Barefoot in public Gymnasiums?

I must confess, I have no beef. However I want some beef, so I'm going to join a Gym. However, I do not like shoes in Gym. Will that be a problem? I figure if they want my money then they can't really govern my workout ethics.

 

I think it would probably depend on the flooring *they might not want you to slip if the floor is really smooth or you dont have good traction going bf on it* or depending on which machines you use *might be saftey issues reguarding getting your feet or toes caught in it*, but otherwise I cant really think of any reason why they wouldnt allow you to go barefoot in a gym.

 

I think it all depends on the employee's attitudes. They may not care or they may see the issue that sweaty feet could increase the likelyhood of spreading foot diseases between members. You won't know till you either ask or try it. You can always argue that their membership prices left your pocket book too drained to afford workout shoes

 

Depends where you'll go. It's one of the few places I've had some troubles even here in the Netherlands, where NSNSNS signs are pretty much non-existant. In one place they didn't want *any* bare bodypart except for your hands to contact their equipment; they were really anal about using towels to sit on, didn't allow halter tops, etc. In another they worried about street dirt -you have to take your shoes off at the door- but when I agreed to wipe my feet with a washcloth at the door, they were okay with it (at least that made sense, since they did their best to keep all street dirt out... contrary to those places that worry about dirt and let people with shoes walk straight in!). Of course some martial arts and stuff are regularly practiced barefoot; if all else fails, try one of them!

 

Golds Gym is really anal, they don't even allow sandal/flip flops or at least the one I tried out had a sign NO SANDALS ALLOWED IN WORK OUT AREA. The health club I go to does allow flip flops and I've run on the tread mill and eliptical trainer barefoot, no one said anything.

You might ask before signing up, and they do have the "right" to have a dress code and once you sign you have to abide by it.

how's thr RS job ? find any slip on dressy looking shoes ?

 

As a fairly new member to Gold's Gym, I asked about their "workout shoes must be worn" policy, and they said that there are two reasons. One is that apparently if someone works out in sandals or bare feet, another member will typically become offended and report that person to the front counter. The other reason came down to that great American excuse: liability. Having a barbell dropped on one's foot would of course do damage regardless of what kind of footwear they had on, but they explained to me that the company feels it is the best way to avoid frivolous lawsuits. It's going to be interesting to see how they deal with people possibly going barefoot to and from the yoga classes, since they will be held right behind the free weight area.

The employees said that they simply warn people who are reported, but if there are enough incidents that they have the right to suspend membership, as the policy is clearly spelled out in their membership agreement.

If you can afford it, I'd look into taking Pilates or yoga at a professional studio, because they're not only a great workout but with both systems your bare feet are actually required attire!

 

The gym that allowed me in when I agreed to clean my feet at the door did worry about that, too -even here in the Netherlands where liability lawsuits are far less common. But I was not interested in using the free weights, I only wanted to use the stuff like treadmills, bikes, step thingies and occasionally one of those benches with the weights attached, and they were okay with that. I don't know if they'd have given in and allowed me to use the free weights barefoot, I didn't try, just promised I wouldn't get near them with or without shoes. :sunglasse

 

The weight issue in my opinion has always been a flimsy excuse. The only way a foot would be spared of even a bruise is that a patron would wear steel toed shoes to work out in.

Who would do that?