I always feel particularly self-conscious when I go to the gym to work out during my day. I think it is because I believe everyone tends to look at you (the gaze) as you walk by the machine they are on, or because there are mirrors all around to look at yourself, and your body.
Production notes: The camera focuses on me as I walk into the gym holding a water bottle, ipod, and magazine. I keep my head down, and walk fast (have body language read nervous) to an elliptical machine that happens to be on the opposite side of the gym. I drop my water bottle, and hurry to pick it up (keeping eyes down still).
As the camera zooms out slowly it should show other gym members (college students, attractive, female, and male) working out on the machines, and not have them looking at me, but rather watching the TV or reading their own material. As I finally make it across the gym I get on the machine, and look up to see how many people are staring at me, and no one is.
I then look at the girl next to me (attractive, 20 year old) who has her ipod in, and is reading a book, and realize she didn’t even notice me get on the machine. I then look into the mirror, look at myself, and then begin to work out. I realize that “the gaze” I believe that follows me at the gym does not exist as much as I believe it does, unless it is myself looking in the mirror.
I completely understand what you are saying. Last week I was on the erg (rowing machine) at the Arc and there were tours going on for decision days. The problem was that these groups would stop directly in front of the erg I was working out on. My workout for that day was pretty intense and the whole group would look at me sweating and in pain. It made me feel really awkward. I almost felt like some animal at the zoo.
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