Crazy things are always happening in a gym. Sometimes they appear serious, but most of the time they are comical and worth chalking up to a gym story.
However, out of all the gym-story scenarios, I question whether a funny locker room story is funny, or just a reflection of something weird?
Does locker room etiquette exist? Did it ever exist?
I’ve been going to gyms since I was 14 years old. Although, that may not be an extremely long time ago, it has given me funny stories, as well as made me witness to funny stories from gym friends.
When I was in high school I thought anything remotely immature was funny. However, as I’ve gotten older, I question how other people in the locker room feel about antics going on around them.
A few clubs I’ve spoken with over the past couple of years have discussed separate locker rooms for teenagers and adults. These rooms allow teenagers to be a little goofier, but give respect to the adults.
However, in many of the gyms I’m in, I don’t see odd situations involving teenagers. Most teens are there with friends trying to stay in shape for an upcoming sports season. They talk about parties, coaches, the game last week and sometimes new workout routines.
Most of the time, the teenager won’t spend longer than a few minutes in the locker room, and the vast majority doesn’t shower at the gym.
Since my early 20s, what I’ve noticed in the locker room hasn’t been funny situations provided by a few kids, but awkward situations from adults.
This emphasizes my question: does locker room etiquette exist?
It seems, the older people get, the more relaxed they become in the locker room. They take longer when they change, and they have a mild concern for other people around them.
I understand that you have to respect your elders, but there are certain locker room situations I just can’t respect.
Speaking with other gym goers, I’ve heard many of the same complaints. At the time you kind of laugh off weird situations, but as they become more common, it’s more of a distraction.
Some people have a tendency to treat the locker room like their own bathroom, or house. They forget they are in public. Should there be a code of conduct in the locker room?
Is there a way to make the locker room more civilized, or are we stuck walking into a high school football locker room every day? Is the only way to avoid certain situations, to avoid the locker room altogether?
In modern society, is the locker room still a place for “complete relaxation,” or is it a place of quick change before a great workout?
Tyler Montgomery is the Editor of Club Solutions Magazine. Contact him at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com
