Muslim Women at the Gym

Have you ever wondered why that foxy lady who just worked out next to you on the treadmill covers it all up when she leaves the gym? You know she is a Muslim by the clothes she wears, but may ask yourself, why work that hard to look good if no one is ever going to see it?

Being one of those ladies I can answer that question for you.

Working out is a form of worship

In Islam, taking care of our bodies and looking good in our homes for our husbands are both very important ways we practice our faith.

We are taught that our bodies have rights: the right to be fed, the right to be clothed, the right to rest, the right to be taken care of in the best possible manner. This includes exercise and a healthy diet. For many Muslim women, attending a gym regularly is an important part of fulfilling our body’s rights.

Why is she covering that foxy Fernwood bod?

I was once asked, “Do you have to wear your hijab (head scarf) in the shower?”

For Muslim women, that sounds like a silly question. Being a woman who converted to Islam, I realise that Islam and Muslim women’s dress are often a mystery to non-Muslims.

We wear the clothes we wear for the same reason nuns wear their habits – as an expression of religious devotion. No men other than our husbands and our immediate family members are allowed to see our bodies. We must cover everything, including our hair, whenever we are outside our homes. Our heads may look big in that scarf and our beautiful foxy bodies may be draped in an abaya (oversized shapeless dress), but we don’t have to wear them in the shower.

For women only!

Working out in a gym where men are present is not allowed for Muslim women. Women-only gyms like Fernwood embrace diversity in a female-only setting so are the perfect choice for Hijab women who want to look and feel their best.