What Happens When an Exercise Doesn’t Fit You?

By Eric Morris · Great Bay Strength & Conditioning · Newington, NH

One concern about joining a group class is easy to understand: “What happens if I cannot do the exercise everyone else is doing?”

At Great Bay Strength & Conditioning in Newington, you can tell your coach when a movement feels unfamiliar, too demanding or uncomfortable. The shared workout is a starting structure for coaching; it does not remove the need to pay attention to the person doing it.

Tell us what does not fit

You do not need technical language to ask for help. “I do not understand this movement,” “This feels like too much today,” or “I am worried about trying this” gives your coach useful information.

If something hurts, stop that movement and tell the coach. Do not assume that finishing the prescribed repetitions matters more than communicating what you are experiencing.

Your history also matters. Share what you want us to understand before starting, including any relevant restrictions or guidance you already have. We can discuss whether the class format is appropriate rather than making that decision from a brief description alone.

What an adjustment can look like

Depending on the person and the purpose of the session, a coach may consider a different load, a simpler movement variation, a different amount of work or another exercise option. These are possibilities to discuss with your coach, not instructions to choose an exercise change for a particular condition.

For example, someone learning an unfamiliar movement may need clearer instruction and a manageable version before adding difficulty. Someone who wants more individualized programming may need a different training format. Those are different situations, and the response should reflect that.

What members have described

Andrea C. shared this in a Google review:

“Workouts and movements can be modified as needed so that you never feel turned away from a class.”

— Andrea C., Google review, shared with permission

That is Andrea’s experience of the support she received. It is not a guarantee that every limitation can be accommodated in a group class. The appropriate starting point depends on what you need.

Group options and individualization serve different needs

In a group session, the coach can help you explore options within the shared workout. Semi-private coaching offers more individualized programming for people who want that level of tailoring.

Asking for an exercise option does not automatically mean you need semi-private. Equally, you should not have to fit a shared program if a more individualized approach would better serve you. Our comparison of large-group and semi-private coaching explains the distinction.

You can ask before joining

Our complimentary Capacity Introduction is a conversation, not a workout or a medical assessment. It gives us time to hear what matters to you, discuss the coaching options and identify questions that need answering before you start.

Coaching does not replace care from an appropriate healthcare professional. When a concern falls outside our role, we will need to recognize that rather than promise that a workout modification solves it.

Tell Eric what you would like us to understand about your starting point. We will make time to hear your concerns and discuss the next step.