The Myth of Readiness: Why You Don’t Need to Be “Ready” to Begin Strength Training

We hear it all the time…

“I just need to get a bit fitter first.”
“I’ll start once work slows down.”
“I want to feel more confident before I book in.”

And it makes sense.

Starting something new, especially something as personal and physical as strength training, can feel intimidating. Most people don’t feel ready. So, they wait.

They wait until they have the perfect window of time. Until they lose a few kilos. Until they find the motivation. Until they feel like they’re the kind of person who goes to the gym.

But what if we told you that readiness is a myth?

That waiting to feel “ready” might be the very thing holding you back from the change you’re craving?

Because here’s the truth: no one really feels ready. Not at first. The people you see lifting confidently in the studio now? Most of them walked through the doors for the first time with doubts of their own.

Readiness is a moving target

When you place the condition of “readiness” on something, you turn it into a finish line that keeps shifting further away. You end up in a cycle of postponement, constantly chasing an idea of a better version of yourself before you give yourself permission to start.

And that’s the problem. “Ready” becomes the requirement, when in reality, it should be the result. Confidence, motivation, clarity,  these things come through doing. Through showing up. Through building trust in yourself over time.

The people who succeed in training aren’t the ones who waited until everything was perfect. They’re the ones who got uncomfortable and did it anyway.

We see it every day.

When Dare client, Bronny, stepped into DARE, she wasn’t chasing a finish line, she was looking for something that finally felt like it fit.

After a few tough years navigating stress, long hours, and feeling out of sync with her body, she was ready for a shift. Not a quick fix. Not perfection. Just something real.

She’d trained before, but it was always stop-start, no structure, no real support. This time was different.

With a program tailored to her and a coach who understood her rhythm, it all started to come together, her body, her mindset, her momentum.

This isn’t a one-off story. They’re common. They’re real. They’re exactly what happens when you let go of the idea of being ready and simply begin.

So what’s different about strength training at DARE?

It starts with our approach. At DARE, we offer personal training that doesn’t start with a list of expectations. It starts with a conversation.

We get to know you – not just your goals, but your lifestyle, your mindset, your roadblocks, your story. Whether you’re brand new to training, coming back after a long break, or deepening your commitment to upper body workouts, we meet you where you are.

There’s no pressure to perform. No comparison. No one-size-fits-all programs. Just people. Moving forward, at their own pace, with support and structure that adapts to them.

We train people –  not just bodies.

That might sound like a tagline, but it’s the truth. And it’s the reason so many people walk through our doors and say they finally feel like they’ve found the right place.

What does starting look like?

It might look like walking in after months (or years) of hesitation.

It might look like taking that first deep breath before a session.

It might look like asking for help, even when it feels uncomfortable.

You don’t need to prove anything. You don’t need to look a certain way. You don’t need to feel confident or energetic or even motivated. You just need to show up.

Because once you do, we’re with you every step.

The proof is in the progress

One of the most powerful parts of this work is what happens over time. We see people who once doubted their ability, now setting alarms for early sessions because they look forward to them. We see people encouraging others in our community. We see people who thought they’d try it for a month, now celebrating a year of consistent training.

And through it all, they’ve grown, not just physically, but mentally. Because when you feel safe, when you feel supported, and when you feel like you belong… everything changes.

This is the power of strength training when it’s built around the individual – and based on presence, not pressure.

So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign…

This is it.

You don’t have to get stronger before you start.
You get stronger because you start.

Come as you are.

Ready to move?
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