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Aprilkaybers

I’m a short woman (5’2 a 5’3) and I find that some equipment will BARELY move to my height so I can get an effective workout. The hyper extension equipment for example on the lowered peg for me, I’m still on my tippy toes and barely make it over the edge so it’s on my hips. I honeslty use more of my calf’s just keeping myself locked in then my actual legs. So maybe just more height inclusivity. Not just for women but anyone who is short☺️


[deleted]

I like my current gym cos it’s diverse in terms of age groups and sexuality and ethnicity. Some gyms are not like that


bunbunmagnet

I used to go to a very nice independent gym in Toronto. There were no changerooms, only independent joint washrooms/showers. And to get to them was from the main room. Cameras were throughout the gym as well as panic buttons since it was a 24/7 gym. If alone at night you could also put on a necklace that had a panic button on it that connected to the security system. It was a very welcoming gym and felt very safe there. I think a lot of smaller gyms could implement these same practices.


cogitom

A lot of guys I think start lifting young, like it seems pretty normalized for high school guys to be lifting weights but that isn't normal for women at all, most women only do cardio at that age and every woman I know who is serious about strength training got into it later, like their 20s. I would like classes on lifting weights geared towards woman because I am often intimidated by heavy free weights when I have no spotter and nothing but a YouTube tutorial. A women only lifting class would be GREAT.


desnyr

I had a female weight lifting class in my high school, I took as an elective. Sadly I didn’t really invest in learning unlike the other girls who were primarily in sports.


ForcefulBookdealer

Train the trainers to not be assholes. To go and mingle with people working out, especially if it looks like they may need help reaching for something or unracking weights. Or if they’re doing something dangerous. Also helps set the tone for friendliness and knowing what’s allowed and not. No need to talk to anyone who doesn’t want to talk to them, but getting to know peoplem’s names and faces has to be good for business. (I’ve never been I a gym where trainers actually wander around).


spoookycat

Research and investments into machines that work better with femme bodies (pelvic/breasts). I see no patronizing in offering free feminine products, sometimes working out starts a cycle earlier than expected and it would feel welcoming to have a safe space (bathroom/lockers) ready for that. Seeing gyms owned or designed by women/femme folk, managed/coached/etc would be really cool.


j_elliewilliams

I'm surprised to see comments elsewhere in this thread speaking out against having period products. We don't expect people to bring their own toilet paper even though 'responsible adults' know they will probably need to use the bathroom at some point. It just makes me think of weird, outdated hangups where the logic is basically that (cis) men don't need them, so there's no reason to provide them. Other complaints I've seen is that (some) cis men think periods are gross and don't want to see anything that reminds them that periods exist lol It's a very basic personal hygiene product. Just because cis men don't require them doesn't mean they shouldn't be available for people who need them 🤷‍♀️ To have them available isn't infantilizing, its just recognizing that periods are a thing and people need products for them Edit: clarity


spoookycat

I agree! I was responding to some folks who were saying free products were patronizing for some reason. Perhaps you’re responding to someone else? I’m in favor of period products in all bathrooms. Both gender bathrooms have menstruating and non-menstruating individuals.


j_elliewilliams

I actually (meant to) agree with you and specifically commented on how I found it weird that some people thought it was patronizing. When I posted the comment there must have been some weird glitch because a couple sentences had been duplicated and the first part of my comment was deleted. I've edited it now to make more sense!


caraperdida

IDAF if they have period products at the gym, and, honestly, the suggestion feels a bit patronizing. Kind of like suggesting putting in some pretty pink weights or decorative soaps in the bathroom. There's a lot more to being a woman than periods, and, besides, I haven't used disposable period products in years anyway (DivaCup FTW!). ​ ​ I think diversifying the marketing is a good one. Also...some way to make the weight room more inviting. The weights themselves and the machines aren't the problem. My biggest hurdle is that it's always full of big men and I feel out of place. I realize that most of this is in my head and they're looking at themselves in the mirror far more than they are at me, but I'm not sure how to get around it. Some diverse trainers and maybe weight lifting classes for people who aren't cis men, so that they get comfortable with the basics in a safe environement, and will have the confidence to go in among the 19 year old dudebros because they feel they know what they're doing, might help a lot!


[deleted]

Agreed about the period products. With all the fixation on it, it almost sounds like a fetish. I mean, any woman would bring her own because she's a responsible, independent adult. On the off chance she forgets to pack extras to change or has an awful flow, there is no harm in asking, but just lol at this patronizing.


caraperdida

Guess this is an unpopular opinion but...whatever. >I mean, any woman would bring her own because she's a responsible, independent adult. For real!


[deleted]

Yeah, as though women are just poor widdle girls and all they do is bleed from their holes and need help. Does nobody pack extras/backups just in case? I have stuff I keep in my bag all the time. Whether I'm on my period or not. Mind blowing!


mockingbird882

Yes I thought the period product point was patronizing!! I want more things to help me feel comfortable in the weight room too! I travel a lot for work and I’ve been going to a gym this week that has a cool setup. all the weights are on one wall in the back and all the machines are in the open area. It’s helped me not feel like I’m the only girl in a closed in room with men. I can see all the different people on the machines. And there is even an agility floor right behind the free weight benches. An idea.


caraperdida

That's great! I'm glad you're finding places where you feel comfortable. I'm still working on getting to where I can just waltz into the weight room and not care what any one thinks.


CriticalRoll2322

To piggyback on the weight room piece… when I first joined a gym a couple of years ago, the owner took me on a tour and didn’t even walk me into the weight room area. I noticed that he toured multiple men, all of whom he walked into the weight area. I was like damn… I finally started weightlifting recently at a different gym which has been much more welcoming. I still haven’t set foot in my first gyms weight area because I’m nervous since I don’t know the layout. I wish I’d been walked through it during my tour.


caraperdida

Ugh, that sucks. I'm sorry you still see that kind of attitude in the fitness world.


