LET’S GET LIFTING: GYM CULTURE AT WHITMAN

by AVA FAGHANI

The clock hits 2:30 p.m. and a rush of students spill from the doors of Whitman.

While many of them file onto buses, start their cars or catch a ride from a friend or a family member, there are some who walk past the line of traffic entirely. Little by little, they collect at the 29 Ride-on bus stop, preparing for their daily trip to their favorite place in Bethesda: the gym.

Workout culture can be as dominating as the attitudes it seeks to create. Often, these “gym bro” students are committed to the cause, following strict schedules to maximize the benefits of working out. Many choose to go to the gym to improve their mental health, to feel and look physically stronger and to increase their energy levels.

“I often work out when I’m stressed — it helps me clear my head,” said varsity baseball player and junior Ethan Murley. “Having a gym to go to motivates me.”

Student athletes in particular find going to the gym to be the perfect way to stay in shape during off seasons. The variety of machines and resources available accommodates different types of sports training.

“When I’m not in season for a few months over the winter, I’m always going to the gym,” Muley said. “A lot of working out for baseball includes more explosive exercises, which is why the gym is very convenient for me. I am able to go to the gym and work on anything I want, when I want.”

The benefits of consistent exercise and having an outlet to go to are undeniable. In a survey done by The Black & White, 96% of Whitman students reported the gym significantly helps their mental health. Many also said they enjoyed working out to improve their physical state and appearance.

Sophomore Kristin Sartori and senior Alaia Gomez go to the Onelife gym together at least once a week. They enjoy not only the mental benefits of working out, but also looking in the mirror after extensive workouts and seeing their physical progress, they said.

“I feel that it distracts me from a lot of things I have going on or am going through,” Sartori said. “It’s also an easy way to not only ease my mind but also get my body to a point where I want it.”

At a low point in her life, Gomez was able to rejuvenate her livelihood through working out with Sartori, and now the gym is part of her daily life, she said.

“When I was going through a rough time, it gave me something to do and later feel good about,” Gomez said. “I felt healthy and strong.”

Bethesda’s Onelife Fitness, formerly known as Sport&Health, is a particularly popular gym in the Whitman community. One of Onelife’s biggest appeals, among its amenities and community, is its proximity to Whitman, sophomore Connor Ho said.

“I was introduced to Onelife by my friends,” Ho said. “I decided to get a membership there because there are a lot of Whitman kids and it’s conveniently located. I love it.” trainer at Equinox I work with, Rudy, who has helped me to make unreal progress in strength and amazing physical results through lifting. I love every workout I do with him, and he continues to motivate me every day.”

Gyms of all tiers have seen an increase in female representation in the fitness industry in the last decade. As of 2020, More than 50% of all gym goers in the U.S. are now female, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. Gomez appreciates the community overall and hopes to empower other females, she said.

“A lot of girls feel they’re gonna be judged or made fun of because it’s mostly guys, but you later realize people aren’t actually judging you,” Gomez said.

There is a notable mob of students at the gym, which changes the atmosphere at Onelife, Onelife fitness director Beau Bernado said. Although the gym appreciates the business, students have been known to crowd the gym and even may attempt to sneak in without a membership.

“We’ve definitely had an issue with kids sneaking in through the back door,” he said. “Compared to other gyms, our membership dues are fairly low. It’s not difficult to get a membership and fairly cost effective.”

A Onelife membership adds up to around $79 per month. Known to be more luxurious, Equinox in downtown Bethesda starts at about $205 per month and provides among other amenities a spa and unlimited guided classes. Senior Jake LaDuca values the deluxe quality of Equinox over other gyms, he said. After being inspired by health and physicality, LaDuca plans to go on to double major in kinesiology and finance at Tulane University. He even works with a personal trainer to optimize gym productivity.

“I go to the gym six days a week because I really just love it,” LaDuca said. “I also have a

Despite this recent wave, sexism in particular can still be found in gyms — a historically male-populated space. Part of the original bias can be attributed to the stereotypes around men, not women, being physically strong, according to Sartori. Unfortunately, females exercising in the gym will often have to maneuver inappropriate or unwelcomed remarks, said Sartori, who has experienced a wide age range of males interrupting her gym regimen.

“It’s definitely challenging to feel comfortable every time you’re at the gym because there are definitely people, whether they are teenagers or in their 30s, who don’t understand personal boundaries and will interrupt to make uncomfortable comments about you,” Sartori said.

Whitman students’ commute to the gym can be unpredictable as well. Many choose to go with friends to add extra excitement and incentive to their grind. The 29-bus ride is part of the tradition, sophomore Cade Afas said, and it can get hectic.

“The bus drivers always get mad,” he said. “The other day, a freshman trying to go to the gym ran in front of the bus and he had to stop the bus. The driver said he’s not coming back and he skipped our stop for like three days.”

Whitman students crave the exhilaration of breaking a sweat after school, they said — and they do it to be with each other.

“It’s a powerful thing,” Gomez said, “to look strong and help each other out.”

graphic by NADEEN PERERA