By: Nicole Alrubaiy

I’ve done them all.

Handstand pushups in CrossFit classes. Running shoulder-to-shoulder in Barry’s and OrangeTheory. Stretching in hot yoga. Roundhouse kicks in BodyCombat. Bootcamps in the park. Group circuit classes where I spent half the workout trying to figure out where I was supposed to be.

Call me a group fitness junkie.

The truth is, I exercise more consistently when someone is expecting me to show up. A coach. A class. Friends. A routine.
Group fitness can be one of the best ways to build exercise into your life:

• a predictable schedule
• expert guidance
• variety
• accountability
• community

But if you’ve never walked into a class before, it can also feel intimidating.
What if everyone knows what they’re doing except me?
What if I can’t keep up?
What if I look ridiculous?
What if the coach is annoyed that I’m new?
I’ve had all of those thoughts.
And after years of trying different classes and gyms, I can tell you this:
Almost none of those fears become reality.

The biggest barrier is usually in your head
Those first few minutes before class starts can feel awkward. Everyone else seems to know each other. People are grabbing equipment. Chatting. Warming up.

Meanwhile, you’re trying to figure out where to stand.

But good gyms know this. Good coaches know this. And most people in class remember exactly what it felt like to be new.

Overwhelmingly, I’ve found that coaches are excited to see a new face, classmates are happy to help, and nobody expects you to know everything on day one.

At Axistence, we try to make that first experience feel easy and welcoming.

When you arrive, a coach will greet you, introduce themselves, and help you get oriented. Every class is coach-led from warm-up to cool-down, so you’re never left wondering what to do next. We explain movements, demonstrate technique, and help you adjust workouts to fit your current fitness level, injuries, or experience.

You do not need to “get in shape first” before coming to class.

That’s what class is for.

The coaches make a huge difference
I still remember my first time at Barry’s Bootcamp.

It was a packed class with nearly 40 people, but when I got to my treadmill there was a handwritten note welcoming me to my first class. During the workout, the coach introduced me to the room and everyone clapped.

It was such a small gesture, but it changed the entire experience. Instead of feeling like I was invading someone else’s space, I felt wanted there.
That’s the difference a good coach makes.

A great coach doesn’t just run a workout. They help people feel comfortable, capable, and successful. They explain movements clearly. They demonstrate. They answer questions without making people feel dumb for asking them.

At Axistence, coaching is one of the things we care most about.

We take time before every workout to explain the day’s movements and intended stimulus. We demo lifts and skills. We warm up together. And when needed, we help members scale workouts so they can move safely and confidently while still getting a great workout.

Whether someone is brand new, coming back after years away from exercise, recovering from injury, or training hard for mountain adventures, the goal is the same:
Help people build strength and stay healthy for the long haul.

When you feel connected, you keep coming back
The thing that surprised me most about group fitness wasn’t the workouts.
It was the relationships.

There’s a big difference between being anonymous in a room full of people and feeling genuinely known.

When I tell Joe or Lisa that I’ll see them Monday morning, that becomes the extra push that gets me out of bed at 5:30am. Sometimes we show up for other people before we’re fully ready to show up for ourselves.

That matters more than motivation.

At Axistence, connection is intentional. Our coaches introduce people to each other. Members know each other by name. We use warm-ups and conversation starters to help people interact naturally instead of awkwardly standing around waiting for class to begin.

Over time, the gym starts feeling less like a place you go to work out and more like a community you’re part of.

We celebrate birthdays. We host events like Murph and our annual Festivus party. We get outside together for hikes, skiing, and adventures. And when someone disappears from class for a few weeks, people notice. They’re missed.

That’s part of what makes showing up easier.

Final Thoughts
If you’ve been thinking about trying group fitness but feel intimidated, you are incredibly normal.

Almost everyone walks in nervous the first time.

The good news is that nobody expects perfection. You don’t need to know the terminology. You don’t need to be fit already. You don’t need the “right body type.”
You just need to show up.

And if you find the right gym, you may discover that the thing you came for — fitness — isn’t even the best part.

Georges Hebert, a pioneer of functional fitness and the ethic of preparing for "The Unknown and the Unknowable", articulated a powerful mantra "Be strong to be helpful." This principle arose
from his time as an officer in the French Navy.

While stationed near Martinique, a volcanic eruption devastated the town of St. Pierre. During the rescue effort, there was a stark difference
in people's abilities to aid others—some were robust and ready, while others were woefully unprepared. Many were saved, many more died. This experience led Hebert to devote his life to ensuring that, in times of crisis, more people would fall into the capable category.
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Hebert's aim wasn't about looking good or becoming an elite athlete. It was about being capable—ready to serve, respond, and save lives in a volatile world. Today, we live in an era of unprecedented peace and stability compared to the hardships of Hebert’s time, which included world wars, global depression, and widespread famine. While some modern fitness trends may claim to be preparing for apocalyptic scenarios, the truth is, you don’t want to live in the world Hebert was responding to.