Tiktok says men dont belong in Pilates class

[Anonymous]

Women on Tiktok are posting about how frustrated they are with men showing up to Pilates and Yoga classes, or traditionally "female" fitness spaces. That they sweat a ton, grunt loudly, lecherously check out women around them and generally infest the place with their male energy.

Here's an article about it from The Cut: https://www.thecut.com/article/women-men-solidcore-pilates.html

It's mostly young women giving voice to this. What do the older members of DCUM say?

[Anonymous]

MAGA baby, I guess? Honestly I’m still learning the new order and I’m not sure which way this one goes?

[Anonymous]

My Pilates instructor is a man, and he’s amazing. The few men in my class fit right in.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I'm a young-ish woman (mid-30s) and I don't like when men are in my exercise class. They are usually gay and keep to themselves, which bothers me less.

But if the men in that article are acting like that I assume they aren't gay.

But I will say this: A lot of women who do boutique fitness classes feel comfortable wearing a bra and leggings, which is more comfortable, because it is predominantly women. I don't go to workout to be ogled. The only man I am comfortable being seen by in workout clothes is my boyfriend or my dad.

[Anonymous]

Was solid core ever female-dominated? I know things like barre and pilates are. But my first roommate when I moved to DC was a solid core instructor and I took a few classes with her. This was in the early days of solid core but I do remember it having men. It certainly skewed more female as most group fitness classes do but there were usually several men per class.

[Anonymous]

I have to say I agree wholeheartedly and I'm glad the girls are admitting this, lol.

Sooooo many men seem to grunt loudly, like they desperately need the attention of any woman in the vicinity. Or they position themselves in the back of the room so they can stare while everyone does "downward dog".

I'll admit, it's a really nice feeling when it's just female energy and everyone is flowing. I feel like men are just more competitive in general and they bring that same energy to any exercise they do.

So I am here for this discussion!

[Anonymous]

I go to Pilates and Yoga each a few times a week. I am fine with men in pilates but I actually really do not like them in my yoga classes for some reason. I think because they seem to be more performative/grunty.

[Anonymous]

Men can organize their own all men classes, from ballet to intense aerobics. Keep out of women classes.

[Anonymous]

I would really prefer men stay out of almost all spaces but I just deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Men can organize their own all men classes, from ballet to intense aerobics. Keep out of women classes.

If they ARE women classes. Most classes are coed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would really prefer men stay out of almost all spaces but I just deal with it.

Same. I worked on an all-female team in a female-dominated industry and do you know when my job got stressful? When a man joined.

So, I may be biased but yes, I'd prefer they stay out of the workout classes I do to take my mind off the stress created by my male boss.

[Anonymous]

I attend an early morning class, so about half men. Most people are 50+ and work FT jobs. The older men, like the elderly ones, fart.. other than the smell, I don't mind them. There is one guy I don't put my mat near anymore - I almost dry heaved.

[Anonymous]

This isn't a men thing, it's a sh!tty etiquette thing. People with sh!tty etiquette should be kicked out, regardless of sex or gender.

[Anonymous]

A great comment from the Cut article:
"I took yoga in my 20s decades ago and still remember the guys from those classes, from Sir-Farts-A Lot to the guy whose lion’s breath echoed throughout the room, to Mr. Visible Nutsack. There was always that one guy who seemed to call attention to himself.

...I think a lot of it has to do with the different levels of social conditioning we grow up with. Men are just more likely to let it all hang out in public spaces, in ways that can be obnoxious, as unintentional as they might be."

[Anonymous]

I would probably prefer a workout class be all women, although I certainly wouldn’t complain out loud.

But if a man walks into class, all it takes is five minutes of good behavior (basically act like the women) for me to fully accept them. Just don’t change the vibe, and it’s fine.