Autism and the gym

Hi Billy, glad to hear you have found a gym you can enjoy and be comfortable in.

I find the gym an intimidating place because there's usually a lot of noise, from the people exercising and the equipment, also the music playing. A new gym started up in my town in 2023 and last year I finally got round to going in there, and the guy who runs it is really nice and understands about my autism so suggested I go in on Saturdays and Wednesdays (quietest days) and also turns down the music when I'm there.

He also offers virtual exercise something I do when my anxiety is too bad for me to go out. This is something I find really useful, and so do other gym members. This is something you could potential do for your own thing when you're setup and ready?

The gym I go to also features a fluid alarm that sounds regularly to remind you to stop and have a drink so you don't dehydrate. I personally find this very useful as I forget to drink anyway most of the time.

Billy87 said:

I can find it an intimidating place, loud music (usually painfully bad RnB, not like it's anything decent like a bit of punk rock), posers, guys with way better bodies than mine etc. It's often put me off getting fit. 

This reflects almost any gym I have ever been to. I use a chain of gyms here in Brazil called SmartFit and they have hundreds of gyms just in my city so as my work takes me to different areas I get to see different ones.

This atmosphere does reflect what the vast majority expect a gym to be and as they make up the majority of the fee paying base then it is only understandabe that it is what the gyms will cater for.

I use decent earphones, my own cleaning stuff for the seats / bars etc and a towel for my own sweat - I just wish others wouldn't use a machine and leave it covered in their stinking body juices when finished.

Seeing others more developed than me gives me the inspiration to keep going - if idiots like them can get a ripped body then I can too - so the onus is on me to make the workout effective. So far it is working.

Some gyms offer quiter sessions and getting to know the manager in charge does help them consider these and publicise them - other people who don't like the loud music will probably also be interested so it can be a selling point albeit with a time window.

When you do become a personal trainer it is worth considering building a knowledge of when the gym is quieter, when there are events that cause it to get busier as people prepare (eg pre marathon) and how to help people cope with the sensory overload.

Sensory wise there is the cleanliness aspect (maybe bringing alcohol spray and cleaning wipes to get them started), noise from the steroid muppets throwing down their weights or grunting like a bull in heat, the music (recommending bringing cordless headhones) and a clean towel (some people hate to sweat). By addressing a lot of these and asking about the persons personal preferences it is likely to lead to a much more effective session.

Some autistic people hate being touched and often training can require this (directing the right grip, helping then they are failing in a rep etc) so it would be good to avoid personal contact if possible or at least advising that it may be required in advance if they are at risk of hurting themselves.

Sometimes even personal space can be a problem which makes it difficult when the gym is busy and cramped or you need to be close to spot them. For these people it is probably better for them to train at home if they possible can.

Lastly remember to agree a signal from them that they are getting close to a meltdown and you need to get them out of there to somewhere they can breathe. You may need to observe them and ask them if they need to break - they sometimes lack the presence of mind to recall the sign when they are struggling.

I do tend to load videos onto my phone to watch on long, boring cardio workouts so this can be a way to overcome the dullness of it.

That's my thoughts on the subject - I hope something is there that you haven't considered yet.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27546330241240648?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.5

I have been reading the above research paper to try and help me to work out what it would take for me to feel able to add more activity into my week.

I love this post !! I’m an autistic person who finds the gym to be an amazing coping mechanism. However, this hasn’t always been the case and it was a struggle to incorporate it into my routine and I still struggle to be consistent with it especially since I moved areas and consequently to a new gym. 

What made me more comfortable with accessing the gym and growing to love it was making sure I adapated it to suit my needs. For me this looked like: using noise cancelling headphones, going at quieter times and planning  my workouts in advance. These things made the gym less overwhelming for me. So, I guess what I would recommend is just asking the individual if they have any worries about the gym and thinking of things to put in place to get around these obstacles. 

I hope this little bit of advice was useful. The gym has genuinely had such a positive impact on my life and mental health. I find it a great way to process my emotions and regulate myself after an overwhelming day. However, I do struggle to go consistently when I feel down so I think it’s great that you’re interested in how you can support autistic people with accessing the gym.

All the best :)