Back to the Studio: How to Start Working Out Again

Restarting exercise after a long break is one of the most common fitness goals in London. A few months of busy work weeks can easily turn into a year without much movement. By then the idea of walking into a class can feel bigger than the class itself.

Most people who return to our studios after time away say the same thing. The workout was fine. Getting through the door was the hard part.

Why restarting exercise is harder

Life gets busy and the months slip past. The gap between your fittest self and where you are now starts to look huge. It’s usually smaller than it feels, though the mental distance is real enough to keep people on the sofa.

Research in exercise psychology points to perceived barriers as one of the biggest obstacles to starting again. Thoughts like “I’m too unfit” or “everyone will be better than me” tend to hold people back more than their bodies do.

5 practical steps to start exercise

1. Lower the bar

Your first session back can be modest. Plenty of people restart with one class a week and only add more once that feels normal again. Gentle yoga, beginner barre and low-impact Pilates are all common choices because none of them leave you struggling on the stairs the next morning. If yoga is the one you’re leaning towards, our guide to yoga for beginners explains how a first class usually runs.

Over a few months, steady moderate sessions do more for your fitness than one hard workout followed by a week of recovery.

2. Choose the right environment

Where you train makes more difference than most people expect. On a large gym floor nobody notices whether you turned up, and that makes skipping easy. In a smaller studio the coach knows your name after a couple of visits and can tweak a movement mid-class if something doesn’t feel right in your knees or lower back.

Our studios in Crouch End and Borough work this way. Experienced coaches lead each class and everyone else in the room is busy with their own workout.

3. Pick a class format that suits your mood

Think about what you’d enjoy doing on a Tuesday evening after work. Someone who dreads fast group classes probably won’t stick with one for long, however good it might be for them.

Hot yoga is popular with people who want to move and switch off from work in the same hour. Barre is low impact yet still works on strength and posture. After a long stretch of inactivity Reformer Pilates can be a good way back in because the machine supports you while the instructor guides each movement. Once you’ve chosen, book it straight away. Waiting a week to decide often turns into waiting a month.

4. Tell someone it’s your first time back

Mention to the coach that it’s your first class back. They won’t single you out in front of the room. What usually happens is a few extra cues during class and an alternative or two if a position doesn’t suit you yet. Most of the regulars around you will remember feeling just as nervous on their own first visit.

5. Give it three sessions before deciding

The first class tends to feel strange simply because you don’t know the moves or the routine yet. On your second visit some of it starts to look familiar. By the third many people realise they’re looking forward to it. A few of our regulars in Crouch End and Borough have told us they almost didn’t return after their first session, which is why we suggest booking three classes before you make up your mind.

Why a studio near you might be the answer

If you’ve been searching for a yoga studio near you in London or for beginner fitness classes that welcome people starting out, a boutique studio is worth a look. 3Tribes runs hot yoga, hot Pilates, barre, strength, spin and Reformer Pilates across two studios in Crouch End and one in Borough. With that many formats under one roof it’s easy to try something new once your first choice starts to feel routine.

Your next step

Booking the first class is the only decision you need to make today and no experience is needed. Create a free account so you can book classes at any of our studios and manage your passes in one place. The intro offers page lists the current options for new students.