Turns out, sweating with strangers was exactly what I needed.
I realised recently that my solo gym sessions had gotten soft: half-hearted reps, long pauses, too much self preservation and really just not a lot of effort. I decided it was time to try something different and completely out my comfort zone.
I signed up for some classes over at Funktion Gym, first up was the Strength class. I was met with Damon, who ran us through five-minute stations, each focused on a different set of movements. By the end of the class, my legs were trembling, sweat was dripping into my eyes and I was already thinking about when I could come back. Now, I thought I was in fairly good shape but my god, I was humbled. The beauty of the class is you are in competition with yourself. It is as hard as you want to make it.
Then came the Dance Class, led by Steph. I’ve always told myself I had two left feet and avoided anything choreographed. Feeling inspired by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, I decided to channel my inner Kellie and give it a go.
Walking in, I was greeted by a group of women who immediately reassured me they were just as rhythmically challenged. The music started, Steph had us pumping our arms and shaking our hips. I was consistently about three seconds behind everyone else, bumping into people and turning the wrong way, but I was dancing. And laughing. And sweating. It was unserious in the best way, and the kind of cardio that sneaks up on you.
Both classes couldn’t have been more different, but they shared the same underlying theme, movement without judgment. Exercise doesn’t need to be intimidating. Gyms don’t have to feel exclusive or performative. At Funktion, the focus is simple: show up and do what you can. It’s a space that quietly proves what fitness should be – not punishment or ego, but instead community and just feeling strong in your own skin.
Funktion Fitness, 9 Castle St, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3BT
