Now that gyms are more popular than ever, they’re filled with more types of people than ever. There are the jocks, the weightlifters, the serious exercisers, the newbies, and the casual walkers. These groups can be highly attractive to each other, but they can also be intimidating. If you’re the rare person who doesn’t jock out at your gym, you often find yourself the misfit at the gym. But you don’t need to let it bother you.
Working out in a gym can be incredibly difficult when those around you are negative or toxic. It can feel like the people around you are just putting you down or trying to make you look bad, and it’s enough to drive you to quit! This doesn’t have to be the case, though. You’ll have better luck working out at the gym if you surround yourself with supportive, positive people.
Here are 6 Tips to Help You Deal with Toxic Gym Classmates:
- Accept reality – When you go to the gym, you hope that you’ll meet some new people, but if you’re like me, you hate being the new kid in class. This is especially true when the other gym-goers are, well… toxic. Sure, they probably haven’t met you yet, so they’re probably nice, but I’ve been in gyms where I’ve been the new girl, and I’ve had to deal with horrible people.
- Be clear with your intentions – Gyms can be intimidating, even with the right membership. Joining a gym may seem intimidating to people, but it doesn’t have to be. People visit gyms for a variety of reasons. Some join because they want to get into better shape; others join because they need a workout plan they can stick to. And then there are the people that join looking for a community and hoping to build a lasting relationship. Regardless of how you came to the gym, it’s essential to put yourself out there.
- Identify your limitations – Having bad gym class relationships can certainly put a damper on your health enthusiasm. While it’s tempting to dwell on the bad stuff, it’s important not to lose motivation. Instead, use your gym time productively by noticing your part in these gym class relationships.
- Choose the right people – Gym class can be some of the roughest or most pleasant experiences of your life, depending on who you share it with. Some gym-goers bond over their love of working out or their love for pushing themselves to the next level. Others bond over hating one another or bullying people for looking or acting differently.
- Giving someone a chance – Forgiveness is a hard concept to grasp. Forgiving others means letting them off the hook for past actions, but it’s not easy to let go of grudges you’ve held onto for years. But if you’re holding onto a grudge against a friend, colleague, or family member, you may be holding yourself back from true peace, love, and happiness.
- Patience is the key – The gym can be a toxic place, and it shouldn’t be. Meaningless banter, mean girls, bullying, and other negative behaviors can take a toll on your confidence and your mental health. When you find yourself feeling upset, hurt, or anxious because you feel abused by your gym friends, take time for yourself to deal with the situation. Take deep breaths, write in a journal, or listen to soothing music (or a comedy podcast!). Give yourself time to grieve for a toxic gym classmate.
The gym can be a positive environment for many people, but it can also be pretty toxic. While exercising regularly is beneficial to your health, it can also be dangerous for a lot of people. This is especially true for young people who haven’t yet developed all the skills and habits they need to stay safe in a gym environment.