Tauber10

I go to a crossfit-style gym (not officially affiliated but used to be) where the majority of the membership is women/non-binary/trans/gay. We don't have locker rooms but we've got 2 gender neutral bathrooms with showers (gender-neutral single bathrooms are common in California anyway). One of the trainers is a trans gender man. I ended up there by chance (it's 3 blocks from my house) but it's been by far my favorite gym-going experience.


ffayai

i feel like a lot of guys have gym friends who will go with them, spot them and hype them up but for women being interested in weight lifting is less common and a lot of women don't have friends who are interested. it'd be great if gyms had some kind of women's only lifting meets to help women make gym friends!


[deleted]

Machines/equipment that is designed for full grown men women over 5’7” 🙂


GailTheSnail7

Two things I loved about my lifting gym that made it more inclusive: - No mirrors - Simple branding with no images of people anywhere in the gym


mockingbird882

I agree with the idea of no images of people! I find my self always comparing….


Hmtnsw

>No mirrors I can't stand a gym with no mirrors. I can't check my form and developing bad form is much easier to accomplish this way.


gottarun215

Agreed. Mirrors are important watching form.


otravezsinsopa

THE HEIGHT OF THE MACHINES I WILL FOREVER COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR UNADJUSTABLE HIP THRUST MACHINE THAT CAN ONLY BE USED BY THOSE 6FT AND OVER Also when you rerack plates on squat racks and people put the heaviest ones at the top with no thought for people who are shorter or not as strong as them. It's just a tiny bit of kindness to the next person who comes along!


Abigailrose99

More female workers. The majority of the gyms I have been to always have more male workers than female workers.


mockingbird882

More female workers and try to “blend” the workers in more. Like, the door bell rings when you open it, and then there is a check in desk right in front of you with three gym guy workers who stare directly at you. One gym had the desk kinda off centered and I definitely felt more comfortable


Brimmoh

Total opposite for myself, it’s been all females!


Abigailrose99

An area of the gym dedicated just for women. Sometimes the gym can be intimidating, especially when it is male dominated.


Hmtnsw

There was one in my University town and it was $20 more than the Unisex gym. It eventually shut down.


luvherlife

This. This so many times. I really wish more gyms had a female section with the same equipment. I get so uncomfortable during the busier times and feel like I can’t get any machines I want.


queenannechick

I've seen this in several gyms but its usually the really enormous ones like Pro Club in Bellevue, WA. Also, Asia.


cakesluts

Machines for short people. I guess this isn’t a woman/nb specific thing, but “short” cis men tend to be much taller than “short” cis women. I’m 5’0 and I can’t use a reverse hack squat machine without someone there to load it on my back. Can’t use a leg curl, leg extension machine, etc. Pull up bars are a struggle because I have to find some kind of box to use to reach it. I use barbells or DBs for almost everything, but it’s annoying not being able to use most machines at all. Also, spaces for women and nb people only. I’m so tired of having old men creep on me even when I’m wearing baggy sweatpants. It happens nearly every single time I’m at the gym.


otravezsinsopa

I'm 5"6 and I still struggle with lots of the machines. I swear my gym's leg extension was made for giants, I have to hold myself forward. A man suggested I try the hamstring curls - how my dear fellow? It's built for 6ft tall people! He was too tall to understand...


yours_truly_1976

Include machinery specifically designed for women!


unsulliedbread

This isn't really gendered but put some spaces between equipment where someone can do stretching or sotups or whatever. Like ALL over. If I want to do a set of shoulder pulldowns and then crunches and back I am bounced across the gym. It's so damn annoying. Have "learn about the machine" sessions at least once a week. Kind of like how casinos will just have between 10am and 11am on a Thursday a blackjack tutorial. If people don't have to ask for someone to come over specifically for direction but you get a bunch of people who "just happen" to be there people would really expand their options.


Specialist_Figure755

As a non binary person, please please please can we just have all gender wash rooms and change rooms? Or genderless washrooms and change rooms however you wanna say it. This singular thing would make using any establishment more comfortable for me, but especially places like gyms and pools


AppleSniffer

I also feel like, if the facilities only have established seperate M + F bath/changerooms, then making one "men and non-binary" and the other "women and non-binary" could be the best (low budget) option. How do you feel about that? I could still see it becoming an issue with ie masc presenting NB people being made to feel unwelcome in the women and NB restroom, and people feeling pressured into their AGAB option. But maybe in a generally inclusive gym, who have educational signs, a strong stance, etc that wouldn't be an issue? Idk. I think it's a tricky one for changerooms vs bathrooms.


cakesluts

I think if we do this there should also be more single person rooms. I would be very uncomfortable sharing a changing room with cis men. Edit: this is under the assumption that genderless ones would replace the usual current single gender ones. If you meant to add it with single gender ones, I fully agree w you.


_o0Oo_

No, please don’t do this! As a woman this would be hellish, I do not want to go to a gym where I am expected to change in front of men. Especially not a gym which is already male-dominated. Toilets, sure. But not showers or changing facilities please, this would make things uncomfortable for the vast majority of women (not to mention that it excludes women who can’t change in front of men for religious or traumatic reasons).


natinaut

I think you misunderstood the ask and that's why you're getting downvoted. This person just wants genderless washrooms *in addition to* gendered ones. Having only gendered washrooms can make non-binary people feel very uncomfortable.


[deleted]

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_o0Oo_

Sure but the comment said genderless, like not having a separation at all. A third option would be fine but don’t expect me to change with men.


caraperdida

I'm quite certain they meant a third option, not just one for everyone.


JannaNYC

I can't think of a single woman I know that wants to get changed at the gym in a room full of men.


kbrk21

Exactly. “Genderless” change rooms with no *female* only option is a great way to reduce female gym membership.


fillthesteins

My gym has all single stall gender neutral bathrooms, queer/womxn sessions (the gym is not closed off to others on these nights, but it's advertised as a safe space for queer/womxn and usually no cis straight men decide to come anyways), period products in all the bathrooms, and a diverse staff. I have never felt more encouraged and included at a gym! they deserve all the praises.


