Valentine’s Day has come and gone and if you’re one of those folks who has found true love to be elusive, you’ll be breathing a sigh of relief as Cupid hangs up his bow and arrow for another year!
The great news though, is that the health club is actually one of the best places to find love because the gym environment is typically a relaxed atmosphere that attracts like-minded, health-conscious individuals.
Research reveals that matchmaking potential is high at health clubs with statistics indicating that one in four health club members feel it is a great place to meet that someone special, while one in five members have actually met their partner at the gym.
A girlfriend of mine once joined a health club just before she was about to go overseas to live permanently. She wanted to be in her best physical shape before beginning her trek and then settling in London. In the lead up to her departure, however, each evening at the gym a very cute guy kept catching her attention. Smiles would be exchanged, as were subtle ‘hellos’ but she thought nothing of it as she thought he was completely out of her league and she was focused on heading overseas. Then, one night he cheekily rolled a weight in her direction, almost tripping her over (boys will be boys, after all!). It broke the ice, enabling them to speak, so they went out to dinner and these days they are happily married and still love going to the same gym where they met!
So what are you waiting for? True love might be staring at you from the other side of gym floor right now!
Tips for men
Want to know how to approach someone you’re attracted to at the gym? Let me share a few secrets that will enable you to break the ice without looking like a stalker. Remember, while the health club is a great place to meet someone special, it is not as appropriate to flirt as you may do in a night club, yet it can require an equally detailed and thought-out approach.
Do’s:
o Be funny, relaxed, and playful.
o The biggest obstacle to socialising would have to be the iPod. If your person of interest is stuck in their iPod universe you’ll need to be clever and use non-intrusive solid eye contact. Be friendly, smile and look for a positive response. Be patient and slowly wear down the barriers. If you are receiving negative feedback it is time to move on and respect their space.
o Be prepared, pay attention to their workout regime (without becoming creepy about it!) as otherwise your person of interest may appear out of the blue, which could leave you a stuttering mess, causing you to lose that opportunity to interact. Have an ice-breaker prepared in advance, compliment her (again without seeming creepy) and once you know her name, use it!
o Spin class is an excellent way to break the ice, the lights are down, music is high everyone is relaxed and playful. A great time to talk is either before or after the class. Just remember keep it relaxed, light and smile!
o Be friendly and fun! Great relationships often begin with friendships. Challenge them to a race on the treadmill, see who can crunch the most curls or hold the longest plank! It could leave you both in stitches (in a good way, not the medical way).
Don’ts:
o Flex in the mirror, grunt or act like Mr I’m-too-sexy.
o Overspray your cologne, heavy breathing requires fresh air, a nice light deodorant and fragrance is sufficient.
o Stare continuously like a stalker or disrespect personal space.
Tips for women
The gym a great place to find a partner how cares about their body and health. But how do you approach the guy your interested in, as he is there to exercise not socialise? Last thing you want is a public rejection and have to return day in day out. There is a way to make this a win-win situation though, read on to find out more.
Do’s:
o Be warm, open and smile, you will ooze mystery and charisma. Men (and women!) love a lady who is light-hearted and fun. You will appear fresh, easy going, ensuring you will have them coming back for more.
o Make friends with the staff and other members; the more networks you have the closer you will get to them.
o Ask around and see who might already know them. Find out if they are single for a start. Keep it casual and it will probably get back to them that you were showing an interest, which may motivate them to break the ice first!
o Ask them for help, for example, lifting a heavy weight on or off a machine. Then observe if they are happy to oblige and if so, try starting up a conversation. Of course if it feels/looks like you’re taking their valuable time and that the task is more a bother than a privilege, then you’ll know that making a move is probably not going to be well received.
o Of course, if they are beginning to pay more attention to you and their gaze is getting more intense, ask them out! Seriously, girls can do it! Just keep it casual and light-hearted. If you have all the signs, casually ask them if they would like to join you for a drink. Short and relaxed is the key.
Don’ts:
o Avoid wearing overwhelming perfumes.
o Don’t dress up as you were in a bar. Avoid the heavy makeup and, instead, opt for a new gym outfit, smell fresh and keep your look natural.
o Don’t wear headphones as this can make you appear unapproachable. To make it easy for him, invite him in with your smile, eye contact and a compliment to break the ice.
Meeting that someone special at the health club can be fun, so take a deep breath, be brave and say ‘hi’. After all, what’s the worst thing that can happen?
Happy Dating and get out there and meet someone like-minded!
matchmaking
Finding Love at the Gym – How to Meet Someone at the Gym
