Starting at PureGym Altrincham: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve just signed up to PureGym Altrincham, but you’re not sure what to do on your first visit. Or maybe you’re still debating joining, and the thought of walking into a gym feels a bit daunting.

Either way, I want to talk you through getting familiar with the gym and show you that you don’t need to have everything worked out before you start.

I’m Jon, one of the personal trainers at PureGym Altrincham. Here’s what I’d recommend to someone coming in for the first time.

Book a free Getting Started session

My first recommendation is to download the PureGym app and book yourself onto a Getting Started session.

You can book classes through the app, but this isn’t a workout class you need to keep up with. It’s a free, 30-minute session with one of our PTs to help you get familiar with the gym.

We can take you around, show you how equipment works and have a chat about what you want to get out of your training. If there’s something you’d like to try, let us know and we can help you get started.

You can ask questions throughout. You don’t need to know the names of the machines or turn up with a programme already written.

Doing this on your first visit means that next time you come in, you’ll recognise the space and have a better idea of where to go.

Want to try weights? Book Learn to Lift

Another session worth looking for in the app is Learn to Lift, which is also free.

Say you’ve joined because you want to learn how to bench press, but you’ve never done it before. You can book onto Learn to Lift, tell the PT what you’d like help with and get shown how to do it.

It doesn’t have to be bench press. You might want help with squats, deadlifts or another lift you’re unsure about.

Up to four people can book onto a session (very rarely more than one person books on though), so it’s a small-group setting. It gives you an opportunity to practise and ask questions with a PT there to guide you.

Check the app for available sessions and times.

Don’t worry about being the least experienced person there

One of the biggest worries people have is that everyone will be watching them or judging them.

From my experience working here, PureGym Altrincham is a welcoming gym. People are at all sorts of different stages with their training.

Try not to compare your starting point with someone who’s been training for years. The person confidently lifting weights next to you had a first day too.

Most people are focused on their own workout. They might glance around between sets, but that doesn’t mean they’re assessing what you’re doing.

You don’t need to get fitter before joining a gym. Getting started is how you build that fitness and confidence.

Start with equipment you feel comfortable using

You don’t have to head straight to the barbells on your first visit.

A treadmill, bike or cross trainer can be a comfortable place to start. Spend a few minutes warming up and getting used to being in the gym. It also gives you a chance to look around without feeling like you need to rush into something.

For strength training, machines are a perfectly good option. Free weights aren’t automatically better, and using machines doesn’t mean you’re doing a lesser workout.

You might spot someone using a machine and get an idea of what it does. But don’t assume their technique is correct just because they look confident.

If you’re unsure how to adjust the seat, choose a weight or perform the exercise, ask a member of the gym team when they’re available. That’s a much better starting point than guessing.

Use the first few weeks to build a habit

Your first few weeks don’t need to be about making the most amazing progress ever.

They’re about getting through the door, becoming comfortable with the equipment and building a routine you can keep doing.

If your goal is strength, a couple of full-body workouts each week can be a straightforward starting point. You don’t need a complicated split or a different workout every visit.

If your main goal is improving your cardiovascular fitness, you can start with manageable sessions on the cardio equipment and gradually build up the time or effort.

What you do should reflect your goals and how often you can realistically come in. Start with something manageable, then build on it.

Ask for help—you’re not bothering us

Please don’t worry about asking a “silly” question.

We get questions about everything from adjusting a machine to where things are in the gym. Nobody expects you to know it all when you’ve just started.

Getting Started and Learn to Lift are good opportunities to get that initial help. If you’d like more ongoing support, personal training can give you a plan, help you learn the exercises and take some of the guesswork out of your sessions.

That’s something I help people with at PureGym Altrincham: building confidence, learning how to train and progressing towards their own goals.

If you’d like to chat about getting started, get in touch through Landin Health & Fitness or say hello when you see me in the gym.

You don’t need to know what you’re doing before you ask. That’s the whole point of asking.

Remember, there are no silly questions, but asking no questions is silly.