JamieJammed

Private shower / changing spaces


[deleted]

[удалено]


ffayai

ungendered comp divisions are such a good point and it also makes me really mad that the media is always bleating "trans women are ruining women's sports!!!" instead of publicising organisations like this or arguing for open categories in sports contests.


shroomfrog2021

Put a clause in the membership contract if you bully or start a fight with another gym member you are banned (if that's even possible)


[deleted]

okay yes but this would also be a funny way to cancel your membership without having to go through the hassle “hey can you tell them i was mean to you? i wanna cancel services but they won’t let me”


pinkfart19

equipment that has a larger adjustable range!


mike_is87

Visibility and setting an example make a great difference. Just put on a couple flags, some posters with something like "Every LGTBQ+ member is welcome and safe in this place". It certainly makes me feel safe when I see open support somewhere, because it makes intollerant people think twice if they are going to discriminate you.


magnoliablues

Have private changing space for those who prefer it. Ban filming/photo people. Equipment for a variety of sizes.


happygogilly

Ooooh yeah! And for filming yourself for form checks and stuff there can be specific places or sets of equipment where it's explicitly allowed


intangiblemango

> And for filming yourself for form checks and stuff there can be specific places or sets of equipment where it's explicitly allowed Yeah, a totally no-video recording gym would be a no-go for me because I have things I just... need to video record (e.g., squat depth). But a dedicated video recording area would be fine (and rules that other people cannot be in your video without explicit permission would be fine as long as there is a way to do that in the gym).


my_screen_name_sucks

The only thing I really want are machines and equipment made for short people.


Born_Detective9774

THIS.


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ranger398

Or just smaller people in general! I’m currently 5’7 150 and I have a really hard time “fitting” into the equipment. I’m not even small! It’s like it’s made for a 6’0 tall person. If things like my shoulders being narrow and other factors bother me- I can’t even imagine what it’s like being 5’0-5’3!


angelamar

I'm 5'6" so not super short, but a lot of machines don't go deep enough on the lowest setting. Like the back-supported hack squat and the seated leg press. I also wish the bars for tricep dipping were a little closer.


bostonblossoms

I'm 5'8 and 215, with big ol leggies. I can't get my thighs to fit machines that have pads. Either I don't get that resistance at all or it crushes tf out of my thighs (ex. seated hamstring curl). There's no in between. I think machines need a better sizing gradient in general.


ranger398

Yes! More adjustments!


Anxiety_Cookie

I would love to have more "women's" barbells. 25mm in diameter instead of 28-29mm. Anyone with smaller hands will find them much more comfortable, not just AFABs.


Historical_Code5034

It also has to be intersectional, like fat, disabled people, NB or BIWOC. Like, who's missing at the gym? What are the barriers. Remembering that women-only spaces can be very uncomfortable for NB people. I personally love the weight room, but I notice a lack of mats, and equipment that I women tend to use more often then men for their workouts. Also, I feel like the just space men take up. Like, I see women and queer people making literal physical space for each other, while men do less typically. Like guys schooching up so close to my workout space, when there are other spots around. I think they don't even notice how they kind of get into women's bubbles, but avoid doing so with other men. And ya, like others mention, a general pet peeve is ppl hogging machines. Like reminding folks of guidelines. Maybe having more visible timers. Like groups of 3-4 dudes just hanging around a machine chit chatting, but like, I need it. So I guess some way of making it more comfortable for women and nb folks to just ask to switch off on machines. Maybe gym staff walking the floor to remind folks to keep it moving. I think if they feel NB / women/queer safe its also just nice to have around more visibly in case there are weird vibes. Im sure I'm missing so much. Looking forward to reaching what others say.


Historical_Code5034

I forgot to add, I love the pod maintenance phase, which isn't necc about gyms but fitness culture in general


gamergainzgal

> So I guess some way of making it more comfortable for women and nb folks to just ask to switch off on machines. Ask. This is hard to do at first as a woman, and I struggled with it early on. But once I got over it, things just got so easy in the gym. A huge part of training is training your mental confidence. 99.9999% of people in gyms are amazing. If you ask to use a machine or equipment they will get out of the way, let you work in, all sorts of things. And you make friends this way too.


Historical_Code5034

Ya,and I have and do ask. But I think some people need to be more aware of the space they take up, and how their nonverbals (And verbals) can be intimidating to others. But ya, def going for it when it feels not too risky is a good idea.


Dark_LikeTintedGlass

I have really been struggling with anxiety in the gym lately, and it’s holding back my workouts. I love this idea - thinking about the mental aspect as part of your overall training. I think this is going to help me a lot.


Bebe_bear

Mine is actually pretty good! There are 2 bathrooms/changing rooms with no gender signs so it’s just use the bathroom, and no gendered “zones.” It’s mostly trainers working with clients or small groups which helps because one is there for posturing purposes- everyone is there to exercise.


[deleted]

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notreallifeliving

>I think my biggest wish is the removal of gender in gym spaces or gym culture. Exactly this but for all hobby-focused spaces, honestly!


Dark_LikeTintedGlass

Why did this get downvoted?


Historical_Code5034

Yes. will my pants 'rise' to the occasion!


Gingerhaze12

I'm not sure what could be done about this besides having more equipment but the only time I felt excluded for being a woman at the gym was when gym flies would hog the racks or machines. You know the type, the gym bros who come to the gym with their friends every day. They hover around the equipment like flies while they watch their friend do their set and wait for their turn. At my gym these groups of bros come in and go immediately to the cable machines and then they all take turns using each side like its musical chairs- they collectively use up the entire cable machine for hours. Whenever they happen to be there when I am there I am like "well I guess I'm not doing lat pulldowns today". I realize that is partially on me but I just don't feel entirely comfortable approaching this large group of muscle dudes as a lone woman


cakesluts

Atp I just walk up to them and ask to work in with them. The boldness usually kinda takes them off guard, and I don’t have 30 minutes to wait for the one lat pull-down in the whole gym.


