to be surprised by this?

[velvetspoon]

So I've joined a local (newly-opened) gym.

Went for first time today. All spotlessly clean etc.

But the showers were communal one large tiled area, off the changing room, with lots of shower heads. No cubicles of any kind!

Luckily there was no-one else in there, so I was able to shower in private. But not sure if I can face doing so at busy times.

Is this the norm now? I was really surprised by it. Admittedly I haven't been in a gym or similar in years, but I'm sure they used to have some sort of cubicles in the showers to afford even a tiny bit of privacy!

Op, go for it!
My last gym was like this and it was really good for me, I was previously very body shy and it made me take a deep breath and go with it.
Honestly after a few week you honestly won't care and it's really nice to feel relaxed naked instead of self conscious.
Nobody will care about your lumps and bumps.

But the changing rooms are usually communal so I don't really see the difference.
Wouldn't be able to pee in the shower anymore though

I have never showered in front of anyone other than boyfriends or my DC, not really wanting to start now I'm fat and 40!

We never had showers (communal or otherwise) at school, so this is all new to me.

It is a budget gym, the equipment is all really good, so I'm guessing they saved money by dispensing with the shower cubicles!!

I can only hope everyone else is so appalled by lack of privacy they give it a miss. It is rubbish though, there's not even a hook for towels, I had to leave my on the floor by the shower entrance.

Didn't you use communal showers at school? I did, so I'm pretty used to it and believe me no one is looking at you. At least now I don't have the angry female PE teacher keep walking in and shouting at me to hurry up

Uh? It's women only yes? Not an issue. All shapes and sizes in the pool I go to and communal showers. Mind you maybe a gym for " the beautiful people" would make me more self conscious as I definitely ain't one of them!

Don't let it put you off. No one will be looking at you. You'll get used to it. It's fairly standard

My mum's gym is like this. She was very self conscious the first time she used it (late 40s, the first time in her life she had been overweight, shy, depressed) and she said the first month or so was hell. Then she realised one day she hadn't even thought about it, just done it! And no-one else seemed particularly bothered by it.

She's made really good freinds at the gym over the years - it's been about 15 years now, and she sees it as totally normal.

Ugh, am still not convinced. Pinning my hopes on me being there at uncrowded times. Or on everyone else giving it a swerve in favour of their own showers at home!

Christ! That's horrifying. It's bad enough when everyone stares in the changing rooms never mind being naked in the showers. I'd be asking Reception when theyre going to complete the facilities.

Op i feel your horror. They have just done this at my gym, relocated to a brand new building... But unlike the previous space, no doors or curtains on the shower cubicles. No-one likes it or understands the reasoning behind it and ffs, how expensive would it be to put up a few shower curtains? YANBu.

Do people really stare in communal changing rooms single? I have never seen that happen in the changing room at the gym I go to. Why would half naked women stare at other half naked women? (Apart from the obvious but unlikely reason)

In the ones I go to, the showers have curtains/doors, but I honestly don't think I'd be bothered by communal ones.

The only way I'm showering with women is in Joey Trebbianis middle aged chubby women's fantasy

I couldn't do it. Yes I know I'm a wuss..

I'd get naked and shower no worries, because at the end of the day we all have human bodies and being naked isn't in itself offensive, not in a shower getting clean anyway.

I grew up in Germany and it was the norm to walk around naked in the changing area and showers, so it's less of a shock when I realise a local leisure center doesn't have individual cubicles.

Then again, usually I use the disabled changing room and it's private, so maybe it's easy for me to say that. I have recently stripped off in a communal shower area with other people around, and most people didn't even blink twice. Some chose to stay in a swimming costume, but obviously that isn't a choice if you are at the gym, unless you bring a costume to shower in, but that just seems like hassle to me.

Shrug... My gym and pool both have communal showers and I shower on my own, or alongside my friend if I've done a session with her.

I prefer it, airier, no mould covered walls or curtains, more space. Everyone has the same bits, who cares....

At my local YMCA there are shower stalls, but that does not stop the elderly ladies strolling through the locker room in the nude. More power to them, I say. As for me, I slink to and from the shower stall with my towel securely covering everything from my chin to my knees. ;)

I don't dig communal showering. Not at all. Not ever.

I'd go elsewhere.

Didn't you look round before signing up?

I think it'll be ok after a couple of weeks. No one is going to be looking at you, in the same way that you won't be looking at anyone else. I would complain/suggest hooks though, having to put your towel on the floor is rubbish.

Velvet I think that could be a valid reason for ending your membership early if it's too much for you. Depends whether there's an affordable alternative nearby. Sounds like you didn't look round first. I have found gym changing rooms and showers are often filthy so would always want to see them before I signed up. I wouldn't like this either.

If you joined online there's a seven day cooling off period by law so you could terminate your membership early without being penalised.

Oh, I thought you meant mixed too. Saying that though, I still wouldn't like it, and I'm not sure that it's on my list of things that I have to get over.

I looked at the actual gym part, it never occurred to me to look at the showers!

That said, it is hobsons choice in my town, the only other gym is the hideously expensive David Lloyd. I'm unlikely to ever go before work, so worst case if there are other women in there I'll forego a shower and go home sweaty.
It's not brilliantly laid out to my mind. - not just the lack of hooks in the showers (or anything - it's just a little room with about 8 showerheads round the walls) but also all lockers are in the gym itself - there's nowhere secure in the changing room to leave your bag while you're showering, yesterday I ended up taking mine with me, and leaving it by the doorway to the shower (with my towel on top of it!).

It's not so bad once you take the plunge. In used to use the one nearest the will and keep facing the wall, then make a swift exit. Once you have done it a few times you will be fine. If you act confident no one will care, honestly. People look more at those who skulk, trying to balance towels and wash ect

Does sound like a rubbish design Velvet. Nothing like any changing room I've ever been to. If it's the only affordable option then maybe it's worth sticking it out.