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<\/p>\nAccording to a BBC report, \u201crecent research found 25 per cent of 400 women surveyed had experienced an \u2018uncomfortable interaction\u2019 at the gym, like staring or inappropriate comments.\u201d The situation is not very different in India. Earlier this year, Gautam Buddh Nagar\u2019s administration in Noida introduced a mandate requiring all gyms, pools, and yoga centres in the district to employ more female trainers.<\/p>\n
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But do women across the country face the same issue?<\/p>\n
\u201cI have avoided certain timings when either the gym gets very crowded or it has men who usually work out together,\u201d said Anand.<\/p>\n
This experience isn\u2019t unique. Across India, women are making similar adjustments to their fitness routines, revealing a complex reality beneath the surface of the country\u2019s growing gym culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, gyms have historically been very hostile. They\u2019re designed with an unwelcoming vibe \u2013\u2013 loud Kanye music, not many women inside, and bulked up people walking around with their protein shakes,\u201d said Priyanka Peeramsetty, 33, from Hyderabad<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve become hyper-aware of my clothing and how people react to me,\u201d said Arshia Shaikh, a PR executive, admitting it\u2019s reached a point where she is unable to work out in public as she always feels judged. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t the case when I started; I didn\u2019t care what people thought. But now, I think thrice before even going for a brisk walk<\/a><\/strong>. The stares at the gym or while jogging became too much to handle. I now work out alone in my room with the door closed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI am particularly conscious about the clothes. I don\u2019t wear sleeveless tops or shorts as that would draw unwanted attention. But I see most men wearing shorts or sleeveless without attracting any attention, said Padmaja Konisetti from Hyderabad.<\/p>\n This hypervigilance, the constant scanning for potential threats, takes a significant psychological toll, according to experts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen safety is uncertain, even neutral environments become mentally exhausting,\u201d said Jai Arora, counseling psychologist and co-founder at Kirana Counselling. \u201cWomen may experience frustration, anxiety, and emotional fatigue from constantly monitoring their surroundings. This disrupts the very purpose of exercise, which is stress relief.\u201d<\/p>\n Gurleen Baruah, an existential psychotherapist at That Culture Thing, elaborated on this dynamic: \u201cWhen a woman enters a gym and doesn\u2019t feel safe or at ease, the psychological impact runs deeper than most realise. Spaces meant for strength and well-being start to feel like places where one must constantly self-monitor. They often wonder \u201cHow tight are my clothes?\u201d \u201cWho\u2019s watching me?\u201d \u201cAm I taking up too much space?\u201d<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n First-hand experiences<\/p>\n Women report a range of discomforts in gym spaces. \u201cFrom unwanted advice to inappropriate comments to people intruding into my workout space, quite a lot happens,\u201d said Anand. \u201cYou need to build an emotional armour before entering a gym.\u201d<\/p>\n Peeramsetty said, \u201cNot harassment exactly, but way too much unsolicited advice, often from people not in their best form. There\u2019s something about men and the audacity to offer tips no one asked for. Please, calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n Arora explained that repeated exposure to microaggressions \u2013 comments, stares, advice \u2013 can lead to avoidance behaviours. \u201cIt\u2019s a form of learned helplessness. You begin to feel that discomfort is inevitable and nothing will change.\u201d<\/p>\n Baruah concurred. \u201cChronic, subtle discomfort in fitness spaces can cause long-term avoidance of exercise. It doesn\u2019t affect everyone, but it\u2019s very real when the discomfort is systemic.\u201d<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n How gyms are responding<\/p>\n Fitness businesses are taking note and implementing new measures.<\/p>\n Vikas Jain, managing director at Anytime Fitness India, said, \u201cOur gyms are equipped with 24\/7 CCTV surveillance in common areas, access-controlled entry, and emergency assistance buttons.\u201d<\/p>\n While the chain doesn\u2019t offer women-only hours, Jain said they \u201censure a welcoming environment with at least two female staff members, a trainer and a front desk staff during peak hours.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Across](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Women-safety.jpg\")
Across India, women are making similar adjustments to their fitness routines, revealing a complex reality beneath the surface of the country\u2019s growing gym culture. (Source: Freepik)<\/p>\n
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Fitness businesses are taking note and implementing new measures. (Source: Freepik)<\/p>\n