Overcoming Fear of the Barbell

Picture this…. It’s beautiful summer morning, you’re hanging out with 4 of your friends. Your body is warm, your heart rate is up. You step up to the barbell as it sit’s patiently waiting for you on the gym floor. You dig your two feet into the ground, you grip the bar, and rip that sucker off the ground with all your might. To us…this is pure bliss.

Over the last 4 months we’ve watched client after client in our group training sessions embrace this experience. The Barbell can be intimidating. But at the same time it can be empowering. In this blog we’re going give you 3 thoughts on how you can overcome the fear of the barbell.

It’s Just A Barbell

This may seem a bit reductionist. But it’s true. Many of us create this idea in our head that because it’s a barbell it means It’s beyond our ability. I understand where this feeling comes from. You can witness many videos on the internet were people are using a barbell incorrectly and injure themselves. You may also get some overcomplicated explanations around how you must have this “perfect” form first before ever picking up a barbell.

Now we aren’t saying that you should load up a barbell and just start ripping it off the floor without any proper guidance. But, on the flip side, it really isn’t rocket science and most people can not only use a barbell but thrive on it early in their strength training journey.

Clients are often surprised when we have them deadlift for the first time and they realize it’s more challenging for them to pick up their child from the floor than deadlift a barbell.

The perception of the barbell "being scary” far outweighs the reality.

Learn through failure

The ironic thing about fearing the barbell is that the only way you actually get better at using the barbell is by doing it more frequently. Because people have this idea that they must be absolutely perfect before using a barbell, they never go through the learning process of:

trying—> failing—> adjusting—> trying—> failing—>adjusting

Whenever you are a beginner at any skill you must go through this process. Every single person who has ever picked up a barbell has failed. A lot of “fear” in a new skill comes from the unknown of how engaging in said skill will go for them. If you remind yourself that it’s just a barbell, and that everyone has to fail in order to succeed it can give you the freedom to step up to the bar and explore your abilities.

Which leads me to my last point.

You’re more capable than you think

Our favourite part about teaching people how to use a barbell is when they come to the realization that they’re capable of way more than they ever thought possible. There’s something special about this moment that’s hard to describe. It’s almost like a switch is flipped in their mind. It often doesn’t take too long for them to get to that point.

We often underestimate our abilities and tend to put ourselves into boxes. The confidence that comes from breaking out of this box and proving to yourself you’re capable of more than you think is empowering. We often get to see peoples confidence levels shoot through the roof after they realize there’s nothing to be scared of when it comes to the barbell.

If you want some proof of this. Check out one of our small group training members go from never picking up a barbell in her life to deadlifting her body weight multiple times!

In summary

Fear is normal. We all experience it. But you can’t let fear hold you back from experiencing something that can change your life. In our opinion overcoming the fear of the barbell can do this for you. Developing this confidence can and will impact you in many aspects of your life.

We say this with confidence because we get to witness it on a daily basis with the members in our small group training sessions. Like we said earlier. That feeling of stepping up to the barbell, digging in your feet, and ripping that bar off the floor….

Is pure bliss!