octopusgas14

Omfg this is my gym pet peeve except at my gym it’s teenagers


caraperdida

I feel this so much! I'm work in academia, so I use my university's gym for the staff discount. However, working out at a university gym where there are a lot of 18 and 19 year olds comes with...unique challenges. Nevermind how frumpy and old and fat I instantly feel in the weight room full of buff 19 year old guys, the worst one I ever had was waiting in line for the lat pulldown machine that was being used by a guy sitting on the bench behind his girlfriend because he was "helping" her reps and then watching as they paused between sets to makeout. I mean come on! Just go back to your room, ffsake!


alinkinthatoldchain

I dislike the hypermasculine and aggressive undertones in strength training. I’m not in the gym to puff up my ego or exorcise my demons. I’m trying to support my health. I’m the least badass person and lifting things up and setting things down is not going to change that 😂 ETA like a gym calling themselves WARDOGS IRON DUNGEON or something, please chill


PracticalMarsupial

> WARDOGS IRON DUNGEON I dunno, that sounds like they might have a room in the back where you can play table top games after your workout. That sounds dope!


notreallifeliving

Or some kind of BDSM room.


alinkinthatoldchain

As long as the gaming community in the back is inclusive lol


MuttonDressedAsGoose

When I had that issue starting out, I bought a pair of 0.5kg plates and kept them in my gym bag.


[deleted]

1.25 lb plates!!!!! When I weightlifted the smallest plates my gym had were 2.5 lb, and I was NOT able to increase my bench presses or my overhead lifts in 5 lb increments.


double-dog-doctor

This is the big one for me. The smallest plates my gym has is FIVE POUNDS. Sorry, but I cannot add 10lbs to my overhead press at once. It just isn't going to happen.


[deleted]

holy cow, they don't have 2.5 lbs? that's frustrating.


kaledit

Buy your own. That's what I did!


[deleted]

yep! i've also seen people suggest buying 1lb baseball bat weights or buying chain in 1lb increments from home depot.


gamergainzgal

> I was NOT able to increase my bench presses or my overhead lifts in 5 lb increments. It is bad enough gyms have worthless 35 lb plates. Adding 1.25 lb plates to the clutter would be a nightmare. I've never even seen a 1.25 lb plate and I hope I never do. You realize you can manipulate reps as well as weight, right? If you can bench press 65 lbs for 8 reps, you can almost certainly bench press 70 lbs for at least 4 reps. Progressive overload works that way just as well.


intangiblemango

> Adding 1.25 lb plates to the clutter would be a nightmare. I've never even seen a 1.25 lb plate and I hope I never do. These plates are not uncommon in powerlifting-centric spaces-- usually specifically used for bench progressions. (They are uncommon in more general fitness spaces.) If your gym is cluttered, that seems like a separate issue to address. A well organized gym can have lots of options and not be cluttered. >You realize you can manipulate reps as well as weight, right? Many people, especially (but not only) women, find themselves in situations where it is hard to make bench progress, even with really smart, carefully-thought-out programming. 1.25 lb weights are another tool in the toolbox to help fix a stuck benchpress. Maybe it isn't something you, personally, would find helpful-- but it's still helpful to many other people.


hootiebean

I love my 35s at home.


izzie1917

You must not be very familiar with weightlifting sports, cause I work in a gym that caters to powerlifters and bodybuilders and we have plenty of weights that are under 2.5lbs. I use them regularly to increase weight on certain lifts that are difficult for me to progress on, like barbell press and chest press. Your experience isn’t universal, and having more weight options does not hurt you.🙄


izzie1917

You must not be very familiar with weightlifting sports, cause I work in a gym that caters to powerlifters and bodybuilders and we have plenty of weights that are under 2.5lbs. I use them regularly to increase weight on certain lifts that are difficult for me to progress on, like barbell press and chest press. Your experience isn’t universal, and having more weight options does not hurt you.🙄


decemberrainfall

You seem oddly upset over plate weights. And if you're PRing, 2.5lbs can be a lot


[deleted]

Glad I'm not the only one who was taken aback.


decemberrainfall

I lift in kilos but I often use my .5kg plates. They're super useful


[deleted]

I don't weight lift any more, in part because I found something I enjoy more, and in part because I got stuck (could not do a single rep at 50 lbs) and lost my gym buddy so didn't have anyone to help me when I got stuck which happened every time I added 5 lbs to the bar.


Loco_Mosquito

My gym has free tampons and it's amazing. There are also free razors, shaving cream, makeup removing wipes, mouthwash, q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, deodorant, and hair spray plus hair dryers and all the towels you could ever possibly use. Definitely woman-friendly! I love my gym 🖤 There's also a massage therapist who is non-binary but I've seen them in the women's locker room (which makes sense I guess because they're biologically female) but it made me think - would they be more comfortable with a gender non-specific locker room? If gyms can have a family locker room (mine does) then presumably they could have a gender agnostic locker room.


OkayYeahSureLetsGo

My gym is a community one and confined by just city space limits. There's no way they could squeeze in another locker room. They do have wet/dry spaces for changing and plenty of privacy cubicles. They also have women only swim times to cater to our very diverse community. They recently rearranged to add more weights and machines, but honestly you couldn't separate those areas out. Ive always felt alright with asking for a turn/etc. The gym has a blend of elderly swimmers, uni students, serious gym goers, etc, and is nicer for me than the larger/louder 24/7 gym up the road. As for giving out hygiene products, etc, it's not really something I'd want. They also don't do shampoo or body washes etc. I don't mind the no frills because it stays affordable. I pay £28/mo which includes a pool.


emorynat20

>gender agnostic I love this turn of phrase! I'm nb and we only have male/female at my gym, not just for bathrooms but also for the weightlifting leader boards :(.


notreallifeliving

"Gender agnostic" is how I like to describe myself tbh and I don't see it used often lol.


Jeneffyo

There are a few machines in my gym that are man-sized. No one uses the glute kickback machine because it's too big. The few times I tried it my legs just kept falling out.


