Back in campus days when I studied in the UK, the first time right after I swam in the pool, I went to locker room thinking of taking a shower. But, when I saw the communal style of showering area, I decided not to. It was actually one huge open space. Without curtain and no privacy. Being an Asian, I felt uneasy to get naked with a group of strangers.
Now, back here in Malaysia, in my local gym, in men’s locker room, what happen is:
- Some guys change in the toilet. Some change behind the curtain in the shower cubicle.
- Some change in the common area with towel hanging around the waist.
- Few go to a corner, take off everything and quickly get into clothes.
- Few are actually get naked, sit down, and walk here and there at the common area or even having conversation.
As for myself, nowadays, since the gym is only less than 10 minutes drive from my home, I change at home before I go there. I also prefer to take shower at my own place.
One of my friends prefer to walk nude at locker room. His point is, it does not make sense to wrap a towel and to walk just 30 feet from the locker to the shower place. He does not have ripped body shape like Rayn Reynolds, but he does not care. He told me not to be ashamed of my body. Besides my friend, occasionally, I see men of all ages wandering around in the gym locker room in their bathing suits – young bodies, old bodies, thin bodies, fat bodies or hairy bodies.
I have no issue when people flaunt their nakedness and cannot be concerned at all. No, I am also not ashamed of my body. It is nothing to do with body image. Some people cover up out of modesty, religious or other reasons, be them men or women. I have no issue being shirtless, but to be in bathing suit in front of others, I definitely not comfortable. Moreover, having an unforgettable experience with them at gym, I still prefer to cover up down there.
I actually tried once, but not by chance. Because I have left my towel at the locker and not wanting to wear my wet workout clothes after my shower, I decided to walk without wearing anything to my locker. I did not dare to run because the floor was slippery. So, I walked calmly. However, the 30-feet distance seems to be 300 feet for me. I did not dare to stare at others and hoping others would not look at me too. Half way through, one of the gym members recognized me and said, “Mun, just took your shower?”
At that moment, I was struggling – should I stopped or should I just keep walking to my locker?
I decided to walk straight to my locker. Took my towel and wrap around, I turned and then only I talked to the friend.
I have not been to woman locker room, but I assume things may be different. According to my female friends, the above listed scenarios take place too in female locker room at her gym. In fact, some mothers bring their sons, probably 2 to 6 years old boys to women locker room.
What happen at gym in Asia may different from places in Europe and even in the US. Imagine if everyone change in front of other, it may be awkward if only you change inside a stall.
I was also told that some gyms in Europe actually ban camera phone in locker room. Not forget to mention naked gym in Netherlands. Japan even has unisex sauna facility.
Interesting.
Share with me about your thought. I would love to hear from you.
Category: Funny Fitness Experience 
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sue // Aug 30, 2009 at 1:25 AM
I’m in nyc, and I have always felt comfortable showering and changing at the gym. I wrap a towel around myself, and would never walk around naked. I think a lot of women have body issues, so the showers are actually rarely used and very few women even change out of their sweats, they just grab their bags and leave. I always get a clean shower and there’s never a wait. Perfect for me. As an added bonus my own bathroom is spotless because I rarely shower there.
astrothsknot // Aug 30, 2009 at 10:13 AM
my gym’s changing room is unisex and has a lot of children in it as the changing room is right next to the pool and is the changing room for the whole facility. I shower at the gym quite happily and wear a towel to go to a cubicle.
If one was to go naked, one would be banned with charges pressed.
Tom Parker // Aug 30, 2009 at 9:33 PM
I don’t have any big issue with public changing/showering but if there is an option to get changed in a separate cubicle I usually take that one. I think if communal changing is the only option it’s more practical to just get changed rather than fiddle around with a towel.
However, I would find a naked gym very off putting. It would not just be a visual problem either but the fact that a stranger’s naked body parts had been all over the equipment I was using.
Teri // Aug 31, 2009 at 11:43 PM
I workout and shower at my local gym in Minnesota every morning before work. I have a sister who’s very close in age and I was in athletics in junior high and high school so I was very accustomed to changing in front of other folks at a pretty young age, but I don’t think I would be very comfortable getting ready and showering in front of men. With others of the same sex, I’m not phased, tho I have noticed that there is a mix of people with different comfort levels at my gym. They range from those who obviously want others to see them prancing around and bending over seemingly intentionally showing everyone the depths of regions we NEVER wanted to bear witness to, to those who change in one of only 2 changing rooms, never allowing themselves to be in front of others without clothes on or a towel. I keep my towel on until I get to things that I can’t do with it on (drying, lotion some parts, dressing, etc) mainly in consideration of others as it would be much easier to blast through my routine if I didn’t have to fiddle with the towel so much. I try and be respectful of everyone and I’m not bothered by the nekkid ones or the modest ones either way…just don’t be rubbin any of your parts on me and stay away from all of my parts. :-)
foongpc // Sep 1, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I don’t think I am comfortable being totally naked and walking around in the locker room! I try to change in the cubicle if available but if not, it’s OK to change in front of my locker with the bath towel still wrapped from my waist down.
I don’t think it is necessary to bring your clothes and change in the shower room – unless you are in a unisex locker!
I have seen guys totally naked walking around in the locker, and I am not too bothered as long as they are not purposely “flashing” around. Haha!
But I have to say, I don’t mind showering in a communal shower room where there are no curtains to protect our privacy, but if a given a choice, I prefer the private shower rooms.
And if everyone walks around totally naked in the locker room, I think it’s OK to join the crowd and be totally naked too. Otherwise, you’ll be the odd one out : )
Matthew // Sep 4, 2009 at 8:13 AM
I was always ok with showering like that, the military made it ok :)
Jackie // Nov 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Love showing my hard hairy body in the locker room. If I sometimes get an erection, I enjoy having other guys stare at it…sometimes even keeping their own rods down by force as they watch mine sway and shake while I walk to my locker. I find other men enjoy watching me because I’m especially furry — guys like hairy men.
Rick // Dec 12, 2009 at 6:01 AM
In my teen and early twenties I too was very conscientious to be naked in present of my peers.
There’s no such thing as modesty in the military as one would be picked on. I have witnessed “shy” guys getting humiliated as they been stripped and tossed around naked. Now that I am of a more mature age, I don’t have a problem to be seen in my birth suit while changing at the gym locker room or being nude in showers, sauna and or steam room.