She walked into the room, and a hush fell over the crowd. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight steadied its gaze on her. Gradually, the hush grew to whispers, as the word spread: she was at the gym.

Okay, so arriving at the gym might not be quite that dramatic, but it sure can feel as if all eyes are on you when you show up, whether you are an exercise newbie or just returning after a bad breakup with your favorite ice cream spoon. It doesn’t have to be that way.