Socializing?

1] It's a mental game. People aren't going to judge you. They're not going to criticize you for anything you're doing/not doing. Esp in the pool. The YMCA doesn't have under water cameras for professionals or coaches to monitor your swimming technique.

2] Just go to the gym and focus on you. You're not going for anyone else are you? You're wanting to improve your health and that's all that should matter. If you're that nervous about it take a friend with you on Fridays or Sundays. At least our local YMCA has bring a friend free days on those two days.

I work out at home now (cheaper) - but when I went to the gym I already had a plan for what I was going to do and I went and did it. I'm not very chatty but I'm polite, everyone else is there with their own stuff to do so you don't really need to interact that much.
Find less busy times - so its not crowded and you don't have to stand around waiting for anything.

You can also make yourself look unavailiable to talk (not meeting peoples eyes, quick nod hello then do something else, wear headphones)

I like exerciseing alongside other people... but not really chatting.

You can always have an online accountabilibuddy, or one over the phone.

I train alone and run alone but I like the IDEA of training with other people. Once its a 'regular', sceduled thing to go to with the same people I think it gets easier - you don't stay the new person.
Having another way of working out where you don't see anyone could be a good backup for times you just want to see anyone.
I head off and run in a local reserve, usually see noone until I'm walking back through the edge of town and I'm usually feeling better/less stressed by then.

I used to worry about my form in yoga and spin classes, and at the gym at work, because I was afraid people were judging me, too. But then I realized the only reason to worry about form is actually because proper form will help you improve and lessen the chance of injury.
You do you - it's the only way to truly be in tune with yourself and your body during your workouts, which is SO key to getting the full benefits of yoga!!
As for friends...I've been going to the same spin studio for almost 4 years and I don't really chat with anyone but my instructor. People are nice and the studio is not pretentious at all, I just don't like to chit chat when I'm working it

Do you watch other people and judge them? I'm hoping the answer is no, because 99% of the people at the gym don't care about anyone else at the gym. It's all in your head. They aren't watching you, and they aren't judging you.

feisty_bucket wrote: »

marialarosa95 wrote: »

I am worried that people might judge my form if it is less than perfect.

I've been lifting weights at public gyms regularly for the past 15 years. In all that time, somebody has commented on my form _once_. And that's because I was doing some kind of row with crappy form, and the guy said "Yo, you're gonna hurt yourself, that form is really bad." He was totally right (had a rounded back), so I was both surprised and glad somebody said something.

Really, don't worry about it. I can't even remember the last time I saw one stranger comment to another about form; it just doesn't happen much.

Cosign.

Same thing has happened to me except I was doing goblet squats and trying to fix the problem the guy commented on so I could go back to doing back squats with good form. Otherwise, I've never seen anyone comment on form unless they've been paid to do so.