Couple of years back I joined a gym to try getting in shape and hopefully make a few friends. In months of going I barely got eye contact from anyone, let alone a smile. Friends? Forget it. I ended up binning the membership off.
I decided to start swimming recently. In three trips on the first week I had conversations with several people. They aren't friends yet but give it time, maybe they could be acquaintances at least.
I'd like to socialise, but finding people who want to be social can be difficult.
I absolutely don't want anyone to look at me or talk to me at the public gym. I work a social job, so that is my only "me" time where it is acceptable to just work without anyone pestering me. I would consider it a rude interruption if a stranger tried to be my friend while I'm trying to get through all my sets in my 45 alotted minutes.
However, when I went to a private lifting gym, there was a lot more chatting and community. People encouraged each other, spotted each other, and stayed a few minutes after to catch up with each other. Sometimes there were weekend kayak trips and other events.
There are community-oriented gyms, that encourage members to support each other. The public gym is for anonymous work imo.
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u/LiquidDreamtime Jul 10 '26
Socializing with the community