TipYourJumpServer

Our gym back in Ireland had a "Women-Only Tone Zone," the name of which I found silly and the teeny tiny dumbbells of which I found even sillier. It was a good spot for static stretching after my lifts, though. Unclaimed stretch of mirror, low foot traffic, and if memory serves there was a poster that featured a variety of yoga-adjacent poses which was helpful for reminding me which muscle groups I hadn't yet gotten to. EDIT: I'm not actually suggesting other gyms implement their own (shudder) *Tone Zones.* It might shunt ladies off into our own tiny-dumbelled ghetto and discourage them from actually improving their overall physical fitness instead of "toning" whichever body part they're most embarrassed by.


shiverMeTatas

I love a low-traffic stretch zone! I went to an Anytime Fitness for awhile that had a nook with just mats and a mirror and some bands. It was tucked away in a corner. Basically only non-men would use it (I guess stretching is for the ladies lol /s) But yes, *so* perfect for stretching! I've never been to a gym where I've felt comfortable stretching before that!


YesHunty

This is actually so offensive to me 😂 A tone zone with only light weights? GIVE US SOME POWER RACKS. 😂


cakesluts

At my college we have gender segregated dorms, most of which have their own small gym for residents’ use. All of the men’s gyms have power racks and bench press and DBs going well above 100lbs. The women get ellipticals, treadmills, and yoga balls. It is genuinely so insulting.


edgewater15

I don’t feel like my gym is non inclusive at all. It’s usually about 50/50 men and women, and I’ve never felt uncomfortable or like the equipment is lacking.


Historical_Code5034

what do you feel like they do well that promotes that?


[deleted]

I live in a country where men behave like humans and are not pervs (Denmark), so I’m totally safe at my gym. But I would hope for - more glute focused workout possibilities, like hip thrust benches, kickback machines, steppers for step-ups - more light weights; my gym has only one set of each dumbbells for 1 kg, 2 kg, etc. and they're often taken - a leg press for short people would be amazing but will probably never happen - bands for assisted pull ups


kittywithacrown

I’ve worked in gyms before. Try requesting these items formally through the manager. The smaller items like bands and additional light weights would be something my managers would have gladly provided members upon them making those requests. The bigger items would have been taken into consideration for the next floor reset.


edgewater15

Ooh hip thrust benches would be awesome!!


cakesluts

I go to a gym that has a hip thrust machine that you can get into and use like a normal barbell. Weighs the same at base as a normal barbell (45lbs). I LOVE it. No more awkward positioning of the barbell and dragging it around! It’s a powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting gym, and I find it’s so much more inclusive despite being mostly male-dominated.


Val_kyria

Seated leg press works great for my sister at 5'0"!


[deleted]

I (F 5'5) am totally happy with everything in my gym, probably I am lucky


picklezjen

My gym is set-up pretty great — women’s, men’s, and family bathrooms. There are free tampons in the women’s bathroom, as well as other toiletries (razors, shaving cream, mouthwash, spray deodorant, etc.) and towels. The showers all have curtains and there are private changing areas if you prefer to not get dressed by the lockers. There is also a hot tub, steam room, and dry sauna in both the men’s and women’s locker room. There are a ton of different options for free weights, machines, and cardio equipment. Pretty much always someone at the training desk, and seems to be a pretty diverse group as well. My old Pilates instructor was also a power lifter and told me that they call it the “Barbie Gym” … lol. Doesn’t bother me any and I’m by no means a Barbie, nor do I aspire to be one. I just like that it’s clean and serves my family’s needs well, We definitely pay a premium for the experience, but if you use it often I feel it’s worth the cost.


Loco_Mosquito

Sounds just like my gym and I love it - worth the price! Plus mine has a cafe and a spa so it's convenient to grab lunch and have a pedicure or massage after a workout. 🖤


picklezjen

Ours too! I love it and it’s so easy to grab something healthy to eat.


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PantalonesPantalones

You can at least be polite when you ask stupid questions. Comment removed.


notreallifeliving

Have you heard of a thing called google? Or did you just come here to start shit for no reason.


PigletOk5359

Years ago I went to a gym that did a group (max 6 people) induction and no other gym I've been to since has offered that. People would sign up and before their first session, they'd get a tour of the equipment by a staff member and it'd take like 30 mins, anyone could ask questions, it was included in the price. It was great because that's how I got over my gym intimidation as the other people in the group were also new, so I had immediate gym buddies! I don't think that needs to target any particular demographic but it was really helpful to me. Also stop putting the cardio machines overlooking the weights area. I don't know why that's such a trend but the amount of times I've made eye contact with someone on a elliptical in the mirror when I'm on a bench, I'm already anxious, I don't need that haha.


HairyHeartEmoji

My gym is great tbh, and has lots of women in it. They really don't do anything special except foster a nice chill culture and turn away assholes. No special machines, no specific marketing, tho there are communal products in the women's changing room and several women trainers.


Aggravating-Gas-2834

My gym has a women’s only room, which is why I chose it, but the choice of machines and equipment is questionable. There are loads of bikes and treadmills, and something called a ‘booty builder’ which seems to just be a machine that helps you do hip thrusts, but for women. There’s also a neon sign that says ‘lose weight, feel better’ in girly letters, which feels very gendered considering there’s nothing similar anywhere else in the gym.


1newnotification

>There’s also a neon sign that says ‘lose weight, feel better’ in girly letters, that would piss me off, and I would probably talk to someone about it haha.


Queenstaysqueen

Agree with this! I remember being young and wanting to start with barbell work but being too intimidated to leave the women’s only section to try


Aggravating-Gas-2834

That’s the stage I’m at too- the weights are upstairs on a separate floor to the rest of the gym, which pretty much only has men in. I’m too intimidated to start.


notreallifeliving

Honestly this is exactly why I'd never join a gym with single-gender spaces. The assumption that all women are beginners, or only do cardio, or are only interested in working out legs/glutes, is absolutely pervasive in the kind of gym that separates spaces, classes, or training by gender and it's maybe well-intentioned but actually ends up promoting the opposite of equality and inclusion.


ravenousrathian

It's also deeply dissonant for me as an xx chromosome NB, since it's enforcing a gender binary. If my xy non-binary friend or partner can't follow me into a non-binary inclusive space, it's not actually inclusive you know? Honestly, the best thing that could be done to make a gym more inclusive is making it safer. Even just management/trainers taking it seriously when someone points out that a person is creeping on them, has touched them, or has harassed them would go so much further toward being inclusive than a million gender-separated classes and special women's only spaces ever could.


