Has anyone ever had experiences, good or bad at a gym? I ask because I have had both. I prefer to work out barefoot, especially for exercises for the legs. I get a great range of motion for calf exercises especially when doing them barefoot. Having tough soles it isn't a problem when using heavy weight. One gym I found had no issues with it, others I have been to emphatically insist I put on sneakers or ask me to leave.
Unfortunately, I've never been to a gym where working out barefoot was permitted, except perhaps for martial arts. Maybe you should get into martial arts, where barefoot is tradition.
I've never been in a gym wearing shoes! PE was always taught barefoot when I was in school, and even when I went to a workshop at the local gym a few years ago there was still no footwear allowed beyond the locker room.
My gym is way too dirty to go barefoot. Besides, no one ever racks their weights, so I'd probably stub my toe. The only place I go barefoot is yoga class. Yeah, my gym is a dump, but it's cheap.
I vaguely remember a TV show on Arnold Schwartzennager (spelling?), and pictures were shown of him sitting barefoot on workout equipment. I wonder if gyms were more relaxed about patrons being barefoot back then, or perhaps they simply let Arnold get away with it because of who he is. I'm not sure.
I have so far heard nothing good about gyms, with regard to bare feet. I was just thinking about it during a wakeful period last night, since hiking season may still be months off (with all the snow) and I need to get my body busy doing something. I then wondered whether they'd even let hiking sandals, but I seem to remember that is also a no no. We don't have a lot of choices here, so it's not like I can just go to a competing facility that allows bare foot workouts.
Arnold always worked out BF and so do I. I find I'm more stable in barefeet than with shoes on. It also allows the muscles in your lower legs to get a good WO just by providing stability. I go to a small gym that caters to powerlifters but we also have a few bodybuilders and people that just want to stay in shape. I've been asked by many about my preference, but my answer always makes them think about why they haven't tried it.
I haven't belonged to a gym for months, but yeah I clearly remember them having a "must wear shoes" policy. Of course this sort of thinking was rather odd given that they were also pushing people to go to yoga and Pilates classes, which require bare feet! So even though it was the gym's policy I very often walked barefoot to and from the locker room to go to my yoga class. As did most of the people that were in the class with me. After getting hooked on yoga, I don't think I can ever do any other form of exercise indoors with shoes on. I still throw on my trainers when I go running but that's mainly because the trail I run on is not barefoot friendly (it's lined with thorny vines, many of which also fall into the trail itself). I've been able to walk on the trail barefoot, but running I would not have time to make adjustments and would no doubt step right on one of those vines.
i go to my yoga class barefoot and to the pool barefoot. my gym has a shoe requirement when using the treadmills or ellipitical machines.
I've never been able to tolerate gyms in general; maybe it's just too much testosterone, or maybe it's the horrific level of toxic chlorine in the pools; I don't know, the vibe just seems nasty. I'd much rather be outside just having fun and enjoying nature; my idea of the ideal sport is Calvinball. It's a good thing I don't live in cold country or I'd be in terrible shape :H
Thanks for voicing that, and I think I agree. Only use I ever had for gyms, about 10 years ago, was to swim. I never touched another thing there. I hear bad things also about how much one can catch in that environment,. Come to think of it, I'll just shovel snow as it comes. The scoop I use is building up my upper arms because of the repeated pushing and shoving. And there's always wood. And the work I do at this time of year is pruning, sometimes heavy pruning. When the land opens up I'll get back into biking and hiking, and eventually I'll be back in my season of gardening, nature restoration work. So, gym cancel!
