Last Updated on March 21, 2025 | Published: March 21, 2025 published by Jenny Tomei
What is gym culture?
Gym culture encompasses the shared behaviors, values, customs, and attitudes that shape an overall environment and experience within a gym, influencing how people train and interact.
How should gym culture be approached in education?
When approaching the topic of gym culture in an education setting, whether in the classroom, during assemblies, or in social settings, it is important to educate young people on the benefits of physical fitness and staying active, while also making them aware of the potential risks of any obessive exercise. Young people should be taught the positives of using exercise as a stress or anxiety reliever, exercise could be considered particularly valuable when academic pressures become more intense.
Why might a child feel pressured to attend a gym?
Children should be reminded that participating in frequent amounts of exercise is a personal choice, and should only be viewed as essential when they are training to be a athlete. No one person should feel pressured to attend the gym or mirror these behaviours, and it is not advised to do so unless recommended by a health professional or performed under supervision by a knowledgeable health professional.
How young is too young for the gym?
While there’s no definitive “too young” age for gym workouts, many gyms have minimum age restrictions, often around 13-14, and it’s generally recommended to wait until around 14-16 for unsupervised gym use. Due to teenagers’ bodies still developing it is important to work with a health professional to design tailored nutritional needs to support a consistent training routine, in order to avoid injuries or bone density issues.
The gym can be an inspiring and encouraging environment, but it also comes with potential risks for young people. One of the biggest concerns is injury, often caused by improper use of equipment or poor technique. However, these risks can be significantly reduced with proper education on correct form and safe workout practices.
What should young people who still insist on going to a gym be taught?
As much as gym culture should not be encouraged, the young people who still insist on attending the gym regularly for any reason, being educated on the correct ways to practise these exercises safely could be a crucial way for young people to attend the gym without it becoming overly dangerous.
What should staff be teaching young people about exercise and attending the gym?
Young people should be encouraged to engage in regular physical activity rather than being discouraged from going to the gym. Exercise comes in many forms, and it’s important to highlight the variety of ways to stay fit and healthy. While the gym can be a great option, alternatives like team sports, running or walking with friends or pets, or even staying active through outdoor activities and household tasks can be just as beneficial.
Should staff encourage attending the gym?
Teaching staff working with young people should never encourage a young person to attend a gym, they should only be encouraging safe and healthy exercise practices that are suitable for the age to which they are communicating this idea towards. If attending the gym is pressured as a necessity for health and fitness, it can create unnecessary feelings of anxiety, stress, or feeling of being inadequate compared to other people surrounding them. Pressuring students to go to a gym can increase negative thoughts of body image and metal health struggles.
Should staff be mindful when talking about their gym habits?
When promoting gym attendance to young people in any environment, especially in education, this idea could unintentionally foster an overemphasis on a young person’s perception of their appearance or body. Also, the idea of attending the gym to students who already get overwhelmed with workloads do not need the additional pressure placed on them to attend the gym as this could lead to an unhealthy spiral that means that the young person will become too influenced and overwhelmed by the expectations.
Where can I find out more?
- How to Build a Positive School Culture that Promotes …
- Sports culture is ‘intimidating’ and putting people off working out
- origy.co.ukhttps://www.origym.co.uk/blog/gym-clu…
- There’s a difference between tolerance and acceptance
Written by Amelia Whent
