Fitness culture is dominated Nigeria and while fitness centres provide space for enthusiasts to improve physical health and well-being, concerns have been raised about these centres becoming hot spots for romantic encounters.
In a separate interview with the Nigerian news agency in Lagos on Saturday, some gym participants said that fitness culture has evolved into something more complicated than just a space for exercise.
Folarin Adekoya, a gym guy in the Ikeja area of the state, said some enthusiasts seem more focused on taking social media photos than engaging in real workouts.
“Some women are seen wearing exposed, provocative gym outfits.
“But it’s not just the clothing that causes the agitation, gym participants use these spaces to connect with their romantic partners.
“I’ve seen women wear gym outfits that are very obvious, and it can be a distraction, especially when you’re trying to focus on your workout,” Adekoya said.
Jason Onuuka, a regular gym guy in the state’s Festack area, also shared his perspective on the balance between social media impact, distractions and growing impact.
“I like to go to the gym because I’m motivated there, but I’ve seen the people I meet at the gym and it’s clear that they don’t work.
“They spend hours talking and laughing. That’s not the gym’s purpose. As society becomes more and more individualized, people are looking for new ways to connect with others.
“The gym has become a space where people can meet new friends, find romantic partners and feel a sense of community,” he said.
Onwuka said that while gyms were becoming increasingly popular, it was up to the individual to focus on their goals due to more social interactions.
“Whatever it is, there is always something you distract. If you go to the gym with a clear goal of training and focusing on your workouts, it’s up to you to allow you to be distracted to affect you.”
He also observed that professional women who come to the gym were more focused on their training and were not provocatively dressed.
“They wear comfortable leggings and tights that are easy to exercise,” he said.
Recently, former brother Naija star Teddy A has had an indecent dressing issue at the gym.
In a video posted on his social media page, Teddy expressed his dissatisfaction with the trends and emphasized the importance of covering sensitive body parts during training.
“I’m not trying to be insensitive, but I don’t want to start banning girls from the gym due to obscene dressing,” he said.
Teddy A’s comments sparked a heated debate on social media, with some arguing that Jim should force a more stringent dress code, while others viewed it as an overreaction.
The manager of a popular fitness centre in the Aja area of the state sued anonymity but told Nan that proper clothing and behavior rules must be implemented at the gym.
“We want to create an environment that is welcoming and respectful to all members, but despite management efforts, this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
“People use gyms as a way to meet new people and have fun. I’m not seeing any harm unless I’m disrupting someone else’s training,” he said.
Nan
