Here in Atlanta I teach spin at a suburban YMCA. I love the YMCA. I think if I ever have a lot of money, it might be my charity of choice. It's a charity, right?
I used to work out at the Y in Austin, too. And while both had friendly people, good classes and seemingly fun summer day camps crawling with kids, the two facilities are very different:
The one in Austin was old with 70’s décor and rusty equipment.
The one in Atlanta is super fancy with TVs on the cardio equipment and a freakin’ water slide at the pool. The Austin one didn’t even have an outdoor pool!
But that’s not the biggest difference. The biggest difference is in the locker rooms. You see, when I go into the locker rooms at the Y here, it’s a typical scene: women are discreetly changing out of their gym attire, showering with the curtains closed and walking around with their bodies covered.
When I used to go into the locker room at the Austin Y, all I saw were body parts. Absolute nudity, like something out of a porn or a European brothel. I’m talking walking around completely naked, blow drying their hair in only their birthday suits and the worst—the lady who SAT on a chair and did her make-up without even wearing underwear.
Oh, and they refused to close the curtains on the shower. In fact, we had a choice to use shower stalls with curtains or showers that were out in the open—which I think were just for rinsing off when you got out of the pool—and all of them chose to lather up for all to see.
What’s wrong with a little nudity, you ask? My reasons are two-fold:
1. It wasn’t just a LITTLE nudity; it was A LOT. I’m not even as naked as they are at my own house!
2. Trust me when I say that most of these people did not need to be nude. I apologize if you were having fantasies of sorority house nudity or Playboy mansion nudity. It’s the exact opposite of that. Especially the lady who put on her make-up in the buff. (Word of caution: don't sit down on any chairs in that locker room.)
After awhile I got used to them and that’s when I started fondly referring to them as “The Nekeds.” Actually, I think Liz made it up. I would come into work and she would say, “How were the nekeds this morning?” And I would say, “They tried to get me to take a shower with them in the open area! I refused!”
I just wish that the nekeds could have put on some panties. Something with full coverage preferably. But they’re the nekeds. Maybe they couldn’t afford panties.
Wow, I guess the YMCA really is a charity.
4 comments:
I wonder if it's all the granola because Durango is the same way!
That's a good point. The nekeds also didn't like to shave.
Those nekkids (I like that spelling, too) were fun to talk about. But I wouldn't want to give a speech in front of them... it would be way too easy to easy my nerves picturing them, you know, nekkid.
They would have full conversations, completely nekkid. It's like I was the only one who even noticed they were nekkid. Twiglight Zone.
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