Group Fitness - Anxiety issues

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So I am currently 270 pounds, which is gross when even I think about it however when I try to pursue a more active lifestyle by going to play ultimate frisbee or basketball I lack the coordination to do it and feel insecure doing it because it is all a team sport and I feel like I am holding them back. There is a lifetime fitness by where I live that offer's free group fitness classes (considering you have to pay $60/month uninsured) that I would like to try, on more than a few occassions I have tried to walk into those classes only to walk back out because I was terrified of the idea. I tried encouraging friends to come with but I have a hectic schedule. So I have decided to ask for the WP input into the situation, considering at one point you may have had a friend who talked you through it or a shrink that gave you some advice on the matter. Otherwise something short of someone trying to hold my hand through it or literally attaching a ball and chain to my ankle so I could not run away, I am out of ideas.

Ideas from someone who had similar feelings.

1. The first time is the hardest.
2. Try to find a class on a weekday morning or afternoon when the group is more likely to have more mature people in it.
3. Arrive early so you can claim a spot near the back.
4. Arrive late so fewer people will notice you.
5. Make eye contact with someone who looks friendly, ask what's the class like, and tell them this is your first time and you're scared. Perhaps this person will help and give you encouragement during the workout. It's nice to have someone to make faces with when they say, "OK, everybody. Let's do another thousand reps."
6. Tell the instructor this is your first time and you're scared/shy.
7. The instructor can do all the exercises because they only choose what they can personally do -- I discovered this in yoga when I saw one of my top instructors struggling in someone else's class.
8. You won't be able to do everything, don't feel totally inferior to the person you see who can do everything, at least you're there and trying. There are millions who are not.
9. No matter what other people may think about you, you can't hear them thinking, no matter how loudly they think.
10. Even if you don't make it to the class, become a fixture in the gym around the time of the class. That way people will know you're a "regular" when you finally go to the class and you won't be in a room of unfamiliar faces.
11. In yoga we say to stay on your own mat. In other words, don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Concentrate on yourself and what the instructor says.

When I finally joined a gym for the first time in my life at age 63, I, was terrified, but finally determined. I set a goal to somehow be different in 6 months, I wasn't any clearer than that, but stuck to a weekly schedule of 3 yoga classes and 3 gym visits.

I won't go into the details, but I made my goal in a way that surprised me, and I'm teaching a yoga class.

Try one of these Aikido classes near you.

Dojo
Aikido of Minnesota (single)
Address: 710 North Snelling Avenue; Saint Paul, MN 55104
Country: United States
Instructors: Dan Pederson, 3rd dan
Phone: (651) 247-0703
Schedule: M-F 6:30-7:30 am; M 6:30pm; Tu 5:30pm; Th 6:45pm; Sa 8am; Su 11am
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.aikidominnesota.org
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: World Aikido Aikikai Inc. (WAAI)
Admin:

Last Updated: August 5th, 2008
Dojo
Aikido of Rochester (single)
Address: 2849 South Broadway; Rochester, MN
Country: United States
Phone: (507) 281-4335
Schedule: MW 7-9:15pm, Sa 8-10:15am
URL: http://members.tripod.com/~Rochester_Aikido/
Style: Aikikai
Admin:

Last Updated: July 25th, 2002
Dojo
Aikido Yoshinkai Minneapolis-St. Paul - Renseikan Dojo (single)
Address: 1300 145th Street E (Co Rd 42); Rosemount, MN 55068
Country: United States
Contact: 14348 96th Street NE, Otsego, MN 55330
Instructors: Alvin McClure, 5th dan
Phone: (612) 889-2098
Fax: (763) 422-5012
Schedule: MW 5:30-7pm
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.aikidoyoshinkai.com
Style: Yoshinkai
Affiliation: IYAF
Admin:

Last Updated: April 28th, 2004
Dojo
Kobukan Dojo (single)
Address: 500 East 36th Street; Minneapolis, MN 55408
Country: United States
Phone: (612) 827-4395
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.aikidomn.com
Style: Yoshokai
Affiliation: AYANA
Admin:

Last Updated: December 13th, 2007
Dojo
Mankato Aikido-kai (single)
Address: Minnesota State University, Mankato (Schellberg gym/Myer's); Mankato, MN 56001
Country: United States
Contact: (507) 345-5045 (Home, Willianto Kurniawan)
Instructors: Thomas Moore, 3rd dan
Schedule: M-Th 6-8pm; F 4-6pm; Su 4-6pm
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://krypton.mnsu.edu/~aikido
Affiliation: Independent
Admin:

