Why You Should Join A Gym Surrounded By Elders
An Introvert’s Confession
Back in 2021, my husband and I decided it was time to:
“Get healthy and join a gym.”
We had wanted to do it for years; however, having young kids at home leaves little time for pursuing such extravagant activities as working out.
Most gyms in our surrounding area don’t allow children to tag along, and you can forget about them having a “babysitter” of sorts to watch your kids for you.
Before 2021, it was out of the question.
So, it should come as no surprise that my husband and I jumped at the opportunity when the time came.
We began by searching the area for family-friendly gyms that occasionally allowed us to bring our then 11-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter.
They weren’t exactly babies but still under the age most gyms would allow.
At the time, our son wanted to join a gym and workout with us.
We finally found solace in “The Wellness Center.” A gym in our area that offered weights, gymnastics for little ones, and a therapy place for elders.
We quickly fell in love with this place.
It was very welcoming, and we felt safe letting our kids come with us without the need to follow us around like little lost puppies.
Our daughter began taking gymnastics classes, and we could see her while we worked out, which I gladly welcomed.
We were steady gym-goers for over a year before life happened, and we slowly lost touch with the gym.
Still, it remained in the back of my mind.
Last week, I decided it was time to get back at it. Once again, I was struck by the welcoming atmosphere and wondered why I had ever quit going.
However, there’s something about gyms that can send most introverts, like myself, into a panic.
Loud grunts follow the clanking of the gym equipment as it hits the floor, and sometimes, screams come from those whose muscles seem to be rippling more than most.
Depending on the people you encounter at the gym, you can be surrounded by judgmental people staring down the newbie to see what they are all about.
Let alone the comments of:
“How long will you be staying?”
Especially if it is around New Year’s and everyone seems to think you are pursuing a resolution.
For this reason, a gym surrounded by elders is one of the best atmospheres you can be a part of.
Our gym is one of the quietest I have ever been in. Elders are often seen walking the track in pairs or quietly to themselves.
Grunts and screams won’t be heard if they lift weights, and the only ‘clanking’ you may hear will most likely come from a walker.
They often offer a friendly smile when passing you by and are genuinely concerned with your life and how things are going for you.
Not to mention the way their eyes light up when they see your children and stop to chat with them.
I never worry about my children's safety because everyone knows us as the “young family,” and everyone helps watch out for our safety and well-being.
It is an introvert’s dream!
Yesterday, I was walking on the treadmill to warm up my muscles before lifting weights when the power suddenly went out.
The machine came to a cold stop, which threw me for a loop. Not even a minute later, the power came back on, and I was able to start it up again.
I was again two minutes into the walk when it came to a cold stop.
The lady beside me said a few words and then turned around and, in a loud voice, spoke to the girl behind the counter.
“Pay your power bill!”
We all knew she was kidding, and she smiled as she said it, but that didn’t stop my face from turning bright red.
Suddenly, I was aware of how embarrassed I was. Despite not knowing much about this lady besides a few friendly conversations here or there, I wondered if people would think we were there together.
My introverted self wanted to run away and find a new machine to warm up on.
That’s when I heard it, Taylor Swift’s song had been playing on my AirPods,
“Take me away, take me away, take me away.” — The Very First Night (Taylor’s Version)
I broke out in laughter and talked with the lady beside me about what had happened.
She smiled and apologized for the embarrassment she had caused, explaining to me that she was “too old” to worry about a filter.
We then listened to the song together since she had never heard it. It was then that I wondered why I was ever embarrassed in the first place.
None of us could figure out what happened or why the power went out, but I learned and was reminded that the people of this gym are family.
We look out for one another, support each other in our goals, and occasionally embarrass one another.
Thank you to all who took the time to read this to the end. I’d love to hear from you. What are some of your experiences at the gym? Would you ever consider going to a gym surrounded by elders?
Feel free to offer claps of encouragement while you’re at it. XOXO Tammie🙂
Tammie is an aspiring health and wellness coach with a background in the school system. She has worked with kids from preschool through sixth grade and the SPED and library departments. Tammie is currently taking a writing class. She has three kids, two dogs, and one amazing husband. You can often find her sitting on her front porch and watching all the cool kids play in her yard. You can also find her at https://www.tammie-fralick.com.
