When you want to get better at guitar, you take guitar lessons. You don't say to yourself, "I'll teach myself guitar until I'm good enough that I can take guitar lessons." You're not burdening the guitar teacher—that's literally what the teacher does... teach!
When you want to work through a challenging emotional process, you call a therapist. You don't say, "I have to work through this by myself before I qualify to get help." The therapist isn't annoyed that you called—he or she is thrilled to work with you because that's why they went into the profession: to work with people like you.
So why would you say, "I need to be in better shape before I join a gym"?
It doesn't make sense. The gym is where you go to gain those skills. The coach went through hours of training, found joy in helping people get better, found fulfillment in having people stand on his or her shoulders, made mistake after mistake, and now wants to give back by helping others avoid those same mistakes.
I have to think that the voice in your head telling you to delay is the voice of fear, trying to protect you from an uncomfortable process.
So, the old thought experiment: What would you do if you had no fear? What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
"I might get hurt..." You can get hurt stepping off a curb. People throw their backs out sneezing or rolling over in bed... you might as well do that but be in awesome shape.
"It'll be expensive..." You can spend $150 on dinner and drinks without thinking twice. A pair of kettlebells costs $150—we bought them so you don't have to.
"The other place is cheaper..." Yeah, but will you go? You might spend $80 a month just to do one workout that takes way too long. You can spend less per workout at VS and have it be fun, kick your ass, and be educational every single time (not to mention working with a professional trainer).
Here's the truth you can speak to that voice in your head: Thank you for trying to protect me. Thank you for serving me with caution and discernment. But what's on the other side of taking action isn't pain—it's progress. It's momentum, it's learning, it's change, it's confidence over time.
Here's the thing, you're not weak or silly or "not ready" for thinking about asking for help—you're smart and proactive for finding a guide.
VashonStrong: you don't have to earn your spot here or be "fit enough" to start. The gym isn't a test you have to pass, it's a place to grow.
I'm a huge procrastinator. I can relate to putting things off. But I can also tell you that I've found coaches, therapists, and teachers to consistently be money well spent, with HUGE return on investment. Hire the guitar teacher, and you'll be playing that open mic way faster than if you self-taught, that's a promise.
If you're tired of waiting, the gym is here for you and ready when you are.
Best,
Josh