Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

For those of you who work out in gyms, what is acceptable/modest workout clothing for women? Will short-sleeved t-shirts and bike shorts (7") be okay?

demianamar · Joined: 08 Sep 2005

I've seen some women wearing 'modest' tank tops and shorts. Nothing too skimpy. I found even the males are much more modest then at the N.A'n gyms.

plattwaz · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Location: <Write something dumb here>

I wear workout pants (but that is what I alwasy wore at home too). In the winter I wear long sleeve t-shirts because it is usually quite cool in the gym; through the summer short sleeved t-shirts or thin-strapped tank tops, depending on how hot it is.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Bike shorts (not regular shorts) are made of thin lycra/cotton/spandex (they are not like cycling shorts) and are form-fitting. Some cultures consider them to be little more than underwear and they're unacceptable in public, even in a gym. Will these be okay in a gyms?

http://www.atafa.com/sports/images/imagecache/FR-CBIK81_49_80.jpg

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I live in a small town, and while the outfits tend to be modest, they border on ridiclous at some points. Just wear what you feel comfortable in, and bring a don't f' with me attuide. There is a lot of macho posturing in the gyms here, but they'll soon back down if your prepared to stand your grounds.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

I'm a gym veteran, I couldn't care less about machismo. However, I try to avoid adding to the sleazy reputation Western/American/white women sometimes have abroad. I'd rather err on the side of modesty.

So. The jpg above: modest by Korean standards or not?

JAWINSEOUL · Joined: 19 Nov 2005

I asked my girlfriend she said "It was not modest enough for a gym. "

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

What needs to be different? Too short, too tight, material too thin?

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Doodly · Joined: 21 Jul 2004

I'm in a small town. I wear regular sports shorts (not spandex) and a t-shirt. The t-shirt is provided by the gym so it saves on laundry for me. All the other women wear long pants. Some women wear t-shirts and a couple of them even wear jackets. None go sleeveless. Sometimes they even wear baseball caps. They seem very overdressed to me but all they do is hoolahoop and walk. A couple of them bike and use the eliptical machines a bit. A couple of the women are a bit younger than I am and they have ignored me when I say hello to them in Korean and they make fun of my sweat. I don't know or care if it's because I'm the only woman wearing shorts and not afraid of sweating. If there is a problem with your shorts, the owner will probably tell you. Just try wearing whatever you want.

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

um..they might be a little tight. You might get a few "russian"? My friend gets that and she doesn't even wear tight stuff. I wear sleeveless and lift weights not just spend all day on the tread mill. Have had some ugliness but since I can have a real ugly attitude it has stopped. I have four brothers and these guys are going to have to do a lot more that teeth sucking ,aiiisheee and huffing to intimidate me.

A friend once had a some sour puss old guy tell her women should not use weights.

We work out together and the guys get a bit pissy cuz we do a preset circuit every day. They really are not happy that we use the weights on a regular basis.

My suggestion is if you are thick skinned then you should wear what ever you want. But you will probably get some comments. Sleeveless seems to send adjumas into fits. So a light tee and maybe some looser shorts might just be better to avoid the grief.

Good luck,
Jade

plattwaz · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Location: <Write something dumb here>

Maybe my gym is a bit more liberal than the ones others are talking about here, but the type of cotton shorts that ella (the OP) has posted here would be more than fine where I work out.

As well, I wear sleeveless (ie/ thin strapped) tank tops through the summer on the hot humid sticky days. Never had a problem, no one has stared, gawked, given me dirty looks or anything.

I think the most reasonable thing to do, when you are packing, is to bring one workout outfit that you are really comfortable in. Buy the rest here (Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc are everywhere) and that way you know for sure what your gym is like, and can purchase according to what you will feel most comfortable in after you've seen/felt the atmosphere yourself.

tacon101 · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Location: seoul

i went to a gym nearby to tan

the owner and several other members were wearing hurricane pants

and i must say i really dont think a lot places dont really know how to properly work out.

bijjy · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: Daegu

I wear a sports bra and short shorts to work out. In fact, they caught on at my gym and now all the ladies there wear short shorts and sports bras.

Just kidding. I avoid all difficulties with what to wear by working out at home. But somebody should start the above trend Razz

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003

After some of the outfits I've seen from the dance instructors at my gym, I'd say anything goes. Shocked

Most people wear the stuff issued by the gym (standard shorts and a t-shirt), but I don't (once you start sweating, other peoples' BO starts to come out. Yucky...). Anyway, I wear spandex capris. No one bats an eye (if I wear the capris on the street, though, it's another story...).