Have Your Avoided The Gym Due to Sensory Issues?
If you have avoided a public gym, because of the sensory issues involved this article is for you.
The list of potential sensory issues the gym can provide are many. Just to list a few:
- Lighting
- Overhead music
- Equipment noises
- People talking, grunting, etc
- Temperature
- Textures
- Hygiene/germs
- Smells
However, there are ways to mitigate the overload if you desire to.
I did not start to be a regular at a public gym until my late 30s. The decision to join was due to an unexpected back injury that is frankly, embarrassing. I’d gotten significantly overweight due to a sedentary lifestyle and the inability to control food cravings. One day, I was at work and I went out to my car to retrieve something, and when I opened the back door, leaned over to pick it up…my back simply “went out”. The muscles seized, and I could not stand up straight for about two weeks. It was excruciatingly painful, and not to mention embarrassing. Once I recovered from that, I decided to make physical fitness a priority.
It was difficult to get started, I’m not going to lie. Besides the sensory issues I listed above, I had no idea what I was doing! I started researching, and testing light weights and hoping for the best. My hope for this gym series I’m going to write is that you won’t suffer as much as I did when I started. You’ll be aware of what you are in for before you start.
My main tools in order to make the gym more sensory-friendly are:
Headphones/earbuds – These are absolutely essential for me. I cannot enter my gym without them. Matter of fact, it’s such a nonstarter that I’ll leave and go back home if my earbuds are dead, or I forget them. Yes, the gym has music playing overhead, but it simply doesn’t work the same for me since it doesn’t block out the noises around me. Start with whatever you can afford, or have and then adjust from there if you need to. I have changed types of headphones & ear buds over the years, and these days I use the sort that plug inside your ear canal in order to block out the maximum amount of noise. I caught a sale on Woot.com where they were 2 for 1. Amazing deal, and I bought several of them.
Water bottle – I don’t care to use public water fountains. It’s not convenient, and some people will make a mess with their protein powders and preworkout powders all over it. Eww. So, I found a decent metal bottle that I customized with lots of stickers, lol.
My gym bag – If you’ve ever seen a “gym rat’s” bag, you may be curious what all is in there. I know that I wondered for a while until I started building out my own. My gym has a mix of comfort items, small gym tools, headphones, a weight belt, liquid chalk, a towel, and last but not least…a mini first aid kit in case I injure myself (and I have a few times). The injuries were always minor, like callus tears. I also keep hand sanitizer in there!
Personally, I don’t use the showers and bathroom at my gym due to me being non-gender conforming. I have a lot of negative experiences with public restrooms, so I try hard to avoid them. Also, I only live about 5 minutes from my local gym.
Clothes & Shoes – Be comfortable no matter what that looks like. You are at the gym for YOU! I have seen all sorts of things at the gym including people wearing pajamas. LOL! Hey, whatever works for you if A-okay as long as it includes enough clothing to be decent.
Shoes are a mix of comfort and function. Non-slip sneakers of any sort will do. You want to avoid injuries as must as possible, and a decent pair of sneakers will help with that. Personally, I like flat soles since I lift a lot. I do have a pair of elevated lifting shoes for leg days though. Those are not necessary, they’re just my preference.
As far as light sensitivity, I wear a hat with a bill to cut down on that. It also serves as a way to sort of be incognito. Haha
This is the first article in a planned series of gym-related articles. I’ll figure out a good format for these along the way. Feel free to comment, and share.
Signing off, Capt Autism