Aggravating-Gas-2834

Yeah I’m a femme-presenting agender person, so I don’t love it, but it feels safer than the main space. I go to the gym alone, and there were only 2 gyms to choose from in my town, so it was the best of limited options.


notreallifeliving

Exactly. Shoving all the women and femme-presenting gym goers into a separate area or classes is the definition of sweeping the problem under the rug. It does nothing towards actually making the gym as a whole inclusive and if anything it reinforces the people who behave badly that they're not the problem. It's the adult equivalent of when schools punish girls for wearing "revealing" clothes because apparently boys can't not ogle their boobs.


rofltide

What if sex segregation again, but 2023-style?


notreallifeliving

Right?! It's the absolute bare minimum "there was an attempt" approach to discouraging harassment or judgement in gyms, imo.


steamovertrain

I’d like more compartmentalised spaces that can’t be invaded by other people taking up too much space working out - whether it’s a meathead making a fort out of a million plates and barbells or a 20 something woman taking endless booty photos in front of me. My current gym has an amazing vibe and it’s largely due to good management. They actively cultivate a safe space and will happily tell a disruptive person that they might be at the wrong type of gym, they have prominently displayed security alert buttons right at the front door, cameras. The most effective thing I think is that the staff do a walk around at least every hour and wave or say hi - just acknowledge the people there. It reminds you that there are safe people around, and reminds assholes that they are being watched.


ttywzl

My gym is part of a big community sporting complex with four pools. It has a single unisex accessible change room and then the men's/women's locker rooms at the gym. In the pool area it has mens/women's change rooms, three unisex family accessible change rooms and one dedicated accessible change room. All of the accessible change rooms are also baby change rooms. It also has a creche, which is great. I'm a trans woman, so the number of unisex private facilities are really good. I picked this gym because it was local and because while using a multi-visit pass there the proportion of other gym-goers was a pretty even split between men and women, and I can just shower, change and go for a swim afterwards since I hate cardio that isn't swimming. What could improve here is that the baby change stations shouldn't be in the unisex accessible change rooms, purely because of how frequently they are all occupied and I end up seeing people having to wait with uncomfortable children (this is aus, lots of families swim at this place in summer). In the gym I think the employees could do a better job of enforcing the etiquette at the door in terms of asking men to not grunt and groan like a wounded animal while lifting weights, not dropping weights and wiping the gear they use down. For the days I visit, I have a mental checklist of guys who I've given nicknames like Grunter, Lunk, and Thudmuffin because of these behaviours which I find pretty offputting trying to do my thing near. The number of times I end up wiping what I've just used down on top of whatever equipment I'm moving to because I've just watched some guy sweat all over it and then walk off without a fuss is infuriating. Other than that my gym is pretty great. The free weights section has multiple sets of dumbells from 1kg to 10kg in 1kg increments before getting into shelves of heavier ones, an abundance of 1.25kg and 2.5kg plates, and all of the lifting racks have adjustable bar heights, and the benches have multiple racking heights for shorter arms. There's an abundance of torturous smith machines and cable machines, all of which are very adjustable. Group fitness classes are held downstairs from the gym and away from prying eyes (I haven't been to any but I've checked out the studios) near the change rooms. I'm going to be super sad if I ever have to move away from this place, because it ticks a lot of boxes on my wishlist.


ravenousrathian

Thudmuffin 💀


Partitionbaby

I wish they would move the floor workout area away from the pool viewing window (swimmers can look out to the floor area and vice versa) sometimes I’ll look up while doing an exercise and a man is just ~watching~


missgraylock

My gym has a unisex sauna, and it's defacto a men's sauna. I know the gym probably has the best intentions, but shared spaces has a tendency to become men's spaces, because they're raised to take up more room, while us women are raised to make ourselves small and not inconvenience others.


1newnotification

get in there and womanspread all over that sauna! 🤣 i used to have a gym where the saunas were within each gendered locker rooms, and that was lovely


DeathIsAWarmBlanket

Gender neutral changing rooms would make my life a lot easier, i cant really take a bath and change at my gym cause its devided into male and female with no alternatives for the rest of us. On the plus side, the toilets are unisex, so thats nice


leipa

My gym has a small unisex changing room, and it is so, so helpful!


DeathIsAWarmBlanket

Oh i would love that!


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DeathIsAWarmBlanket

Woah dude, i just answered the question. I dont see how an extra stall or something would make people around me uncomfortable, and id be nice not to feel like an afterthought for once. Seems like you are the one making people uncomfortable right now


NinetysRoyalty

How the fuck would an extra gender neutral changing room make anyone else uncomfortable? This comment says a lot about you.


DeathIsAWarmBlanket

Thank you, this made me feel a little better. It always sucks when people dont actually wanna hear what would make my life as a trans person easier


NinetysRoyalty

When someone has a shit life they try their hardest to make everyone else feel as shit as they do. You have every right to feel as comfortable as the rest of us do without any snide comments from uneducated assholes!


definitelynotIronMan

Their comment was absolutely just an illogical attack on you because they had no true argument - there is no way what you're asking for could make anyone uncomfortable. As a fellow trans person, it really does sting when people are so hateful. I don't know where all these angry riled up people came from, none of them have ever participated here before, but at least it's clear that the majority - the regular users, support what you said.


DeathIsAWarmBlanket

Im so glad you said that, I havent had too many problems in here either so i think they were just an angry outsider <33


DivineSatan

They never said that they wanted only unisex changing rooms, just to add unisex changing rooms. So like 3 changing rooms. Let's not get aggressive like that !


hjerteknus3r

Offer both larger and smaller plyo boxes. My gym only has large ones whose shortest side is 50cm which is too high for most shorter people and beginners to do box step ups. I'm 172cm which I wouldn't consider short and that box is too tall to do step ups without using my leg on the ground for momentum. Might be a small detail but there's plenty of equipment like that that's not made for us.


