I remember my first visit to a commercial gym in Jeddah. The clanging weights, rows of unfamiliar machines, and groups of confident regulars made me feel like I’d walked into the wrong room. I left after 15 minutes and didn’t return for months.
Gym intimidation isn’t just nervousness—it’s a genuine barrier that prevents many women from accessing fitness spaces. In Saudi Arabia, where women’s gym participation has grown significantly since 2017, understanding this phenomenon matters more than ever.
What Exactly Is Gym Intimidation?
Gym intimidation refers to the anxiety, self-consciousness, and discomfort people experience in fitness environments. Research has identified several key components:
- Social comparison anxiety: Feeling judged compared to others
- Equipment confusion: Not knowing how to use machines properly
- Physical appearance concerns: Worry about body image in workout attire
- Competence anxiety: Fear of performing exercises incorrectly
Multiple surveys confirm that women experience gym intimidation at significantly higher rates than men, with some studies showing over 50% of gym-goers report feeling judged or intimidated while working out.
Why Saudi Women Face Unique Challenges
While gym intimidation affects people globally, Saudi women navigate additional layers of complexity shaped by cultural context and rapid social change.
Limited Historical Precedent
Women’s gym access in Saudi Arabia became widely available only recently. Women’s participation in fitness has grown dramatically since 2015, with female engagement in sports increasing by over 150% during this period. The Saudi fitness market is projected to grow from USD 1.14 billion in 2024 to approximately USD 2.0 billion by 2030, with women representing the fastest-growing segment at a projected CAGR of 13.25%.
This means most Saudi women entering gyms today are true pioneers—without mothers, aunts, or older sisters who grew up with gym culture to guide them.
My own experience reflects this. When I started, I couldn’t ask family members which exercises to do or how to adjust a reformer spring. Everything felt like uncharted territory.
Cultural Navigation
Women-only gym spaces have expanded rapidly across Saudi cities, but the novelty itself creates uncertainty. Questions that might seem straightforward elsewhere become more complex:
- What’s appropriate workout attire in a women-only space?
- How do group class dynamics work when communal exercise is relatively new?
- What’s the expected etiquette for personal space and equipment sharing?
Research from Saudi universities has identified that uncertainty about gym social norms represents a significant barrier to starting fitness routines among Saudi women—concerns that are particularly pronounced in markets where communal exercise culture is relatively new.
The Visibility Factor
Large commercial gyms, even women-only ones, can feel exposing. You’re visible on treadmills in long rows, working out in open floor spaces, using machines you might not fully understand while others watch.
This visibility compounds existing intimidation. Research on perceived visibility in fitness spaces has found that women with high appearance concerns experience elevated social anxiety in environments where they feel constantly observed.
How Gym Design Influences Intimidation
Not all fitness spaces create equal levels of intimidation. Environmental psychology research identifies several factors that either increase or reduce anxiety in exercise settings.
Space Configuration
Open-plan gyms with mirrored walls and high visibility increase self-consciousness. Research has found that women report notably higher anxiety in open-plan facilities compared to semi-private or partitioned spaces.
Smaller studios with contained class formats provide natural boundaries. When I moved from a large gym to a boutique studio in Jeddah, the difference was immediate—instead of navigating a warehouse of equipment, I entered a specific room with 10-12 people doing the same activity.
Group Size and Familiarity
Research consistently shows that smaller, consistent groups reduce intimidation. Studies have found that group fitness classes under 15 participants show significantly better retention rates compared to larger formats.
The mechanism is straightforward: smaller groups allow you to recognize faces, remember names, and build rapport. You’re not anonymous, but you’re also not performing for an audience.
Instructor Approach
How instructors interact with newcomers profoundly impacts intimidation levels. Research has found that perceived instructor support significantly reduces gym anxiety among female beginners.
Key supportive behaviors include:
- Proactive check-ins with new participants before class
- Clear verbal cues and demonstrations during exercises
- Modification options presented as normal variations, not accommodations
- Individual adjustments given discreetly
In my experience, instructors who physically demonstrate modifications rather than just describing them make the biggest difference. When I see someone showing three spring options on a reformer, I don’t feel like I’m asking for special treatment by choosing the lighter resistance.
The Role of Community Culture
Beyond physical design, the social atmosphere within a gym significantly affects intimidation levels.
Comparison Culture vs. Personal Progress Focus
Gyms vary widely in whether they emphasize competition or individual journey. Social comparison theory, developed by psychologist Leon Festinger, explains that we naturally evaluate ourselves against others—but environments can either amplify or minimize this tendency.
A 2023 study in Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that fitness environments with strong comparison cultures (leaderboards, performance rankings, competitive language) increased anxiety among a majority of female participants. Conversely, environments emphasizing personal progress showed reduced anxiety levels.
Language matters here. Studios where instructors say “listen to your body today” or “this is your practice” create different psychological space than those emphasizing “push harder” or highlighting who lifted the heaviest.
Visible Skill Diversity
Counterintuitively, seeing a range of skill levels can reduce intimidation. When classes include obvious beginners alongside advanced practitioners, newcomers feel less conspicuous about their own learning curve.
Counterintuitively, seeing a range of skill levels can reduce intimidation. Research has found that women in mixed-ability classes report lower intimidation than those in “beginner-only” classes, which can paradoxically make participants more self-conscious about their novice status.
