‘Female Coaches At Gym Are Welcome, But Don’t Taint Male Trainers’
Nidhi Garg, a fitness enthusiast from UP, says a female trainer may help women feel safer in a gym but expertise, and not gender, should be the key to select one’s coach. Her views:
As a 45-year-old woman who’s been hitting the gym regularly for several years, I have mixed feelings about Noida’s new rule mandating female trainers at gyms, pools, and yoga centres. Fitness has been such an important part of my life, and I’ve had the privilege of working with both male and female trainers. While I know why this rule might make sense for some people, I think it’s worth digging a little deeper into what this really means for everyone involved.
Let’s start with the positives. For many women, especially older ones, having a female trainer can make them feel more at ease. I’ve met plenty of women in their 50s and 60s at the gym who just don’t feel comfortable opening up to male trainers about their fitness goals or physical struggles. Having a female trainer around can really help these women feel more confident and motivated to keep showing up. In that sense, this rule could be a great way to encourage more women to embrace fitness, and that’s undeniably a good thing.
But here’s the thing: we can’t ignore the fact that this rule might unfairly affect male trainers. Over the years, I’ve trained with male instructors who were not only incredibly professional but also genuinely invested in my progress. Once you get to know someone and build trust, their gender stops mattering.
Not every male trainer is out to take advantage of their female clients—in fact, most of them are just trying to do their jobs well. And let’s be real, men in this line of work are often just as cautious. They know how easily an allegation can ruin their career, so they’re careful to maintain professionalism at all times.
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For me, it’s never been about whether my trainer is male or female. What matters is their expertise and how well they understand my needs. I remember when I was recovering from a back injury—my male trainer at the time was a lifesaver. He knew exactly which physiotherapy exercises would help, and his personalized approach made such a difference. Would I have felt more comfortable with a female trainer in that situation? Honestly, no. I trusted him because he knew what he was doing and because we had built that rapport over time.
That said, I get that not everyone feels this way. For some women, especially those new to fitness, working with a male trainer can feel intimidating. That’s why having female trainers is such a good idea—it gives women the option to choose what makes them feel safest and most comfortable. Creating this kind of inclusive environment is so important.
But here’s where I think we need to be careful: this rule shouldn’t come at the expense of male trainers losing their jobs. It’s not fair to sideline professionals who’ve worked hard just because of their gender. Instead of enforcing a strict mandate, why not encourage gyms to hire both male and female trainers and let clients decide who they’re comfortable with? Providing options rather than making hard-and-fast rules feels like a more balanced and fair solution.
At the end of the day, fitness is about building confidence, breaking barriers, and fostering trust—things that have nothing to do with gender. As long as gyms focus on professionalism and client comfort, there’s no reason male and female trainers can’t coexist and help create a healthier, happier community.
As told to Deepti Sharma
