For many people, the toughest part of going to the gym isn’t the workout; it’s the fear of being watched, judged, or simply not belonging.
As fitness culture grows louder online and bodies become benchmarks, what was once a space for health and wellbeing is increasingly becoming a place of intimidation.
Burnout and mental fitness business coach Liezel van der Westhuizen says the problem is not only real, but it's also growing.
“The wellness industry is worth trillions. Boutique studios are multiplying. Fitness influencers dominate every internet feed. And yet, a staggering number of people, most of them women, cannot bring themselves to walk through the entrance of a gym door,” she says.
“Not because they don’t want to. It’s because walking in makes them feel like they are stepping onto a stage they were never invited onto.”
Van der Westhuizen speaks from experience, recalling a moment early in her fitness journey that could easily have pushed her away from exercise altogether.
“A trainer once told me I was too slow and that I was wasting my time. That moment didn’t break me; it built The Feel Great Fitness Guide.”
The comment came before she went on to complete multiple Ironman triathlons, paddle the Dusi Canoe Marathon, swim 7.5km across the Robben Island channel in 11-degree water, and become part of the first South African all-female blind and sighted pair to cycle tandem across the Himalayas.
Her journey, she says, was shaped by being made to feel like she didn’t belong.
Van der Westhuizen argues that gym intimidation, often referred to as “gymtimidation”, is not about a lack of motivation but about psychological safety.
“This is not a confidence problem. This is not a motivational problem. This is a psychological safety crisis,” she says.
Research cited by van der Westhuizen suggests that 65% of women avoid the gym due to anxiety or fear of judgement, while 45% say they feel “too unfit” to even begin. Reports of gym harassment have also increased, with seven in 10 women saying they have experienced intimidation, compared to 48% of men.
She explains that the fear many experience when entering a gym has a biological basis.
“When people walk into a gym and feel judged, exposed, or out of place, their nervous system reads that as danger,” explains van der Westhuizen.
“The amygdala fires. Cortisol spikes, and the brain’s single job, in that specific moment, is to get you out. Avoidance isn’t a weakness. It’s biology.”
According to her, the longer people stay away, the harder it becomes to return.
“The problem is that every time someone avoids the gym, the fear grows stronger. The neural pathway for avoidance gets reinforced. And another day passes without movement, without the mental health benefits that come with it, and with a little more shame stacked onto an already heavy load.”
Another fitness enthusiast and seasoned publicist, Bonnie Meslane, also weighed in, saying the statistics point to deeper cultural issues within gym environments.
“They are deeply concerning, but unfortunately not surprising. Gym spaces are meant to be environments of self-improvement, discipline, and well-being, yet for many women they come with an undercurrent of vulnerability. These statistics highlight that gym culture still has work to do in creating spaces where women feel fully safe, respected, and free to focus on their health without fear of being watched, judged, or harassed. It’s a reminder that safety is not just about physical infrastructure but about behaviour, accountability, and culture.”
Meslane says discomfort in gyms is often subtle but cumulative, making it harder for women to feel at ease.
“Like many women, I’ve experienced moments of discomfort in gym spaces, whether it’s unwanted staring, subtle intimidation, or feeling hyper-aware of my body in a way that detracts from the purpose of being there. It’s not always overt harassment, but sometimes the accumulation of small, invasive behaviours creates an environment where you don’t feel entirely at ease.”
She adds that representation inside gyms can play a key role in shifting the culture and making spaces more inclusive.
“Representation is everything. When women see themselves reflected in trainers, staff, and the broader gym community, it signals that the space is built with them in mind, not as an afterthought. It’s not just about visibility, but about empathy and understanding. Female trainers and inclusive messaging can shift the tone of a space from intimidating to welcoming. It also creates safer channels for communication and support, which is critical in building trust.”