There have been books written about the Joy of Cooking and the Joy of You-Know-What—(this is a PG-rated newsletter). But I haven’t yet seen a book that describes the joy of working out.

When I was watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics I couldn’t help but notice the pride AND joy in the faces of these elite young athletes.

They were bubbling with enthusiasm. The Romanians, especially, mugged for the cameras and seemed to be having a jolly good time. Despite the training, the discipline and the tension of participating in the world’s finest athletic event in front of millions of people, these youngsters were having fun!

So why do most of us think of exercise as punishment for our gluttony? As Andi Kodsi, one of our MBS aerobics instructors jokes, “So how many cookies did you eat last night? That’s why we’re doing 50 more lunges!”

But I have to say that, over the years, my concept of exercise has totally changed. And that is largely thanks to the staff at Michael’s Body Scenes. They make the classes fun because they, too, are enjoying themselves.

A recent article in Health magazine cited that the high dropout rate in gyms is largely due to fear. The first fear is the fear of the unknown. Whoa, look at all that equipment! How can I ever master the weights! I’m doomed before I’ve begun!

The second is the fear that we will not be accepted. We’re too old, too fat, too thin and just too out of shape to take that Pilates class.

We need to get beyond these fears if we’re going to have any personal success in our lives. Sometimes it means taking baby steps. As one of my friends says:

”How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Fitness professional Sofia Schnitzer says that the fear factor at a gym can be tamed simply by communication—especially at MBS where the staff is open and approachable.

“We’re a happy place,” she says simply. “I was a member before I become a trainer and I know that the same camaraderie exits on both sides of the fence.”

Sofia encourages new members to set reasonable and realistic goals. Set yourself up for success and you WILL find joy in your workout.

“You don’t have to take an hour-long class,” she advises. “Start with 20 minutes a day. Have a trainer show you a simple circuit and stick with that until you feel comfortable.

“Work out with a buddy,” she continues. “Make the gym your playground. Get to know the trainers and you’ll find that they’ll go out of their way to help you out.”

In yoga class, we regularly talk about gratitude.

“Congratulate yourself for just showing up,” says MBS co-owner and yoga instructor Leslie Glickman. “We tend to be hard on ourselves and compare our progress with others. But since we are all individuals, with individual experiences, such comparison serves no purpose. We need to spend more time being comfortable about our own bodies and charting our own progress.

“Put a smile on your face when you work out,” she says. “Too many people take exercise too seriously. You’d be surprised how this simple piece of advice can make your workout more joyful.”

Sofia points out that with our advanced cardio-theater equipment, you can actually surf the Internet, listen to music or watch your favorite television program making your workout time productive or entertaining, as you see fit.

Personally, when I hit the elliptical machine—my new best friend at the gym—I enjoy watching the people. I love the kidding that goes on between Tevvy and Ron; the tenderness of Sue Rue as she coaches her clients; Michael Frank’s intensity as a trainer and generally, the family-like interaction on the floor.

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Wayne Dyer on his recent book, The 10 Secrets to Success. Here are some of his principles for success that apply not only to life in general, but also more specifically to your lifelong exercise goals:

Aha. How many of us are guilty of not trying new classes or routines because we sabotage ourselves into thinking we can’t do it. How many of us are “attached” to the same routine or classes?

Many of our members have broken through humdrum barriers and become marathon runners, tri-athletes or even salsa dancers!

Wow, this one hits home. So you were a klutz when you were a kid! Find something physical that you now love to do and embrace it. There’s so much variety at MBS you’re sure to find one workout that suits your personality and body type.

Or as Shakespeare once wrote: “Assume a virtue if you have it not.” I always considered myself to be the bookish type, certainly not the athlete. But after a pretty regular 15 years with MBS, I’ve changed my thinking. I stand taller. I love my biceps. I’m proud to be a member of this terrific, athletic organization.

So, the next time you come into the gym, realize that you are a part of this happy family. Pat yourself on the back that you took the time, made the effort and showed up! We may not be Olympic material, but we can share the same joy of body awareness and strength that the elite athletes obviously display.