Top 20 questions & concerns beginners have before joining a class - Q&A
Now, you read that title correct. It’s 20 questions and concerns people ask us or have before joining one of our classes. Why 20 only? My friend, I have so many of them that we better start with 20 for now. But let’s take it step by step, because we are here to support you in your journey of becoming the best version of yourself. Or how others would say it “✨That Girl✨”
1. Never took a class before or never been to a gym. Where do I start?
First step, enroll to one of our classes and start by walking through our door! Sounds like a solid first step. But being serious now, our super friendly instructors are great at guiding newbies. They are super supportive and are here for you. Literally, they are here for you :) Think of it like joining a new family where everyone wants to see you succeed.
2. What if I sweat a lot during classes?
That would be a good sign if you do during our classes, means they work! It’s a normal process to sweat and each body has different ways of how they do it. Some sweat more, some less. I sweat like fountain during my first 5 minutes, so I make sure I bring a towel with me every time and have a bottle of water because you need to stay hydrated when you sweat a lot. Our classes are judgement-free. Nobody will even say an extra word about that and we all understand that everybody has different bodies and needs.
3. Do I even need to take a class to get into my desired shape?
Of course not, my friend. All you need to start taking care of your body is walk. Sounds like a good small step right? Because that’s more than enough to get started. Start walking everyday. And once you get to a certain level, classes are just a great way to keep going. We all come to classes to be part of this small family and assist everyone with their journeys.
4. Do I need to bring my own yoga mat or towel?
You don’t need to bring a yoga mat, we will give you one for your class. And if you are concerned about cleanliness, they are disinfected and well-cleaned after each session. But hey, you can always bring yours if you want to. The rest of equipment is covered by us, so don’t worry about that. On the other hand, if you require a towel, that might be a great item to bring. Also, your water bottle (it’s ok if you don’t as we can offer you a cup of water too).
5. I feel uncomfortable when there’s a lot of people around me
And you know what? That is soo freaking totally fine. I am tired o big classes myself. Twenty to thirty people in a yoga class? Give me a break. I prefer my peace of mind over anything else. How can you even practice mindfulness when you have so many people in a class? Or how can you even offer personal guidance to students this way? That’s why our groups are super small from 4 to 6 people. So you will always have room for yourself and feel welcome in all our classes. With small classes our instructors can take care of every student.
6. I don't have enough time to exercise. How can I fit it into my busy schedule?
Life is busy, I get it. But there’s also some good news. Our classes are scheduled throughout the day to find a spot that works for you. Whether you want to squeeze in a workout before work, at lunch or after work in the evening. We have it all. Even one hour can be your 'me-time'. Try to prioritise “me-time” at least 30 to 60 minutes a day. This way you can always stay in shape and mindful.
7. How often should I exercise or come to classes?
Let’s be honest here. Exercising 1 time a week is most likely not going to give you the results you want. If you are a beginner, doing at least 2-3 classes is where you will see some results with time. Usually the results are visible after first month.
8. How often should I rest?
If you asked yourself previous question, then most likely you don’t need an answer to this one. First, ensure that you are getting the adequate amount of excersise, which is at least 30 minutes a day or if you go for long classes like ours, it’s usually 60 minutes. And if you are consistently going to classes, we recommend taking a day in-between. But, always listen to your body, and we mean listen to it not when you feel lazy and don’t want to do something. I mean listen to your body when it’s tired and it really requires some rest. Either way, our classes are not going to get you super tired so it’s safe to come at least 3 times a weak for best results. Honestly, we are afraid that you might like them a little bit too much.
9. I find exercise boring. How can I make it more enjoyable?
Well, what can I say. Say goodbye to boredom! :D Boredom is the last thing you will hear if you join our Barre class that includes so many moves that you will barely have time to think. If you are a person that easily gets bored, our Barre classes are the perfect fit for you. Then it comes to Pilates and Yoga are more mindful and stretchy. Our instructors ensure that each workout is different so you have always something new to learn.
10. I'm self-conscious about how I look when exercising. Any tips?
I already wrote this above, but I want to make sure you understood me right. Our studio is a judgement-free zone. We’re here to help you achieve your goals and our instructors know that. We all join classes to become a better version of ourselves and we are here to assist you. If you have specific concerns, you can always tell that to our instructor and they will assist you.
