A place where most people go to relieve stress, clear their mind and move their bodies, can also be one of the most nerve-racking places for a person to go. As a girl, going to the gym can be very intimidating. We are nervous about things like how we look, what we are wearing, if we are doing things right, being judged, and the list goes on. If you were to walk into a gym right now, you would see that it is mainly filled with men, lifting large weights, taking up the majority of the space. As a girl, it can be hard to walk into a gym and insert yourself into a male dominant environment, but today I want to share some things that I’ve learned that can make it feel a little less scary. Let’s call it the Do’s and Don’ts as a woman in the gym.
The Do’s for women in the gym
DO wear what you want
I strongly believe in the saying “look good, feel good”, especially when it comes to the gym. Wear something that you feel comfortable in and that makes you feel confident. This can look different for every woman, whether it’s a sports bra and shorts or an oversized hoodie and sweatpants. It’s about what you feel good in, not what you think you have to wear or what other people are wearing.
DO familiarize and get comfortable with the space
Entering a gym that is busy or that you have never been to before can be scary. You don’t know what is available or where things are. This can be a challenging start if you don’t know what equipment you want to use or are nervous to walk around the gym and figure out where everything is. Start by getting on the treadmill or just stretching for a couple minutes, and take that time to look around, find out where certain equipment is, which areas are the busiest, and find a place to go next. This will get you familiar with the environment and can make you feel more confident.
The Don’ts for women in the gym
DON’T be afraid to take up space
You don’t have to put yourself in the smallest corner with one dumbbell so that you’re “not in the way” of other people. There is a trend on TikTok that I have been seeing constantly called “shy girl workouts”. The main idea of these TikTok’s is to show women how to do simple workouts that take minimal equipment and space. These videos are a good way to show women how to start out in the gym if they are uncomfortable being around a large amount of people. On the other hand, some of these videos teach women to “not take up space” or to “not be seen” in the gym, which can create a very negative feeling about the gym. This type of working out is not bad, but if that’s not the way that you want to workout, you shouldn’t have to. Go into the free weights, lift the weights, use any machine you want to. You have just as much of a right to use the space as anyone else.
DON’T feel like you can’t workout
Don’t feel like you can’t workout because there are a lot of men there. Sometimes when I get to the gym and I see that it’s busy or there are a lot of men in the area that I want to go in, I rethink if I want to weight lift or if I would just be more comfortable going on the treadmill instead. You deserve to workout just as much as anyone else, it’s important to remember that you are there for yourself. It takes one small step out of your comfort zone to slowly start to feel more comfortable and confident.
Gym anxiety is normal and is something that so many women experience. Every little step you take to feel more comfortable in the gym can make a difference. These tips may not fix it all, but they are a step in the right direction. Your mindset in the gym makes the biggest difference and you deserve to feel confident and worthy to be there, just like everyone else.
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