Judi Christy of the Akron Area YMCA on gym attire.
I’m no stranger to being body-shamed. In decades past, I have overheard comments about my height, my leg dimples or my lack of mammary abundance. At the time, I was embarrassed. Now I’m amused.
Sure, I have back fat and wobbly arms. I even have a well-fed mom-middle and a bit more junk in my trunk that was not there a few years before.
But, I still dress brightly and go to the gym — or as we like to say in the Y world — our health and wellness facility. I even jump in our pool with a notable splash.
I’m 63 and I’m fearless. I wiggle into my Lululemon knock-offs and one of my many, many, many YMCA shirts and set about on my routine of cycling, sweating and sending positive vibes to my brain. For swimming, I have a sassy skirted number that I swaddle under a beach towel when I’m making my way to and fro.
In short, I dress the part for my age and for my activity. Most folks do.
However, in recent months, the chatter in our association, as well as in the board meetings of my fitness center colleagues, has been focused on “What Not to Wear” — cue Stacy and Clinton. Like these icon fashionistas, everyone has an opinion.
What’s too revealing and what’s too restrictive? What’s appropriate for women and is there a double standard for men? Are we being inclusive to the fashion choices of different cultures and age groups? Is an exposed belly an exposed belly for all? And how short is too short when it comes to shorts? Add in the bralette and the muscle tank and the whole can of worms gets that much more slippery.
The policies at my Y Association tend to stand on the safe side. We state that appropriate attire must be worn and it’s up to the discretion of the branch management to determine if that level of appropriateness is too high or too low.
Vague mostly works, until it doesn’t. There’s always those few folks making comments or raising their brows at what they, as members, feel should not be worn in their presence.
Admittedly, I don’t want to view another’s unmentionables when I’m out in public. But I’m also not comfortable calling out what I believe to be too much or too little when it comes to dress. Sure, I have the voice in my head and maybe even the visible smirk, but my passive-aggressive nature would not prompt me to comment on how much is too much or too little. The staff in our fitness centers, many of whom are newbies to the job market, don’t want to wear the badge of clothing cop either.
So, what’s a “gym” to do?
Fitness Plus has an idea. They state that “all tops must cover the entire torso. Tank tops and sleeveless shirts are permitted as long as the armpit gap is less than the palm of your hand. Ripped-out sides are not permitted. Bras worn as tops are not permitted. There should be no more than a three-inch gap between top and bottoms. Pants/shorts must cover the entire buttocks. Undergarments should not be visible.”
In reading this I am taken on a sentimental journey to St. Matthew’s grade school where I was sent to the principal’s office for rolling my uniform skirt and tying up the ends of my white Peter Pan collar blouse. I also had an encounter or two with Sr. Patricia’s wood ruler in making sure my field day shorts did not creep above the three-inch mark of my knees.
Since 8th grade, I have grown up to become a conformist — most of the time. Which would be a good thing if I worked at a nearby Y Association who has a similar set of criteria and possible need for a tape measure. This Y states shirts must have an armpit gap that is no greater than six inches. Shirts must have a torso/midriff gap that is no greater than the width of your hand. Shorts cannot expose the buttocks.
A nearby university leaves things a little more ambiguous. They “strive to create an inclusive, welcoming and supportive environment.” To that end, “attire that presents a safety hazard or that could be reasonably perceived as intimidating, revealing or offensive in nature is prohibited.”
All fitness facilities, including ours, have statements suggesting closed toe shoes and requesting the avoidance of apparel with rivets, excessive zippers or anything else that might mar the equipment. All fitness facilities, including ours mirror the university statement and do not permit any clothing with hateful, lewd or offensive messaging that undermines a welcoming environment.
But, what about a shirt donning a political affiliation or a symbol like a rainbow, a unicorn or an American flag? Let’s face it, somebody will be offended. And they might raise a complaint, seek solace on social media and threaten to quit coming in if we don’t take the action and react as they demand.
We just want everyone to be happy. We really do. As a membership organization, our Y states and truly strives to be welcoming to all. But sadly, that’s impossible as everyone doesn’t think the same way about everything — within our walls and within our world.
So, do we go with majority rules and draw the line when it comes to booty shorts and sports bras? Maybe. Maybe not.
At present, we’re leaving things up to the discretion of our branch management, which is a slippery slope getting all the muddier each day.
This is apparently not a problem with our friends working at Planet Fitness. The self-proclaimed no judgement zone clearly professes that Members may exercise in a wide variety of attire, citing that crop tops, sports bras, bralettes, short shorts, long pants, collared shirts are all welcome.
It’s bold, no doubt. Until someone really pushes the envelope and seals the deal for everyone.
Until then, I’m about the days when YMCAs and high schools strictly enforced nude swimming for boys. Their reasoning? It was much more sanitary as wool bathing suits clogged the filters. Ah, the filters.
Goodness knows where the world would be if we all unclogged our filters and really cracked the code.
