English For: The Gym
In my online English lessons, I help you speak naturally and confidently about fitness — joining a gym, talking to trainers, describing routines, and keeping motivated, all in clear, practical British English.
Useful Phrases and Idioms (At the Gym)
- Joining: “I’d like to sign up for a membership.” / “Do you have student discounts?”
- Training: “Could you show me how to use this machine?” / “I’m working on my core strength.”
- Motivation: “I’m trying to get back into shape.” / “I go to the gym three times a week.”
- Idioms: “No pain, no gain” (you need effort to improve) / “Get into the swing of it” (become comfortable with a routine).
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Work out: exercise at the gym. “I usually work out before work.”
- Warm up: prepare your body for exercise. “Always warm up to avoid injury.”
- Cool down: relax your muscles after training. “Let’s cool down and stretch.”
- Bulk up: build muscle. “He’s been bulking up recently.”
- Cut down: reduce something. “I’m cutting down on sugar.”
- Keep up: maintain progress. “Keep up the good work!”
Example Conversation (With a Trainer)
Trainer: Hi! What are your fitness goals?
Student: I want to build strength and lose a bit of weight.
Trainer: Great — how many times a week can you train?
Student: Probably three times. I can come after work.
Trainer: Perfect. Let’s start with some light weights today and work from there.
Discussion Practice
- Describe your workout routine and goals.
- Talk about your favourite exercises and equipment.
- Discuss motivation — what keeps you going to the gym?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a short message to book a gym induction.
- Write a polite email to pause or cancel your membership.
- Write a simple fitness plan for the week.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Subscription to a gym or club. | “My gym membership renews next month.” |
| Personal trainer | Fitness coach who helps with your goals. | “I train with a personal trainer once a week.” |
| Treadmill | Machine for walking or running indoors. | “I ran 5km on the treadmill.” |
| Weights | Equipment for strength training. | “He lifted heavier weights today.” |
| Cardio | Exercises that improve heart health. | “I do cardio on Mondays and Wednesdays.” |
| Stretch | Extend muscles before/after exercise. | “Always stretch your legs before a run.” |
| Routine | Regular set of exercises. | “My gym routine includes running and weights.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, I keep fitness English simple, fun, and full of real-life examples. We practise short, natural conversations so you can feel confident speaking with trainers, friends, or gym staff in English.
If you want to sound more natural when talking about your health and fitness, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course is friendly and flexible — perfect for real-life situations. You can take English lessons online with a native speaker online, wherever you are.