Atelier Doré

Funny you write this today. Just Sunday, as I was lifting weights at my local YMCA, I realized: « I could care less what I look like when I work out around these people. » Everyone was focused on his/her own workout. I go early in the mornings and don’t even comb my hair before I go. I go after work, run on the track, and look like a red, hot, sweaty mess. It’s the Y … you’re supposed to work out and sweat. If you want to worry about how you look and how everyone else looks, go to a bar!

hm yes, I totally get what you are talking about. I still have my gym membership, but it’s more of a people-watching space than a space where you can workout in peace without being stared at. And the weirdest thing is really when people are checking themselves out in those giant mirrors… I mean, when you are actually at the GYM, the whole purpose is to work your ass off. You can check yourself out later ;)

I fail at working out! I just started yoga and it’s the best workout ever!

http://hashtagliz.com

Hi Neada !

When I lived in Paris downtown, I had a one-year subscription to a popular gym club. I became addicted. I liked to attended workout classes (body combat, body pump, abs, etc.). Although it was not the best place coz it was packed in the strategic/afterwork hours, it then stinked. And it was not always easy to follow the teacher when someone was walking on your feet and you don’t have room to lift your arms on the sides…
I moved away from Paris in the surburbs. I didn’t have tim to go to the gym after work then. Public transporation here after 10:00pm (RER not metro) is kinda creepy here. I started instead to run in the wood next to my place on week-ends as I used to do at my family home. Even though I’m too bad to motivate myself to get up and run outside, running and working out in the morning in the wood is something special and magical. To gain some time too, I follow online workouts that I like (blogilates : I love Cassey the girl, she has a fun personnality and really pushes you to work hard, like in class), while I’m at home. And I promise : I sweat, I shout ! It’s very effective (I mean I feel my muscles working). I think I found also another alternative of packed city gym clubs and I enjoy very much this way.

In Paris I know there are fancy gym clubs (Klay, l’Usine, etc.) but it’s hella expensive and helloooo ! I work : why interesting classes are during day time ?!!!! Anyway here was my input miss Neada and I’m with you : the first important thing for me is to find a good and comfortable environment to workout/run/do yoga that suits my daily habits and where I’m at ease at.

Real lifting gyms are not like that. Everyone is just lifting their own weight and trying to improve, if they’re looking at you it’s to spot a rep because you asked them. Olympic and lifting people are great.

Je ne fais pas de sport du tout ;) mais c’est vrai que le sport dans l’imaginaire des gens c’est plutôt fait pour améliorer son apparence, si on veut faire du vrai sport, la salle de gym n’est pas vraiment là pour ça!

Cécile
http://www.maxcebycecilej.com

I’m more into getting my exercise from dancing or walking the city, going to the gym has never been my thing. But what I find a little crazy about gym culture here in NYC (I think it’s a new trend) is all this exhibitionism; all the gym seem to have all these wide windows allowing random people on the street to look at people exercising. I’m sorry but how can people be ok with strangers looking at them when they exercise? It’s one thing to have other people in the gym see you, in the end you are all in it together, but people on the street… I’ve seen from the sidewalk into the gym to find people on their back raising their butt up in the air, thrusting up and down, no privacy at all, it’s kinda crazy.

My gym passes the acid test: I’ve never seen anyone there wearing make-up. Never.

I think it depends not only where you go but when you go. I used to work out at 11 at night because there were so many fewer people, so I didn’t have to waste as much time waiting for weights. The people who worked out at that time seemed a lot more serious about their workouts–probably why they picked a less convenient time. We did still have people checking themselves out, but it was actual bodybuilders making sure their form was on point! I even met a boyfriend there (common interests, right?) He was serious about his workouts so he was way more attracted to the sweaty, red girl who was pushing herself and pulling strange, intense faces than anyone who left looking pristine.

The problem is, I’m not sure I could ever stand to work out at a gym during peak hours anymore. I got way too spoiled!

I love to work out (for aesthetics and sanity), but have found that I much prefer to do free exercise, like running or home yoga videos. Not only do these cost nothing (sans winter running gear), but I find it takes about half as much time when I don’t have to travel to a gym or studio in the city.

I go to a womens only gym, which makes a huge difference if you ask me. No men around changes the feel of the place completely. And girls who come to the gym to see and be seen? You won’t find them at a womens only gym either ;) Just a bunch of red-faced, sweaty women who come to the gym to work out. Perfect!

