New to GoodGym? Read this.

Starting something new can be an intimidating and uncomfortable experience. You’ve searched around for a suitable alternative to the gym and stumbled across GoodGym - congratulations, you’ve found what you’re looking for.

It’s normal if you’re feeling a little unsure about session no. 1, or wondering whether this ‘do good and get fit’ thing is even for you - spoiler, it is. Nevertheless, we’ve compiled the advice from GoodGymers Sheila, Abi, and Anwen, 3 incredible individuals to have hit a lifetime total of 500+ good deeds in the latter half of 2023. They will reflect on their success within GoodGym, sharing their advice for newcomers as you enter the fun, quirky and impactful way to get active that is GoodGym.

“It‘s definitely different here at GoodGym. The GoodGym way of combining fitness with volunteering is like a flash-mod. You get in, get on with it, and get out”, Anwen suggests, when discussing what it’s like to attend a group session. Anwen is an area activator, meaning she, alongside her hard-working TaskForce, manages all GoodGym activities within her local area of Oxford.

Contrary to the flash mob you’re thinking of, GoodGym focuses more on lending a helping hand to a practical community project, and less on the dancing. Your warm up is a run/walk/cycle to the location, and likely the same back to your original meeting point after the task is complete.

Sheila and the GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead group celebrate her reaching 500 good deeds

What to expect

Friendly faces, a warm welcome and no pressure to do anything you’re not comfortable with. GoodGym has an ethos of ‘no one is left behind’, and we mean it. Tasks vary… a lot. Anwen once found herself at an on-the-water litter pick, after networking with a local canoeing club. The club recently invited GoodGymers back for a training session so they can better use the canoes for next time. Abi recalls a garden clean turned magic show, “It was a simple garden clean up that took us about 20 minutes; we stayed for another 3 hours being shown magic tricks and the different animals he’d rescued. You wouldn’t believe some of the things you end up doing”.

All GoodGym sessions are listed in advance on the website. You can see what’s going on in your local area here.

Nothing puts off a GoodGymer from getting the job done, not even a cold wintery night

So what’s their advice?

“Just go!” Anwen summarises, “I don’t think people ever regret coming along”. Abi goes one step further, admitting “GoodGym has helped me through 2 moves to a new city, and is the basis for many relationships in my life today, including how I met my partner!”. GoodGym x Tinder perhaps?

The incredible individuals within GoodGym will make your experiences memorable. You’ll be welcomed from the moment you arrive and all thoughts of anxiety will disappear as you get stuck into the warm up. “It’s such a welcoming and friendly group”, Sheila explains, “It’s not just the other GoodGymers, you get to know the task owners as well, they all become your friends after some time”.

January is the perfect time to get stuck in, whether you’re completely new here or you’ve been waiting for the right time - the time is now. The natural uptake at the beginning of the year means you’re likely to be with other first-timers too. On top of that, your area activator, such as Anwen, will be on the lookout for new faces to ensure your buddied up and getting involved in the task straight away.

Get involved:

• Find a session near you

• Find out about GoodGym in your area