How to workout outside and not think about the stares of passersby. 5 tips from a trainer

The warm season is made for outdoor exercise. But what if you feel awkward and embarrassed going out for an evening jog? We’ve gathered some expert tips to help you cope with your emotions and have a productive workout outdoors.

Why we depend on other people’s opinions

amateur athlete, engineer

The problem isn’t training specifically. When a person is immersed in thoughts of what others will think of him – this is a fairly common phenomenon inherent in many residents of megacities. It is likely that the root of the problem lies in the usual lack of communication.

If we do not communicate much or interact with others only by necessity, for example, in the office, then we are generally stiff. In this case, we are psychologically limited to a set of everyday functions that operate on automatism.

In addition, Soviet upbringing also puts a deep imprint on the subconscious. Remember what truths are put into a child’s head from a young age. In particular, kindergartens, schools and universities constantly instill in a growing person the understanding that he or she is always being evaluated by others. And they do it from the position of experts: grades for knowledge at school, coursework and exams at university. And later the same thing happens at work, but only in the person of higher management.

As a result, an automatic program is formed in the subconscious mind, which is triggered at any moment when we are busy with something in the presence of others. At the same time, all the evaluations we go through are rarely connected with getting comfort, rather the opposite. Think of how anxious we get before a quiz, test, exam, or promotion. So much so, practicing in the park causes the same unconscious tension.

To be less dependent on other people’s opinions, you need to communicate more, and with strangers. It is better to do it in public places: ask for the time, clarify the route or even give a compliment. Such actions will help you get out of your comfort zone, which, in turn, will create a release of emotional resources. So you can be more open, liberated and stop wondering what others will think of you.

An additional plus is that so you will learn to do non-standard things, to go beyond your routine actions. And gradually get rid of the dependence on being evaluated by someone from the outside, as you decide what to do, surrounding yourself with a variety of new situations. And shyness when practicing on the street will become a trifle and after a while will cause you nothing but a smile.

Overcome insecurity will help and another way – read more about it in the article at the link below.

How to overcome shyness and train on the street

fitness manager of Pride Fitness chain of fitness clubs

How to stop feeling shy about exercising outside? There are several ways to deal with the problem.

Focus on the goal. Ask yourself: why do I exercise – to maintain a healthy lifestyle or to attract the attention of passersby? If you want to get rid of obsessive thoughts and calmly train on the street, I advise you to concentrate on doing exercises, muscle work and proper breathing. Then you will reach your goal faster.

Find like-minded people. Offer friends or colleagues to keep you company – it will be much easier to distract yourself from shyness. And even if passers-by look in your direction, their attention will not be focused specifically on you.

Exercise on a sports field. Training in a special zone, you seem to “dissolve” among other athletes. And it is important to note that all your efforts are visible only to you. High heart rate, redness, drops of sweat on your face can cause embarrassment, but people on the court do not pay attention to it.

Practice in the morning. If you still can’t get away from the stares, try practicing early in the morning. It may be hard to get up at 6 or 7 a.m. at first, but there are few people outdoors at those hours, which means you’ll enjoy your workout – and no embarrassment.

Be sure to motivate others to exercise. Imagine that by doing your workout outside, you can inspire someone else to give it a try. After all, you found the strength to put on a sports uniform and give an hour, half an hour, even 15 minutes of exercise – and that is already worthy of respect.

The advantage of exercising outdoors is that you don’t need any equipment or a gym membership. Together with blogger Yana Logvina, we told you how to properly train outdoors. Read in the article below.