Blogilates is definitely worth a look! Working out alone – and at home – is really double edged: it’s the best alternative to packed classes and music blaring out of the sound system, and at the same time, it can be really hard to motivate yourself and stick to it. But for now that’s what I like the most!

Yeah, I get pretty gross when I lift in the gym. I want to look good LATER so I bust my ass now!

I used to go to the gym a lot in college. The gyms at American universities are state of the art. Ours was two stories, had a climbing wall, a track, water slide, several basketball courts… the list goes on. I mostly took classes taught by other students… they were fun but it definitely wasn’t personal. My friends and I would always go partly to socialize before and after class, too. Since graduating, I have joined a small barre studio and I absolutely love it. Small, all women, very personal (instructors know students on a first name basis) and everyone is there to feel good! I could never belong to a stinky gym again!

Hi Neada!

Here in my country the gyms are usually separated to women’s space and men’s space. And from my gym experience, I hate going to the women’s space because everyone is looking at me, comparing themselves to me, always pointing some of my bad traits (I’m not at my finest looks when working out, like you) and making nasty remarks about my sweating and lack of makeup. Also, the women’s space hasn’t got not nearly enough real workout equipment, it’s mostly cardio So I started going to the men’s space with my cousin who lifts but the equipment there is 10 times better and no one is looking at you, although it’s full of men. They just do their routines, and I’ve even got compliments out of them for my lifting achievement, regardless the sweating and no makeup. Turns out men are a lot more tolerant and explain a lot better about any exercise, so I’m feeling a lot more at home around the guys and way more productive.

I live in Sweden and exercise regularly at the gym five times a week. I think in Nordic countries people train a lot and it is a part of the daily life, not a thing to show off. I feel very comfortable while traning, cause no one is checking other people or themselves on the mirror. It is more like antural thing and you are welcome however you look. I find this very comfortable!

I love my gym, I live in an older residence area of Buenos Aires and there are only aged woman, who really make a big effort; silk shawls, golden earrings and glittering jumpsuits. It makes me happy to look at them and realise you can age gracefully, even at the gym. But this is also a major part of the Argentine culture.

I’ve lived in NYC for 5 years and I’ve traded my gyms for studio classes. I was a gym member for 2 years but hardly went because it didn’t have classes and honestly, I’m too lazy to get motivated. Then I tried SoulCycle and before you roll your eyes, I felt like I found a regime that worked for me. My instructor is amazing (hi Akin!) and I loved the efficiency of 45 mins workout.

Then Classpass came.. which ultimately changes everything and opened the doors to studios around the city for just $99 a month. I’m pretty sure I’ll never join a gym again because (1) it’s so much for efficient, (2) I love the fact that I’m working out under the guidance of someone who knows what to do and (3) I get to do different things a few times a week. Win – Win.

I agree with each Anne-Marie’s word about losing muscle mass, aging gracefully and opening all jam jars in household.
Ladies, please remember about it,.

La plupart des gens qui font du sport sont principalement préoccupés par leurs apparences physiques. Perso, je préfère en faire pour me déstresser, ou me vider l’esprit, je trouve que le reste est secondaire :). J’ai d’ailleurs trouvé quelques salles de sport pas trop mal avec le site de rencontres entre amis http://www.woozgo.fr/ . Quand tu seras en France, tu pourrais consulter ce dernier ;)

There was a corner in my former gym where all the guys were showing off their bodies- to each others I think because I cannot imagine a girl being interested (maybe it’s just me…). Women generally minded their own business and didn’t look around for approval. But the whole experience was so boring that I’ve traded my gym membership for Ballet Beautiful and never looked back!
Ana
http://www.champagnegirlsabouttown.co.uk

I use to work out with a trainer in a local gym and loved that. I got what I needed to do done and I was gone. But now everything seems so intimidating without a trainer. It’s so complicated now, the machines. It gets crowded. So many people who are either so serious or not at all. Where is the middle ground.

And now everyone wants cross fit. I thought about it but its so much of a commitment and with two kids that is just not going to happen. Nor am I sure I want that level.

I liked the exercise, wanted to stay strong and healthy and not get hurt.
I get bored doing cardio so I prefer to walk or play tennis.

I am looking to do Pilates or yoga because of tightness and I do not want to get hurt but those studios are even more intimidating and private sessions are even more out of budget. but ideally that is where I want to be. I love the sound of your Yoga place!

I’ve stopped going to the gym as well and found the best place in Paris to practice yoga early in the morning, right by the Canal St Martin…it’s called Mysore Yoga Paris -candles, sound of the breath, experienced teachers are much better than the gym rat environments ;)