the first few classes.
But I decided that TRX was something I really wanted to do and I made myself stick with it. I formulated a strategy to get myself through those first couple of weeks and I’m really proud that it worked. Now, I still have a long way to go before I master the TRX (I love the TRX motto of “Make Your Body Your Machine”!) – but I happily signed up for a second season and now when I’m done with a TRX class I leave the gym inspired (well – inspired, sweaty and tired).
I’m sure someday I’ll face a new fitness challenge (like when I finally work up the courage to take boxing!) and I’ll end up feeling like I did after those first few TRX classes. So I decided I should document my strategy – and I thought I’d share it with you.
- Do not pay attention to or compare yourself to anyone else in the class. Every person is at a different fitness level and has different strengths and weaknesses.
- Remind yourself that no one else in the class is paying attention to or judging you – and if they are, then they aren’t working hard enough (so they don’t count!)
- Once you get over any hang-ups you have about how you are faring in comparison to the rest of the class (or am I the only one that neurotic?), remind yourself that you are most likely in the company of some awesome women (shout out to Tracy’s TRX team!). Support them and let them support you.
- Talk to your trainer/instructor and don’t be afraid to ask for (and use!) modifications. I probably should have put this one first. Tracy helped me few modifications I could make when I was having trouble with certain exercises. Once I used them (a got over feeling weak for needing them), things became much less frustrating. We have amazing trainers – we shouldn’t forget to use them (even if I do occasionally roll my eyes at them when they ask me to do burpies…).
- Set a date for yourself and commit to continuing with the workout (no matter how much you think you hate it) until that date and then give yourself permission to never do it again if you get to that date and still hate it.
- When all else fails, fake it until you make it…