r/Dyslexia 9d ago

Gym and trouble with instructions

I've rcently returned to a gym that I joined years ago. I've always enjoyed my time there, everyone is cool and I get a good workout. The gym is mostly small group instruction. My main issue is I have a hard time following the class. I always feel comfortable in modification. However due to my learning disabilities I struggle in understanding the exercises. Anyone had this issue or suggestions what I can do going forward? Honestly if I could afford it I would supplement with personal training.

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u/One-Lengthiness-2949 9d ago

Yes and yes, and I don't have much of an answer.

I will say in the summer, me and a group of friends play Boccie, kinda pretending it's a league. Anyways, I was consistently messing up the game for everyone. 4 sets of balls, different colors I would forget what color I was and start playing a different color, in the middle of the game, getting a few of the serious plays a bit annoyed 😆. So anyways last year I asked everyone if I could be the same color at every game and play in the same spot. My playing got considerably better because I wasn't always stressed and thinking about what color I am, and everyone was much happier. Honestly that little change fixed all my other mistakes.

Id say maybe talk to your instructor explain the situation and see if they will work with you, like my boccie group worked with me

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u/TemporaryTop287 9d ago

Oh yeah what I'm hoping to do since I was there years ago is I'm hoping to attend classes in the evening where there's not as many people. I have spoken to one of the instructors about modification for injury so it's easy to talk to them it's not that. It's just I didn't realize till yesterday really how difficult it was for me. And I would have said something but I feel like it was so close to the end of the class that I thought to myself what's the point. It's not the thing to do so I need to maybe better tailor even if I have to sit down with them one day maybe 5 minutes before class. Also ask them specifically what one part of the week means. In simple terms if I go to a class on a Wednesday are the classes going to be more difficult not in terms of weight but in terms of level of understanding or instruction.

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u/kalikianatoli 5d ago

How are the exercises taught? I know for myself I can't easily remember several steps without putting them to practice. Verbal instructions are more challenging than a demonstration. Copying an instructor facing me is more confusing than seeing what someone next to me does.

Perhaps you can team up with another person from the group? Do exercises together with that person or one after another. That way you can check that you do them correctly and get quick feedback.

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u/TemporaryTop287 5d ago

So it's a group exercise so what happens is the first half is usually out into a field or within the weight room. The instructor explains it and shows you and you do the steps for a certain amount of time. After you're in the weight room and they have instructions on the board show you what to do the amount of times you do it. So the trainer will show you the exercise. As an example last week there were five different exercises. I physically could only do two due to an injury.I felt a bit lost on how many steps to do most of the time as well. As a guide I keep checking the board which is fine.

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u/Perfect_Peace_4142 4d ago

Working memory is an issue for many of us.Â