To feel embarrassed about walking around naked in gym changing rooms?

[IShouldNotCoco]

It isn’t because I dislike my body or anything but I do feel incredibly awkward about just stripping off and walking around. Is it upbringing?

I am quite envious of all the women who seem totally unbothered about doing this. If you’re trying to get changed without exposing everything, you’re definitely in the minority at my gym.

So I’m wondering how common it is for people to feel the way I do?!

But there could just be lots and lots of cubicles?! Using the whole open plan space. I can’t think of a single reason for open plan changing other than cost cutting.

But most places are open changing rooms with perhaps 1 or 2 cubicles.

At least, my gym is.

Where are these changing rooms with cubicles for everyone?

I think the same about nudity anywhere. It's just not necessary, thanks.

I am not envious or ashamed of anything. We all have just done a cession in a gym bra and a pair of shorts, or been swimming, there's not much left to imagination 😂.

Get dress quietly, fine. The need to walk around naked? Why is that?

Yes. men and women are the same, I don't expect men to parade around naked in my changing room either - even if frankly that would make a more interesting sight when they are good looking.

Honestly, cover your arse, we are not interested, that's all.

I stopped going to aqua fit because women... Mainly older... Would dash to get a cubicle then not shut the door but lift a leg up on the bench whilst ( seemingly) spend an absolute age " flossing" their crevices or standing in the open doorway just chatting. Yes to be fair I was bought up a bit Victorian esque but why nab all the cubicles if you're not actually seeking privacy. For context I often go topless on holiday and have even gone nude in the dedicated places... as im in my 59s I'm sure it wasn't a pretty site . However I'm laying still on a sunbed, not talking loudly whilst wibble- wobbling my knockers and leg on the bench flossing my Forrest gump whilst chatting away to people. 😳😂

I’m not sure why people are mentioning other countries. We are talking about gyms in the uk. It’s not morally superior for a nation to have different social norms around nudity.

And yes I have been to a mixed naked spa- in the Netherlands as it happens (rather an appropriate country name for this thread!) It feels perfectly normal there. Not so much in a British gym changing room. No idea why people just is. And @Mumoftwochildrenand6furkids itd nothing to do with shame or not working hard enough at the gym - what a nasty, snarky little comment that was.

in my case I go to the gym every day. So I see the same women every day. I’ve made friends with some of the women I have met in the changing rooms. That adds an extra layer of awkwardness to it for me. We don’t cower under towels. But we don’t parade or swan either.

I was uk born but brought up in France due to dad’s job. Mum, sister and l always went topless on the beach, sometimes with mum’s friends. None of us were scarred for life. Changing rooms for municipal facilities were usually single sex but communal. Loos often unisex and everyone was quite relaxed.

There could, but like I said, it's not an efficient use of space and it's harder and more expensive to design and build. It's also less attractive to look at than having open space. A bit utilitarian and military. That might not bother you but most people like an attractive facility to use.

This way, there's the cubicle option available but also the advantages of more space that more people can use at the same time. It's practical.

And there's nothing wrong with it! It's totally fine to have an open space, single sex changing room. We don't need to fill up space that people could be using with doors and walls. It's expensive, impractical and unattractive. There's nothing wrong with single sex open changing!

because we are highlighting the prudery of the British.

Having said that my friends from the US are much worse. To the point that a friend would always change at the gym in the toilets, and because that blocked one of 2 toilets she was told it wasn't acceptable and to stop. And she stopped using that, or any, gym over here (Germany) which is bonkers.

Some people do walk around naked or in their pants. Nobody needs to look at them. Even the teenage girls who come in for their gym class in the last year of school don't squirm around under a towel hopping around on one leg in case a nipple pops out. They are discreet, but don't make a big song and dance about it.

We have a few that do it in the changing room at my gym, we even have a lady that doesn't close the shower door on the cubicle, always chooses the one facing right toward the changing benches and stands there scrubbing her bits

I just turn away from those that do and get changed in a way I'm comfortable, preferably in one of the cubicles (there's only 3) if ones available

There's nothing wrong with keeping covered as much as possible if that's what you prefer

We have 10 cubicles in our gym changing room. Gaps underneath so we'd see if someone keeled over.

Plus an island of benches in the middle. Plenty of choice for everyone.

