Undoubtedly, Los Angeles has a culture focused on health. L.A. is ranked 15th among the healthiest cities in the United States, according to WalletHub’s 2026 findings. As a microcosm of the larger L.A. community, USC emphasizes health culture, influencing students’ relationships with their well-being. 

While stressing healthy habits can be positive for students, encouraging fitness and better mental health, the pressure that follows can make people feel inadequate at the gym. But when practicing fitness, it is most important to practice routines that you actually enjoy, rather than what is recommended to you by others. 

When people think of exercise, some think of running on a treadmill, lifting weights or completing an ab circuit. Essentially, working out has become synonymous with going to the gym. This is evident at all three of the USC campus fitness centers, which are packed at many hours of the day. 

For many, going to the gym can feel like a punishment, with sweaty shared machines and constant spectatorship. In the gym, some people can experience “gymtimidation” — a feeling of anxiety when working out in front of others — which causes individuals to avoid the gym entirely, according to Just You Fitness. 

However, the gym is not the only way to get your heart rate up. 

By trying alternate forms of exercise, you can work more muscle groups and achieve a more balanced physique. You also gain a mental health boost by stimulating your brain with more options, decreasing anxiety, according to Strathcona Physical Therapy. 

There are an infinite number of ways to get your exercise — hiking, yoga, surfing, rock climbing, walking, jumping rope, Pilates or biking, to name a few. Many people just try to force themselves to like the gym; meanwhile, the sunny culture of L.A. provides many forms of exercise that people often forget to tap into. 

Additionally, many of these options allow you to work out outside, providing the further benefit of fresh air. Most of these forms of exercise have a USC club associated with the activity, making it easier than ever to experiment.

Although it can be healthier and more engaging, many people are averse to other forms of exercise due to the idea that one must be a pro at the gym, according to a 2025 article in Human Kinetics Journal. Many people consider the gym as the only legitimate form of exercise, disregarding other forms such as casual sports or dancing. 

There is a gendered aspect at play here. For example, yoga and Pilates are popular forms of exercise for many women; in fact, Pilates participation has increased by 40% since 2020, according to Fitt Insider. However, the link between these activities and women has stereotyped them as feminine or easy. This is unfortunate because yoga requires an immense amount of strength, according to Yoga Rove — not exactly an easy activity. 

This alternative form of exercise is extremely accessible to USC students — L.A. has hundreds of Pilates studios and even a CorePower Yoga at USC Village — but the gendered connotation has likely prevented many people from experimenting with an activity they could possibly enjoy. 

Fitness is an important part of life, but the gym is not. You don’t have to subscribe to a certain activity because everyone insists it’s necessary to be healthy or influencers say it’s the quickest way to snatch your body. You should choose a way of exercising that is enjoyable to you; it is meant to be fun. 

Fitness is not one-size-fits-all. We all have different bodies, eating habits and preferences. Don’t let yourself be pressured into trying what everyone else recommends. Find fitness that brings you joy and that you can consistently find motivation to commit to. At the end of the day, it is about your personal well-being and no one else’s.