Finding Your Community

One of the amazing things about our world of fitness and movement is the community that’s been created. Community is simply people who are considered as a unit because of their common interests. We love to move, we want to find others who love the same, so we find a way to reach out and unite. There are friendships and connections that wouldn’t have been built without the passion shared for working towards the same goal. The strong support system that’s evolved to help one another become the best version of ourselves.

Communities come in all shapes and sizes. They range from small individual gyms which form a family dynamic, to global networks including people from all over the world. So how can being part of a community be a benefit?

If you’re a newcomer to training and are unsure of where to start, then finding other people with a similar goal is a great way to keep motivated and inspired. We’ve all experienced the initial excitement of starting a programme or joining a gym, and then a couple of weeks in momentum is lost, and it’s hard to get back in to the swing of things. We aren’t all able to self motivate, and a lot of us don’t want to hide away training alone. Finding a community that you feel you fit in to, and that fits your needs, can make such a difference. Let’s look at some of the movement and training communities out there.

The Gym Community.

Whether it’s a Crossfit gym, a Parkour gym, or a Globo gym, you get to know the familiar faces. Members become friends. Even as a coach, it’s impossible not to form friendships, and I consider my gym a family. This has been built by the coaches putting effort into teaching, the students wanting to learn, and taking the time to show an interest in one another. Many people join gyms for the social aspect and to meet new people. These are tiny groups full of love and support.

The Online Community.

This is how connections with people we’ve never even met develop. GMB’s online community is Alpha Posse. It’s a place for like minded people who enjoy moving and training, and is so welcoming to anyone and everyone. Being part of AP gives you access to programmes and resources, you can create a training log and share your training, ask questions, and generally have fun. The GMB Trainers are there for support and advice. One of the most important things is that there’s no judgement. And what’s really special about Alpha Posse is the relationships that have been created through the ability to share and interact with one another in such an encouraging, motivating and safe space.

The Social Media Community.

This is the medium in which the biggest community has been created. We all know social media can have a negative impact on people. It’s easy to compare yourself to others. You see some cool movement or a skill that you’re unable to do, or something better than what you’re capable of, and it can knock your confidence. You might feel reluctant to share your training. But I’d encourage you to share. On the flip side, challenges are set, games are played, and it becomes all about the fun. People can get involved and challenge one another to create movement practices and develop them beyond what they thought was possible. Instagram, for example, is a fantastic tool for this. Without social media we wouldn’t have so many people to share what we love with and constantly inspire.

The Trainer Community.

Trainers are a community within themselves, and if you ever feel becoming a Trainer is something you want to pursue then you’ll naturally become part of this. If you already are a Trainer and new to teaching, then just like someone new to training, a good support system is important. As a GMB Trainer I’m part of a group of people who want to help one another become better at what they do as their occupation. We have an online forum for interacting with one another since we’re based all over the world. A huge aspect of our community is communication and sharing. Teaching ideas and tips, making suggestions for improvements on how to coach specific movements, or sharing helpful cues. Our job is to help and guide people, and that starts from guiding one another as Trainers.

When it comes to fitness, getting started can be the hardest part. We never know exactly what’s right for us until we try it, and this applies to training. But sometimes it’s just about having the right people around us. A little bit of guidance and reassurance that we’re on track. And like I said before, finding what fits.

Looking at the bigger picture, although we train for ourselves, we’re one of so many people who are working towards the same goal. Being part of this amazing community of movement, fitness, whatever you want to call it, is something to be proud of. Make the most of everyone around you, whether it’s your student, your training partner, or your friend on the other side of the world. We need to utilise our communities to continue becoming better and better at training, and at life.