I use lockers. I’d hate to be in that environment

I’m not prudish and I’m comfortable with my body, but honestly it was one of the things that put me off about the gym. I’d get change subtly but there would be women almost parading their bodies. Stretched out rubbing cream on without bothering to put knickers on first or anything. Mainly older women but it was frequent and blatant - wasn’t a fan and didn’t understand why it was necessary?!

A Chat friend on MN, told me about her gym/spa place that on a Friday night after the Spin Class it was quite a club atmosphere. Many were showing off new lingerie and clothes, also the occasional signal of friendship. This led her onto her first Sapphic encounter.
Anyone seen any signs and signals at your gym. I haven't been to a gym for years.
Another reason for stopping that Sex Chat thread I suppose?

I used to go to a gym where one particular woman used to dry her hair while she was naked and for a final flourish, she'd give it a quick blast between the legs.

I also used to have a colleague who I'd go to the gym with occasionally who used to wander around the changing room naked. She was very fond of saying "when you've had kids, you dont care who sees what."

I used to feel like that years ago but not since people have phones out in these spaces all the time. My local spa has a phone ban but people are constantly taking pictures.

@Brefugee yes i obviously realise that. But why it’s spoken of with such an air of superiority is the puzzlement. It’s not a moral victory. I’ve been in onsens in Japan, a sauna in Finland, a thermal spa in Hungary, a hammam in Morocco, an ancient moorish spa in Spain, posh spas in the uk and ny bog standard gym in England. They all had their own codes in nudity - or not. No problem, I’ll fit in with whatever. But none of that makes one nation better than any other - just different.

It’s true there is nothing wrong with keeping covered. But what started this off was someone thinking there was something wrong with being naked. There’s nothing wrong with a naked body either.

This makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. Im huddled in a corner bent over with a towel over my back trying to stay covered and get dressed without a nippe or 2 in my face

Do other women routinely get up in your face while getting changed?

There are usually a few cubicles available if you're really that uncomfortable, or the toilets if you really have to.

(Guess secondary school??)

But back to the topic, not peoples spelling, maybe change gym??? Complain? But no, if that isn't convenient or an option, I would find that a bit weird - I don't want to see naked people with their legs up in the air, my young aunt would say 'showing all their lettuces' (canutes) - I personally don't like the so common & usual 'communal' changing rooms these days - who knows who is there for the wrong reasons? (Of course, most are just there for 'normal' reasons'. ie just changing after exercise / swimming etc). My friend & I take it in turns to 'patrol' outside the cubicles we are in while we are re-dressing - and unfortunately also have a camera ready to take pics / videos of any 'undesirables', whoever they may be - male or female. For some reason, I also tend to keep a can of Deep Heat in my bag. .....- for my knee pain of course - If going to my regular baseball training I may also have a large bat.......I don't think I am a prude, but parading around naked just isn't necessary, surely - and may indeed, give certain others the 'wrong idea' that this is acceptable for everyone? 'LOOK AT ME' etc??? (It may then not be you that has any consequences, but an innocent woman or child).

Yes, we all have bums / boobs &, 'male bits' (pretty sure most everyone does....) but some things are surely private and don't need to be exposed to all and sundry (and who knows who else??).
On the other hand, if you don't care about exposing your body to who the hell knows who (think CCTV as well, many apologies to the good CCTV monitors, not meant as an insult to you) - please think about what vibes you are giving off that this is acceptable for everyone? Sorry for the ramble, but this can put so many people off just going to a gym / pool etc. Please respect yourself and others and their families? PLEASE help keep people / children / women & guys safe. XX

Not an uncommon abbreviation

Could it be secondary school?

Im quite happy to be naked at home but not in public and other folk wandering around naked would make me feel uncomfortable

I’ve gotten used to it tbh. People at my gym don’t parade around naked but everyone gets changed and does their thing. Most of us don’t really take notice, we all are just there to get changed. Sometimes I go with a friend and then we joke about it afterwards winding up her partner by saying we were naked together earlier 😂

This is very cultural. Britain is extremely private as a culture. I grew up in Scandinavia and you're not allowed to use swimwear in the saunas there generally. In public swimming places the showers are all open and they keep the saunas in the changing rooms to keep them gender separated due to nudity. I grew up seeing all kinds of people naked though and never thought anything of it, including men. I know it's the same in many other European countries. In Germany they go in hot tubs naked, genders mixed. This being said I don't walk around naked in the gym changing room here as I'm used to the more private culture nowadays having lived here some time + I'm fairly self conscious, so I get changed quickly.