Why Gyms Are the New Nightclubs
With the nightclub industry having been closed for the over a year at the time of writing, it has been pointed out in the media on many occasions that gyms provide many of the same functions and services we seek when we go out clubbing. In fact, you could argue that gyms are an even better version because you won’t be falling around drunk like you might be in a nightclub! Gyms are a great place to spend time anyway, but especially during the pandemic and with a lot of the places people use to socialise being shut, gyms are a great alternative for multiple reasons. A Positive Environment!
One of the main reasons why I fell in love with fitness and the gym, was because of the environment and atmosphere I experienced whilst I was there. I joined Anytime Fitness in High Barnet at a time when I was working in central London doing a job I hated.
I joined the gym initially to give me an opportunity to exercise and move around because I was spending all day sat down in front of a computer. However, I quickly realised that going to the gym was providing me with far more than just a place to exercise. It gave me a sense of community as well!
I got myself a personal trainer who I got on with very well, became friendly with other gym staff, and I got to know a lot of the regular members very well too. I quickly realised that the gym is where I found a lot of likeminded people. People similar to me, who cared about their fitness and wellbeing, and wanted to better themselves on a daily basis.
I would go to the office during the day and not have much in common with anyone I worked with, but as soon as I walked into the gym after work I was greeted with open arms and a sense of encouragement every time. Everyone in the gym is there to encourage and inspire, and I quickly knew that this is the environment where I wanted to spend my time. I found that I truly felt like I had joined a positive community, full of people just like me. I really felt I belonged there.
A Place To Escape To
As an avid club goer during university and right up until the clubs closed due to Covid, I draw similarities between the gym and club environment all the time, particularly the fact they both allow you to let off steam.
When you go out to a bar or a club, you are there with likeminded people. People who are there to let loose and have a good time, have an escape from real life and enjoy themselves. This is exactly why we go to the gym. As I thought about it in more detail, I quickly realised that all the reasons we say ‘I need a drink; or ‘I need a night out’ are exactly the same reasons we go to the gym.
Ultimately, we want a temporary break from the realities of real life. We want to escape to a place where we can enjoy ourselves, have a good time, and be surrounded by others after the same thing. You could even argue the gym is even better, because you won’t wake up with a hangover the next day and you’ll have a perfectly clear recollection of actually being there!
A Sociable Environment
Another reason gyms can be considered to be the new nightclubs is because they are a great social atmosphere. You will no doubt start to create friendships with staff and other members of the gym when you go regularly, and this is a great thing for your social life.
Further, everyone for the most part is in a good mood when they’re in the gym. At PureGym in Finchley, you can feel the endorphins flowing around the building because we are all there trying to better ourselves or helping others to do so.
Like in the club, everyone is there to enjoy themselves, and more often than not you meet people and make friends if you go often. This is particularly important at a time like this, where most people work from home on their own, rather than in offices alongside other people.
Now I am aware that not everyone likes to be chatty in the gym, some people like to get in, do their session and get out, and that’s absolutely fine too. But if you are up for a chat or conversation, even if you are just after some form tips or help, there will always be someone around who is around to help and encourage!
Having a PT will add to the social dynamic of your sessions!
Another very important social aspect of the gym is of course, personal training. Getting a personal trainer provides a social dynamic, rather than training on your own. Whether you are a beginner or have been training for years, having a personal trainer provides companionship and comradery.
This allows you to experience the ultimate benefits of being in the gym. As the client, you will connect with your PT, your PT will hold you accountable, has your best interests at heart, and will assist you in achieving everything you want to achieve. Having a personal trainer provides a chance to build a rapport with someone, and is a great way to add a social dimension into your gym sessions.
Gyms Are Even Better Than Nightclubs
Ultimately, the similarities between night clubs and gyms are endless, and this is something which we may have never thought about had it not been for Covid. Not only is the gym a positive social place, but it is the ultimate place to go in order to become more fit, active and healthy. Also, you’ll never wake up with a hangover after a gym session. Therefore, this makes gyms are even better than nightclubs! 
Emily Swynnerton
Emily Swynnerton is a Personal Trainer at PureGym in Finchley N3. Contact her now to arrange for your first training session!