11. I'm too tired to exercise after work. How can I find the energy?
It might sound stupid, but here is the truth. Exercise is meant to give you energy. If it doesn’t it means you are doing it wrong or there might be some underlying issues. Our classes are meant to boost your energy level. Literally, have you tried our Barre yet? Think of our classes as a power-up station. You might come in tired, but you'll leave energised. It’s like being a phone on 1% and leaving on 100%.
12. I feel too lazy to exercise. How can I motivate myself?
Who doesn’t? Even I after so many years still feel lazy sometimes. But there is two ways to approach this. First and most important, set super small, achievable goals and treat yourself for meeting them. For example, don’t come to our classes first. This is a big leap. We recommend you start with daily walks. For example, take a daily 10-30 minute walk. Then after a week or two gradually increase that time. You get the point. Goals have to be super small until you get to something big. It's the little wins that lead to big victories. But remember, sometimes, you really have to make yourself do it because there is nobody else that will show up for yourself. I believe that you have the strength to show up for yourself. So do it.
13. I want to improve my conditioning. What should my workout routine include?
A mix of Pilates for core strength, Barre for toning, and Yoga for flexibility. It’s like the ultimate fitness cocktail, shaken not stirred. James Bond are u here? Did you get the joke? No? Yes? Oh dear… Ok, getting back to your question. We recommend you start with Barre classes and then continue with some pilates as these are the best to build that core and condition. We include small parts where we focus on high repetition to increase your resistance. This way your heart keeps pumping more blood and with time it will get stronger. Like my passion for good food. Anyways.
14. Will Barre/Pilates work for me if I'm not very fit?
Solid 100% yes! Did you want to ask me anything else? :) Ok, here is the deal. Our classes are perfect for building your fitness foundation brick by brick. It’s like leveling up in a game, at your own pace. You won’t recognize your body after two solid months of pilates and barre. It will be a totally different person. The best version of yourself.
15. Can I join classes if I have joint pain or injuries?
Yes. First of all, you should always let our instructors know of any known issues you might have so they can adjust to your level. Second, our classes are super soft on your joints and even help you make them stronger. Joints get weaker and start hurting when they are not trained. You have to learn to train and stretch them properly so you can get stronger with time. Our classes are literally designed for that.
16. Is it possible to practice similar classes at home if I can't attend studio classes?
Have you heard of YouTube or our 7 Day Pilates Challenge? All jokes aside, if you can’t ever join a class, we recommend you do the workouts at home. Whether you remembered them from our classes or are watching one on YouTube. We don’t care as long as you work out. Your body needs movement so please do it every day. Not attending a class means you should do it at home. Stay disciplined and responsible :)
17. What should I wear to my first class?
Wear something comfy that lets you move freely, like leggings and a tank top. Let it feel similar to your cozy Sunday but for sweating. Our studio is warm, in case you have cold feet all the time. If something, let us know and we can turn the heat up :)
18. What if I can't do an exercise I am showed during a class?
No stress baby! Our instructors are here to offer alternatives. Just say that you can’t do an exercise (but before that will ever happen, our instructors will notice it) and we will offer alternatives. There’s always a simplified version of a move before you can even do the advanced one. So you can gradually grow your strength, mobility and core.
19. What if I am overweight or maybe a little bit too heavy?
Again, our classes are judgement free. Second, you are more than welcome to come because we are here to assist you. If you didn’t do any proper movement before we suggest beginning with some Yoga classes for light workouts and then take some Pilates and Barre to get things going. Also, you should realise that the process for your might take longer compared to others and that’s normal. All I want to ask you is that you have patience and trust the process. If you will entrust us with your body, we can assist you with the right program. Just get in touch with us via email or instagram and we will help you. Otherwise, you need to do at least 3 workouts a week (with 1 to 2 days rest) to begin with and then slowly increase the amount to 4 with time.
20. What if I just gave birth and want to get into shape?
First of call, congratulations on your newborn. Secondly, you will have to put in a bit of extra work to get back in shape if you didn’t previously exercise a lot. Does that mean that it will be impossible to get back into previous shape? Absolutely not! You can do it. But let’s be honest, it requires more work and time invested. So you will need to do at least 3 workouts a week and then gradually increase to 4. We recommend, if you are a beginner, to start with some Yoga for improved flexibility and then move on to Pilates and Barre to get that stubborn places disappear. And, please, don’t forget to eat well as that’s also a critical part. In any case, shoot us a message and we will guide you based on your current situation.
That was a long list of questions and concerns some of you might have before joining a class. If we didn’t address them all, send us an email with what you want us to discuss in the next article or write us a message on instagram @mokoboko_studio. See you at our next lesson! <3
