Hi everyone,
I need to go to the gym for showers, as our bathroom will be unavailable for a couple of weeks due to renovations.
I've been to a swimming pool once in the UK and was quite shocked by how different it was compared to what I'm used to in my home country. For instance, the changing room was not divided by gender, and the shower area was completely open. Towels were not provided either. I remember feeling quite disoriented and ended up wearing my clothes on top of my wet swimsuit because I didn't know how to navigate the unfamiliar setup.
This time, I'm considering going to a different gym and have a few questions:
- Is it uncommon for gyms in the UK to have gender-specific changing rooms?
- How can I find out if the gym showers are partitioned before committing to a membership?
- In shared changing rooms, how does one go about showering? Do you go in fully clothed, shower, and then manage to dress again while still in the shower area?
- Do I need to bring my own shampoo, body wash, and shower towel?
- I remember that using lockers was a bit different, but I can't recall the specifics as I was quite shocked last time. Could you explain what to expect?
- If it is a gender-specific changing room, is it acceptable to walk about naked, or do I still need to wear clothes?
- Are there any other etiquette norms or things I should be aware of?
I know these questions might seem a bit odd, but it seems like one of those things that people just "know" and never discuss online. As I don't have any friends nearby to ask, I would really appreciate any guidance you could provide.
Thank you!