Are Women-Only Gyms Ok?

Some women don’t want to or can’t work out at home, but feel insecure at mixed gyms. But do they do themselves a disservice when going to women-only gyms?

No Men Allowed

Let me first say I completely understand that some of you feel intimidated by visiting gyms where men work out. You  fear that, I have a fear of flying, we all have some fear or the other. Psychologists call them “phobias” and tell us that they are no problem, as long as they don’t limit our daily lives.

But, I have to admit, my airplane phobia nags me. Some places in the world I can only reach by plane, if I don’t want to do a journey that could very well become the second volume to Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. I know it’s irrational and I don’t want to be limited by irrationality, so I analyze where it comes from and how I can make flying work for me.

Which is where I start to wonder what your problem is with working out at gyms that are equally frequented by men and why you let yourself be limited by that. Is it having men look at you? Did you experience snide remarks? Do you not want to be seen by the half of the human species you want to look better for when you probably look your worst?

No Weights Allowed

What I find especially disappointing about the women-only world of gyms is that this isolation often ends in rather ineffective workouts.

Too many women don’t like to work out with weights, some at least because that area of regular gyms is often occupied by male hulks. At women-only gyms that can’t happen, but instead of pushing them toward some real strength training, the (female) coaches at those places know very well what is expected of them and often all the usual toning crap ensues.

Explain It To Me

When we walk out on the street, people will look at us, and I wager you don’t have a problem with that. Because if you do, you’d have to spend your life at home. If at mixed gyms you are the subject of leering, talk with the management. Snide remarks I always found are very well handled by coming up with something snidier.

I by no means want to invalidate your reasons for seeking out female-only gyms, I just want to understand them: why do you let yourself be limited that way?

Picture courtesy of Daniel Oines.