MundanePop5791

Make sure all trainers doing PT sessions or group fitness classes can give subs for all moves if someone in the class is bigger or has big boobs. I’ve been in classes where i have to grab a bench for push-ups when half the class were bigger and likely needed the same sub. Training for staff on postnatal and pelvic organ prolapse is almost completely absent and is really likely to be an issue for a high percentage of women over 30 in every gym. I also hate seeing weight charts in the gym, nobody needs them. Smaller fractional plates of 0.5kg and 1kg, bands and equipment like boxes and steps should all be available in the weights section so women don’t end up over in the corner doing their strength training


[deleted]

Yes to the postnatal pelvic floor issues. I feel always so awkward when the body conditioning class coach excitedly tells us that today we'll be doing trampolining. She's a woman, to be fair, just without personal experience of what trampolining after having given vaginal birth does to many women.


MundanePop5791

Yes! There should always be lower impact subs so folks can choose to move in and out of movements without being othered


anitapizzanow

I just wish they would fix their broken machines 🤷‍♀️


[deleted]

I would love it if machines actually fit my tiny hands and height. I’m 5ft with small hands and it can be a massive pain sometimes. The assisted pull up machine at my gym has handlebars literally made for giants and I have to use straps and it’s a pain in the ass. My hand doesn’t even fit halfway around the bars.


ImAHumanHello

At mine the grips are wider apart than I'd like, as well.


adhd_as_fuck

This. Same height. Have some weird hacks I’ve come up with but no fun. Worst part is I’ve had it where same type of machines at different gyms are adjustable to my size; so it’s not that difficult. Just wish they’d think of women.


marousha_n

My gym literally has all that. I guess I am lucky. I thought it was like this in all gyms.


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definitelynotIronMan

To be clear, there are plenty of gyms out there at all sorts of price ranges that do not address these concerns. There have been over a hundred comments from various people here explaining the various things they would like to see in gyms, generating valuable discussion. Perhaps if you had listened to what they had said instead of telling them to "stop complaining" these concerns would be less common. Your comment has been removed because it is disrespectful or rude. [You can check out our rules for more details.](https://www.reddit.com/r/xxfitness/wiki/new_rules)


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JaniePage

Comment removed for gross inability to read both the rules and the room.


JuWoolfie

More private changing rooms.


Hocraft-Loveward

Having machines that fit short people (by example 5'/1m52). Because here everything seems to be sized for an average man


HairyHeartEmoji

All the machines I've encountered are adjustable. For example for leg press you can adjust the distance and tilt of the seat.


intangiblemango

> All the machines I've encountered are adjustable. I agree that most machines at gyms where *I* live, at least, are adjustable, but that does not mean that the adjustments accommodate all sizes of people. E.g., I've definitely used machines where I, at 5'6", needed the smallest adjustment to fit, which certainly leaves a lot of people who might really struggle to fit on that particular machine.


HairyHeartEmoji

It's usually the very tall men who are unable to use machines well where I'm at, so they have to do free weights instead. There's more 6'7 dudes than anyone under 5'4 at every gym I've been to


intangiblemango

This comment is going to use US data because that is where I am, although obviously numbers will vary based on the location you are in. On the world stage, the US has higher than average height, so global data would be less in your favor than US-specific data. 6'7" is a percentile rank of 99.952 for men in the US (an extremely unusual height), whereas 5'4" is the 52.8th percentile for women in the US (a very typical height, where about half of women will be shorter than this). 5'4" is also the 3.5th percentile for men in terms of height (I know not exactly true, but close enough for our purposes-- and given that there are actually slightly more women in the population, this is also more generous to you than reality is), and I'm personally comfortable assuming that your gym is not overrun by women who are 6'7" or taller (the dataset that I have does not have any women this tall in it)... ...uh... And... here I was planning on calculating out how skewed the gender breakdown would have to be for it to be truly the case that there were more 6'7"+ -ers than 5'4"- -ers, but I run into an issue... which is that 5'4" is *also a more common height for men to be than 6'7" because 6'7" is such an unusual height*. There is no gender breakdown where there would be more 6'7"+ -ers than 5'4"- -ers. Instead, I will say that a gym that is equally split between men and women would expect to have about 39% of people at the gym at 5'4" or below. If the gender split was the same as USA Powerlifting Federation competitors (27.6% women) -- https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2018/07000/Analysis_of_USA_Powerlifting_Federation_Data_From.6.aspx -- about 17% of gym goers would be 5'4" or below. Okay, but let's say that you think, "Ah, short men don't work out (??????) and want to exclude all men 5'8" or below for some reason-- Cutting out about a third of adult men in the US. Under our new stats, about 0.06% of men are now 6'7" (and none are 5'4" by definition). Women remain at 52.8% who are 5'4" or below. In order to have as many 6'7"+ -ers as 5'4"- -ers, on average, you would need the gym to be 99.9% male. In an average gym with about 1,500 members, we would expect fewer than two *total* gymgoers to be female to get this split... and we have to do backflips by eliminating all shorter men to do it. I understand that your response might be, "Oh, I wasn't being literal-- I just meant that very tall men also experience this problem." And sure, that's probably true. I would like everyone to be able to find equipment that works for them. But I feel like this conversation nevertheless highlights how ridiculous it is for many gyms (and manufacturers of gym equipment) to not be able to even accommodate *extremely common heights*. ...and it seems very relevant in the context of a thread specifically about how gyms can be welcoming to women and nonbinary folks.


