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Amanda Gay, a marketing manager in Queens, New York, always knew she was athletic and strong, and she put in the hours to maintain her fitness. But one day, a group of men walking by her gym noticed her while she was working out. They proceeded to bang on her gym’s windows, pointing at her and laughing as she exercised, all while an aware employee stood nearby and did nothing about it.
“It kept me out of the gym for years,” shares Gay. “It made me second guess myself.”
The ability to feel safe and welcome in the place in which a person chooses to exercise is a key component of the inclusive fitness movement. By definition, inclusive fitness spaces are gyms and studios with staff and trainers who welcome, respect and represent members of all body shapes and sizes, ability levels, ages, identities and socioeconomic backgrounds. They allow everyone access to a safe environment in which they can work toward and reach their exercise goals—especially at the start of their fitness journey, says Morit Summers, a certified personal trainer, co-owner of FORM Fitness in Brooklyn, New York, and author of Big & Bold: Strength Training for the Plus-Size Woman.
Read on to learn more about inclusive fitness, including why inclusivity in fitness matters, red flags signaling a space may be non-inclusive and how to find inclusive fitness spaces near you.
For a gym-goer, a fitness space is inclusive when the environment is welcoming, nonjudgmental and supportive of someone’s freedom to be and feel like themselves, says Britt Behrns, a marketing associate in Brooklyn and client at The Ness, a trampoline fitness studio in New York.
“I keep coming back because there’s no worry or dread of going to the studio,” she adds.
Inclusive fitness spaces are likely to display the following characteristics, according to industry professionals:
Personalized instruction or modifications. Fitness professionals can be inclusive of all individuals by customizing training sessions and modifying group fitness classes as much as possible. “A transgender person who [recently] had surgery, a plus-size person and a mom who works 45 hours a week [each require] something very different based on their bodily needs,” says Summers. “That doesn’t mean [individuals aren’t] doing the same exercises—[the movements are] just adjusted personally.”
In group fitness settings specifically, instructors should ask attendees about any injuries or other concerns and offer adjustments to accommodate different abilities, according to both Summers and Brandon Dawson, a certified personal trainer and manager of 9x Fitness in Malibu, California.
Affordable pricing. From boutique studios to large luxury fitness companies, high prices can be a barrier to entry for many people trying to exercise on a tighter budget. Summers points to Blink Fitness as an inclusive option with affordable membership and training fees.
Alternatively, some fitness spaces offer sliding scale payment plans, allowing some clients to pay a discounted fee based on their specific financial situation. Depending on the facility, sliding scale plans may have a minimum threshold, be limited to a certain number of clients or require proof of income or hardship for eligibility.
Personable staff. A warm introduction can make all the difference, says Dawson. “For example, [a staff member] shaking [someone’s] hand, giving them a high five, saying, ‘Hello, we’re happy to have you,’ smiling and being genuine [indicates a welcoming fitness environment],” he adds.
Established relationships with clients. An important approach for helping people get the most out of their fitness facility experience is to understand the unique values underlying their motivations for joining the gym. The only way to do this is to have authentic and open communication with the members. “Take the time to get to know your clients beyond their fitness experience,” encourages Aly Giampolo, certified personal trainer and co-founder and instructor at The Ness. Doing so can give a trainer a deeper understanding of their clients’ physical space, which may affect their individual exercise program, she adds.
Kathleen, another Brooklyn-based FORM Fitness client, credits a communicative relationship with Summers for keeping her healthy in the early days of the pandemic and after undergoing extensive leg surgery. “For the first time, I felt like somebody was actually looking at the way I moved and giving me really good cues about how to make my movements easier and better,” she says.
Accessible facilities. Gyms can be inclusive to people of varying identities, abilities, needs and skill levels by providing accessible parking, entrances and restrooms, as well as equipment that is adaptable for people with disabilities, says Alyza Berman, LCSW, founder and clinical director of The Berman Center, a mental health treatment center in Atlanta. Inclusive facilities also include gender-neutral changing rooms and locker rooms, adds Bermans, providing a safe, physical space for people of all identities.