Last Updated: July 26th, 2004
Dojo
MCFM Enso Aikido Dojo (single)
Address: 12205 Wood Lake Drive; Burnsville, MN 55337
Country: United States
Instructors: Michael Ellefson, 4th dan; Phillip Johnson, 2nd dan
Phone: (651) 308-8673
Schedule: TuThFSu
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.ensoaikido.com
Style: Bill Sosa Sensei
Affiliation: Mid America Aikido Federation
Admin:

Last Updated: March 12th, 2009
Dojo
MCFM Kyoshin Aikido Dojo (single)
Address: 260 E. Marie Ave; West Saint Paul, MN 55118
Country: United States
Instructors: Michael Ellefson, 4th dan; Cory Hansen, 2nd dan; Faith Hansen, 1st dan
Phone: (612) 396-0557
Schedule: TuThSa
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.kyoshinaikido.com
Style: Bill Sosa Sensei
Affiliation: Mid America Aikido Federation
Admin:

Last Updated: April 6th, 2009
Dojo
Minnesota Aiki Shuren Dojo (single)
Address: Salk Middle School; Elk River, MN 55330
Country: United States
Instructors: Mark L. Larson, 5th dan
Schedule: Th 7:30-9pm
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.aikido-shuren-dojo.com/
Admin:

Last Updated: February 24th, 2009
Dojo
Minnesota Ki Society (single)
Address: 558 Vandalia St; St. Paul, MN 55114
Country: United States
Instructors: Jon Poppele; Patrick Tarry
Phone: (612) 388-4700
Schedule: MTWTh 6-9pm
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.1wp.com/go/CMBO/index.html
Style: Shinshin Toitsu
Affiliation: Eastern Ki Federation
Dojo Images:
1.

Admin:

Last Updated: September 21st, 2007
Dojo
Northern Lights Aikido (single)
Address: 302 west first street; Duluth, MN 55802
Country: United States
Instructors: Brad Bergeron, 4th dan
Phone: (218) 722-4645
Schedule: MW 7-8:30pm
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.northernlightsaikido.com
Admin:

Last Updated: August 10th, 2006
Dojo
One Circle Aikido (single)
Address: 14350 Excelsior Blvd.; Minnetonka, MN 55305
Country: United States
Instructors: Stephanie Majhor
Schedule: TuTh
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.onecircleaikido.com
Dojo Images:
1.

Admin:

Last Updated: October 31st, 2006
Dojo
Shuharikan Dojo of St. Paul, MN (single)
Address: 265 West 7th Street; Saint Paul, MN 55102
Country: United States
Instructors: Gordon Shumaker; Jon Sharratt; Glen Giacoletto; Alvin Oyama; Jim
Phone: (651) 222-7337
Schedule: M-Sa
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.geocities.com/shuharikan
Style: Yoshinkan
Affiliation: IYAF
Admin:

Last Updated: March 3rd, 2002
Dojo
Twin Cities Aikido Center (single)
Address: 2390 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN 55114
Country: United States
Instructors: Calvin Blanchard, 4th dan
Phone: (651) 644-3360
Schedule: M-Sa 6:30am; MTuWF 5:15pm, 6:30pm; Th 7:15pm; Sa 11:30am; Su10am
URL: http://www.tcaikido.com
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF
Admin:

Last Updated: March 24th, 2010
Dojo
Twin Cities Seidokan (single)
Address: 4000 Winnetka Ave. N. #240; New Hope, MN 55427
Country: United States
Instructors: Robert Frankovich, 2nd dan
Phone: 01 763 540 0768
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.sparrowinstitute.org/aikido
Style: Seidokan
Affiliation: Seidokan
Admin:

Last Updated: November 10th, 2005
Dojo
Uptown Aikido (single)
Address: Center for Performing Arts, 3754 Pleasant Ave. South; Minneapolis, MN 55409
Country: United States
Instructors: Deanna Newman, 5th dan
Phone: (612) 377-2154
Schedule: Su 8-9pm, Tu 7-8pm
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.UptownAikido.com
Style: Tomiki
Affiliation: Fugakukai
Admin:

Thanks for the information and advice, I never really considered doing martial arts just because I am a bit self conscious about my looks but it might give me something to try to focus on.