For those of us who've kept up a gym membership well into July, getting in a workout can be anywhere from a purely self-disciplinary act to a welcome break in the day. And whether you work out solo or in a group, a shared gym is a community. But there are some interactions with fellow gym-goers that, instead of fostering that sense of community, can leave you feeling unsettled. Especially if you're a woman.
WNYC's Alejandra Salazar and Shumita Basu speak to Richard Hake about their perspectives as twenty-something-year-old, gym-going women who are often on the receiving end of unwanted attention or condescending and unsolicited "workout tips."
Gym-goers of all ages and genders, tell us: What are your expectations when it comes to interacting with fellow gym members? Is the gym a fair place for pick-ups? Tweet @WNYC or leave a voicemail at 855-869-9692.
Similar to interactions on the subway. Smile and silently bond over our mutual courage and endurance. 🤜🤛
— Laura Fedoryk (@LauraFedoryk) July 16, 2018
@wnyc the gym is where you go to find your better self. Unkess someone asks you something like i need help or what is your diet, i dont talk to others. It is like talking to other guys at the urinal.
— Do It Dude (@DoItDudeInc) July 16, 2018
@wnyc
— SGGKMD (@Sggkmd) July 16, 2018
Gym: as a "senior" there is a certain immunity for what was discussed BUT it would help if the guys re-racked their weights. Soooo tired of moving those 45lb plates!
@WNYC making it part of my day every day! 6.30am. I want to for where every one knows my name and they are always glad you came! pic.twitter.com/xWspJE7Mvc
— diana voto (@dznydiana) July 16, 2018
@WNYC - re., gym ettiquette: note to men: just because you *can* walk around the locker room & sauna with a towel around your shoulders instead of your waist doesn’t mean u should.
— Brian Davis (@briandavis212) July 16, 2018
.@shubasu Re fist bump guy, turn his comments back on him to defuse. Jokingly ask him if he’s a personal trainer trying to drum up business & what his rate is. Or is he avoiding his own workout? And laugh! He’s got a story too.
— Will Coley (@willcoley) July 16, 2018
one time I saw @_jamestgreen at the gym and, out of politeness, did not greet him
— meg cramer (@Meg_Cramer) July 16, 2018
Ideally, the gym is kinda like how I imagine a monastery to be. It's a communal space & you're all there for a common purpose, yet you're intensely focused & there's no expectation or pressure to be really social. Plus, working out is a bit like meditating.
— Prime Time Pauly G (@areacode212) July 17, 2018