Practical Strategies for Overcoming Gym Intimidation
Understanding intimidation helps, but what actually works for moving past it?
Start with Low-Pressure Environments
Your first gym experience doesn’t have to be a crowded commercial facility. Options that typically generate lower intimidation include:
- Small group classes: Pilates, yoga, or specialized formats with under 15 participants
- Boutique studios: Single-focus spaces with consistent communities
- Women-only facilities: Especially relevant in Jeddah and Saudi cities where these are widely available
- Off-peak hours: If using a commercial gym, morning or mid-afternoon sessions are typically quieter
I started with a small Pilates studio on Tahlia Street specifically because the class size was capped at 12 people. That container felt manageable in a way a 40-person spin class wouldn’t have.
Bring a Friend (But Stay Independent)
Research supports the “workout buddy” advice—but with a caveat. Studies have found that exercising with a supportive friend reduces intimidation, but only when both participants maintain individual workout goals.
The key is accompaniment without dependence. Going together provides comfort, but having your own program prevents the common scenario where one person’s absence derails both people’s routines.
Do Your Equipment Research
Much intimidation stems from not knowing how things work. Spending 30 minutes watching YouTube videos about Pilates reformer parts, basic gym machines, or class formats removes a huge source of anxiety.
Before my first reformer class, I watched three different videos explaining the carriage, footbar, and spring system. Walking in with basic vocabulary made me feel 50% less lost.
Communicate with Instructors
Arrive 5-10 minutes early and tell the instructor you’re new. Most fitness professionals deeply appreciate this information—it allows them to check in with you, explain equipment, and watch your form more carefully.
A simple “This is my first reformer class” gives instructors context to support you effectively. In my experience across different Jeddah studios, instructors consistently respond positively to this heads-up.
Reframe the Internal Narrative
Cognitive-behavioral research shows that our interpretation of situations affects anxiety more than the situations themselves. Studies have found that cognitive reframing techniques can significantly reduce exercise anxiety when practiced consistently.
Instead of: “Everyone is watching me and judging my form”
Try: “Everyone is focused on their own workout, just like I am”
Instead of: “I look ridiculous because I can’t do this exercise”
Try: “I’m learning a new skill, which always involves a learning curve”
This isn’t toxic positivity—it’s accuracy. The reality is that most gym-goers are concentrating on their own challenges, not evaluating yours.
The Long-Term Perspective
Gym intimidation typically decreases significantly within 6-8 weeks of consistent attendance. Longitudinal research tracking gym newcomers has found that intimidation scores drop substantially after two months of regular participation.
The mechanism is straightforward: familiarity breeds confidence. Once you know where things are, recognize faces, and have performed exercises multiple times, the environment stops feeling foreign.
My own intimidation timeline followed this pattern exactly. Week 1 was uncomfortable. Week 4 was tolerable. By week 8, I walked in feeling like I belonged there—not because I was suddenly advanced, but because the space had become familiar.
Why This Matters for Saudi Women Specifically
The rapid expansion of women’s fitness in Saudi Arabia means thousands of women are entering gyms for the first time simultaneously. This collective first-generation experience is unique.
According to Vision 2030 goals, physical activity participation has grown significantly, with 48.2% of Saudi residents engaging in regular physical activity as of 2022. Recent data shows that 44.6% of Saudi women aged 18 and above engaged in physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week, though research indicates approximately 75% of Saudi women remain physically inactive.
Creating fitness spaces that actively reduce intimidation isn’t just nice to have; it’s essential for reaching participation goals. Research has found that women who reported low intimidation in their first month were significantly more likely to maintain regular exercise habits long-term.
Finding Your Right Fit
Not every gym or studio will feel right for you, and that’s completely normal. The fitness industry includes massive variation in culture, teaching style, and environmental design.
What worked for me was a smaller, women-only environment where I could learn fundamentals without feeling exposed. For others, a structured bootcamp or a quiet gym corner works better. The key is giving yourself permission to try different options until you find your fit.
In Jeddah specifically, the growth of boutique studios alongside commercial gyms means you have genuine options. Women-only Pilates studios, CrossFit boxes, yoga spaces, and traditional gyms each create different atmospheres. You’re not obligated to make the first one you try work.
The Bottom Line
Gym intimidation is real, well-documented in research, and particularly relevant for Saudi women navigating newly accessible fitness spaces. It’s not a personal failing—it’s a normal psychological response to unfamiliar environments with social and physical visibility.
The good news: intimidation is temporary for most people. With the right environment, supportive instruction, and consistent exposure, it fades predictably. The even better news: you don’t have to power through intense discomfort. Choosing environments specifically designed to reduce intimidation—smaller spaces, consistent groups, supportive teaching—is strategic, not avoidant.
Your comfort in fitness spaces matters. It affects whether you’ll sustain exercise long-term, which ultimately determines whether you’ll experience the significant physical and mental health benefits of regular movement.
If you’re currently holding back from trying a gym or studio because of intimidation, know that this feeling is shared by the majority of beginners. The women who look confident now felt exactly how you feel during their first weeks. The difference isn’t that they’re braver—it’s just that they’re further along the familiarity curve.
Start where you feel most comfortable, communicate your newcomer status, and give yourself eight weeks. The intimidation will decrease much faster than you expect.
Sources & References
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