Set and enforced inclusive policies. “An inclusive gym or fitness studio should have policies that support inclusion, such as a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment,” says Berman. She adds that such policies should be on display in the facility, social media and new member contracts and staff contracts. She also recommends “ongoing in-person training for staff in order to demonstrate the level of importance of inclusivity and acceptance.”
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Inclusive fitness gives everyone an equal opportunity to reap the benefits of physical activity, such as improved mobility, enhanced energy, feelings of empowerment and reduced mental stress.
A 2021 review of fitness studies in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health concludes that adults with physical disabilities tend to avoid fitness centers primarily due to a lack of accessibility and adjustable equipment, as well as negative interactions with staff and other gym goers, such as unrealistic expectations from instructors and staff acting in judgmental and intimidating ways[1].
Similarly, finding a shame-free environment is important to individuals who live with overweight or obesity when selecting a gym, according to a 2017 survey in Stigma and Health, and researchers also connected the experience of weight stigma at the gym with poor emotional and physical health[2].
In addition, a 2018 study in BMC Obesity notes that weight bias or fat shaming can cause fear of judgment or mistreatment and foster a “why try?” mentality, which may lead to exercise avoidance among individuals living with obesity[3].
A lack of inclusive fitness centers can cause physical inactivity in certain populations, which in turn can lead to many chronic physical and mental health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, depression and anxiety.
Feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome in fitness spaces also affects individuals’ mental health, says Summers. “Feeling excluded can amount to feelings of societal rejection, which can result in profound feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, jealousy and sadness,” adds Lana Seiler, a licensed clinical social worker and lead therapist at All Points North, a Colorado-based health company.
“Physical health is one of the most successful ways to bridge the gap between body and mind, and finding inclusive fitness spaces could be the first step to opening a new front door to mental health treatment for those who need it,” adds Seiler.
Identifying signs of a non-inclusive fitness space can help individuals make informed decisions about where they choose to exercise.
A lack of community diversity can be a red flag. If a gym’s staff and/or clientele looks and acts like one homogenous group, it may be difficult for individuals from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds to feel welcome and represented in that gym, says Berman.
Aggressive messaging may include posters around the gym that promote a single goal or image. “[Losing weight] is not the definition of fitness, for example,” says Summers. “A gym or trainer focused on helping everyone lose weight is just trying to make everybody the same, and that’s not inclusive.”
Intense messaging, such as “you win or lose” or “a million reps or you’re a failure,” might also indicate a one-track mentality in the space or an unsafe environment when it comes to avoiding pain or injury, says Dawson.
Poor gym etiquette also signals exclusivity. Be mindful of whether clients and staff hang out in small, tight groups to talk instead of working out, says Perry Mykleby, a certified personal trainer at ThisIsWhyImFit.com, an online fitness and health education platform. He also warns about folks hogging equipment or communal areas and walking or standing too close to others working out. Such behavior can intimidate other gym-goers and make them feel unwelcome or unsafe.
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Now that you know what to look for in an inclusive fitness space, here’s how to start your search for one near you.
“It was a matter of finding someone who believed in me and my body, not despite it—someone who didn’t look at the shape of my body and immediately underestimate me,” shares Gay, reflecting on her experience now that she’s a member of an inclusive fitness community. Everyone deserves the opportunity to take care of their body at their own pace no matter their identity or ability. Inclusive fitness spaces, which rely on both staff and clients to be universally welcoming and respectful, are crucial to providing that opportunity.
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Lauren Silva, a freelance writer in New York City, believes in feeling good in your body and making that experience accessible to everyone across generations. The proof is in her ever-piling browser tabs and newsletters, which help her stay on top of the latest wellness trends. When she’s not researching sustainable alternatives to her everyday products, Lauren is likely attempting to make a dent in her “TBR” book pile.
Sabrena Jo, Ph.D., senior director of science and research at the American Council on Exercise, has decades of experience helping people find ways to become physically active. From working one-on-one with clients to leading group fitness classes to teaching and developing curricula at universities, Dr. Jo has always had a passion for supporting people as they start and maintain a physically active lifestyle. A graduate from the University of Kansas, Dr. Jo’s research interests include understanding how the motivational climate influences optimal experiences for participants in various exercise settings.