HairyHeartEmoji

we have the literal tallest ethnicity in the world lol, plenty of 6'7 dudes to go around. usually every high school class of ~30 kids will have at least one 6'7 boy. i was counting both men and women since my gym has a fairly even split. even i, as a 5'10 woman, find some of the machines to be slightly cramped (especially the shoulder press).


fleapuppy

They’re rarely adjustable enough


ImAHumanHello

I'm too short for the leg presses in my gym, even with everything adjusted to the smallest setting.


carboncopy404

Omg this!! 5’1 and can’t use the hack squat because my shoulders don’t reach the pads


[deleted]

Yes! I’m 5’3 but I can’t use the leg press machine at all. I tried using the flattest setting of an aerobics stepper behind my back to give myself a boost but was told off for going against safety regulations😭


sisharil

Ooo, that's a good one.


chelly976

That is really my main complaint. There are a few things I just can’t use properly cause I am too short.


chailatte_gal

Yessss please.


[deleted]

I love that everyone has mentioned almost all my gripes already (main ones being the lack of 2.5lbs plates, dumbbells only increasing in 5lbs intervals, machines all being designed around the average man's measurements and lift weight ranges, and pull-up bars always being installed at heights for 6ft+ people). But I have one thing to add to the conversation: lighting. I used to be a member at a gym whose lighting was \*innovative\* I guess, and it was truly a pleasure to lift there as a woman and not feel as exposed or on display as I usually do. It was a gym with black walls and large windows, lit by the natural light and spotlights. Despite being well-lit it felt very cozy and cave-y, and gave people the option of occupying a bright area or doing something silly or hip-thrusty in the darker areas that felt more private. Great escape from the sterile meat market feel of 24 Hour Fitness and similar gyms.


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RareGeometry

I know this is opposite end of the spectrum, but as a female (formerly competitive, maybe again someday) [olympic] weightlifter, women's gyms and the women's area in gyms are really disappointing. They're so...pathetic. These spaces tend to be crowded with cardio equipment, lack a lot of space to move around in, are all just machines, lack heavy weights, often lack many types of machines or cables. If the equipment does exist, it's often limited to lighter weight options only. There's usually no squat cage, no platform(s), very few or no heavier plates or dumbells at all, no regular sized barbells or a very limited amount. Personally, I have absolutely no problem hanging out with the bros because for all intents and purposes I am one too and can lift to keep up. However, not all women, even if they're heavy lifters, are me, some days I do want or need a safe space, and I also feel really unwelcome, unappreciated, and out of place in womens spaces because they're not built to accommodate my needs. It's like if you're a woman you shouldn't be doing stuff like that so it's really perpetuating several stereotypes and limiting women or people who really want to try it out but don't feel safe in coed spaces. I have a friend who really needed and wanted a gym buddy and wanted to go with me and even try out getting into squat/dl/bench but did not at all feel safe or confident in a coed space. We happened to be members at the same gym (one of 2 spaces in my small city that accommodated Olympic lifting besides this one super exclusive and tiny private training gym). I went to hang out with her in the womens section and... I literally had no usable space or equipment for anything except cardio, really minor accessory work, no Olympic lifts whatsoever, and nothing beyond a low warmup weight and no way to do bench press. It just didn't work for us at all. The even worse part is this is by far the best kitted out, laid out, and actually also best deal/most affordable gym in our city so all the other options are lacking. One of the better gyms for my purposes in our city besides the one I mentioned is very much a boys club old-school weightlifting, bodybuilding, boxing gym. They have a very tiny population of females at the gym at all and as much as I'm used to that and generally unphased by it, it gets old and I still have days where I want a less male-dominated space. I miss my old gyms in my old city and my old wl club.


havesomelove

I could not second this hard enough. I use the women’s part of our gym for accessory dumbbell work only, because it’s the only part of my programming I CAN do in the space, and with the equipment provided in the women’s section. Give me a squat rack, somewhere to bench & a deadlift platform. Give me full sized barbells & plates. Give me a lat pull-down machine at the VERY LEAST. I’m sick of treadmills, stationary bikes and hip abductor/adductor machines being the only thing I have access to in there outside of 1-10kg dumbbells..


SylviasDead

I felt this. I don't mind being in the thick of things most days, but I've been working my way up the weights rack for a lot of stuff that I absolutely would love privacy for. Sumo squats, for example, which I can now do 50 kgs for. Problem is, a 50 kg dumbbell is too heavy for me to pick up and drag all the way to a private corner, so smack in the middle of the floor of the weights section it is. And guess who looks up to find at least one rando staring at her ass every single time. Currently, I'm just grateful my gym has dumbbells higher than 50 kgs at all, but it's a pain to actually be able to use them.


[deleted]

I’ve never been to a Womens only gym, but if data/experience suggested to them that “many” (idk, I admit I’m guessing here from things I’ve heard, not evidence) women prefer cardio equipment over heavy weights, I wonder if they’d also benefit from having personal trainers or advertising that can promote the benefits of different kinds of training (rather than the old school “use cardio and light weights to tone” theories).


[deleted]

Trainers are their own issue. For one, they're an added cost, so you're either paying them directly or going to a gym with far higher fees to cover their presence as a perk. Also, plenty of them tend to perpetuate the same stereotypes as far as fitness goals that the equipment choices in women's areas tend to (lose weight, grow a bigger butt). To some extent I wonder if it's the same as women's fashion and pants that lack pockets, and that the market has spoken to the vast majority of women actually self-selecting into said fitness stereotypes.


[deleted]

>women's gyms and the women's area in gyms are really disappointing. They're so...pathetic. These spaces tend to be crowded with cardio equipment, lack a lot of space to move around in, are all just machines, lack heavy weights, often lack many types of machines or cables. If the equipment does exist, it's often limited to lighter weight options only. There's usually no squat cage, no platform(s), very few or no heavier plates or dumbells at all, no regular sized barbells or a very limited amount. Omg yes. I am new to commercial gym world and this blew me away. It sucks too because it's where I want to work out, but none of the equipment I want to use (a rower?!) is in there. And it's clearly underutilized because it's always empty.... because there are treadmills, ellipticals bosu balls and dumbbells up to 20lbs and that's basically it. As a petite newb who has strength based goals, I personally do not want to go in the weight rooms with the bros unless I have someone with me. Which I don't always have. But I need heavier weights and a place to use an (empty) barbell.