Winter Clothing Drive
What Is ‘Gym-Appropriate’ Clothing Anyway?
Yesterday, my Blisstree associate, Hanna, wrote a gym rant about women who don’t wear enough workout-appropriate clothing to the gym. She expressed her disdain and frustration about women who show too much skin and don’t cover up while on the treadmill or in the weight room, thus turning a workout scene into more of adult film scene at times. I see her point, but would like to provide a counter-argument here in support of wearing less–not more–clothing (and, by the way,Wireless Access Point, it’s perfectly cool that we have friendly debates here at Blisstree to keep things interesting and offer different perspectives).
Let me first say that I agree that women should wear workout-appropriate attire (hell, we should wear appropriate attire all the time and stop showing so much skin, if you ask Tim Gunn). I love my body and respect it for what it can do and the enormous power, strength and potential it has. I work hard to maintain my physique, not for other people to gawk at, but for my own health and performance in athletics. And when I work out, I wear as little as possible.
On my bike ride this morning, I wore a tight-fitting jersey with a zipper front that I had only half-way zipped. Then when I got back and changed to go for a run, I pulled on some short shorts, a sports bra and nothing else (I have no issues running down the main street of town half naked). And tonight when I go to yoga, I will wear my usual tight black shorts and a tank top. Why do I do all of this? To show off my body? Definitely not. I do it because it’s comfortable and it allows me to move and really work. Plus, given the fact that it’s 90 degrees still here in Florida, it’s the only way I can survive. Although, even if it weren’t hot, I would never wear yoga pants and a t-shirt to workout because it would make me feel frumpy, and I like to feel tight and together when I run, bike, lift weights or do yoga. Plus, I need to be able to see my body and how it moves (and there’s no denying that a well-placed mirror can incent you to work harder).