Good news. The ladies only classes have stopped at my leisure centre.

This has been quite surreal. Need a couple of to recover!

Hi Faye

My daughters like the mixed classes. They say they like to make fun of the men who attend these classes. My mother in law told them I was no good at rugby etc at school so that is why she sent me to do keep fit classes.
My late wife was happy about me attending keep fit type classes as well.
The ladies I went to school with have made me welcome in the keep fit classes.

Frank

Come on Frank - you and your chums just like seeing the women in lycra, don't you? Burkas would be no fun at all!!

Yes, and that is great, I prefer mixed classes too. And my grand-sons rugby club has one fantastic girl in his team. I played ice hockey when I was a kid, and so on. But some women feel differently, for whatever reason - and 'equality' has nothing to do with how we deal with this. Agreed that at a small pool or gym there might not be time or space - but each area should be able to provide some facilities - to ensure all have access and mainly, that all can stay as fit and healthy as possible.

What's made you so bitter?

Frank that might very well be the case for you in your community. But can't you see past your own circumstances and realise many women are intimidated by men. They may have been brutally bashed and raped. Have you ever in your life had someone push their hand down your shirt, or put their hand up your trousers, lusted after you, stared at you, bashed you senseless, has anyone ever shoved something up your arse. No, I didn't think so, because if they had you might get what we are trying to explain to you.

Have men been asking for men only sessions? Or have they just been kicking up a fuss and trying to get the women only sessions stopped? There is still separation between men's and women's sporting activities. Is this your next target, Frank?

I would like to go to my local leisure centre, but I was told I couldn't as I was 'disabled' without a letter from my GP.
I pointed out I was a doctor and never saw my GP!
No! Without a letter I can't access it!

Hi gracesmum

The women in my classes tend to wear track suit type bottoms and tops.
We do get the occasional first timers in lycra.
As it happens the men normally like to be on the front row to have a laugh and a joke with the instructor.
We had a temporary instructor a few weeks ago and she asked if there was anybody who had not done bums and tums before.
All the men put their hands up and the women just laughed.

granjura

As I have said in the past if they had 2 evenings of ladies only classes at peak times some men would probably not be able to do bums and tums.
I supose there are other council leisure centres within Birmingham but it would involve extra travelling for the men and would these ladies be prepared to compensate them for the extra expense?.

Frank

I wouldn't care if they were mixed or not. So long as I could access them!

I am begining to note a certain tone in your many replies Hunterf that smacks of quite an intolerant attitude to differences. Modern equality is not about making everyone do everything together all the time. Modern equality is about offering as many choices as possible so that as many different needs as possible can be met (and heres the difficult bit) whilst not putting too many others out. If I suddenly wanted to take up a sport/hobby/pastime I would have to find where there were classes that I could attend near enough to travel to, at times that suited and to meet my particular needs. I fancied learning some ballroom dance as my husband is particularly good at it. Thus an organised class would have been inappropriate as he is jolly good and I'm an absolute beginer. So we have an hours private tuition when a particularly excellent teacher is available. This happens to be on a Thursday in a town 15 miles away. He had one vacancy...10 in the morning so thats when we go. We have no choice but are more than happy to go then.

Hi Lilygran

The men do not really want men only classes. All we were saying was we wanted to have the same classes as the women and if there was a ladies only class there should be an equivalent men only class even if only one man attended.
I think if it had been decided that there were going to be men only aerobics classes we would have had to have female instructors.

Frank

For heaven's sake- why?

HildaW

I started doing Salsasize when I was in London and enjoyed it.
When I came to Birmingham there was no such class.
That is why I took up line dancing.

Frank

Still going off at tangents, HunterF.

Hilda
You've put it very nicely!
Intolerance of differences is as bad as intolerance!
I like it!
But I'm tired and so to bed!

Gracesmum

I was answering HildaW statement about her having to travel 15 miles to get what she wanted.

Frank

Oh dear - I am out of here as I feel there is very little point in discussing this any further. Equality is not about being the same/identical. There are no men only classes, because there is no demand, as you clearly said.

Frank you will never understand. As long as you can see no one else is entitled to more than you, that's all that matters!

Yes maybe, but off the point. I think she was saying that you don;t always have a right to something and there are times when one has to compromise.
Not a single Salsacize class in all of Birmingham? Which century decade are we talking about?

gracesman

There may be a salsacize in Birmingham now but I could not find one when I first came to Birmingham but I have not bothered looking since.
I looked on the internet and asked around but most people had never heard of salsacize.

Frank

One stop shop on Google, Frank -
This one is in Moseley - maybe not a million miles from you. Trust me, there are tons I just couldn't be bothered didn't have time to cut and paste them all.
www.salsafabulous.co.uk/

Hi gracesmum

That is not Salsacize.
Salsacize is really a cross between aerobics and salsa.
It is a dance type class for the first 40 minutes and then about 20 minutes of floor exercises.

Frank

Sorry - try this
Sport and Leisure - Birmingham City Council
www.birmingham.gov.uk/sport
But my point is - live and let live. You find what you want to do and maybe you can be a bit less intolerant of others.

Sorry - try this
Sport and Leisure - Birmingham City Council
www.birmingham.gov.uk/sport

The leisure centre I go to is operated by Birmingham City Council.

I have got to take my granddaughter to hospital first thing tomorrow morning so I will have to go to bed soon.

Frank