How to Handle Farting in a Fitness Class

Yup! You read that right. I’m going to give you tips on how to handle farting in a fitness class.

We all know that farting is a part of life. Nonetheless, when you’re in a fitness class and a fart slips out, it’s darn right down embarrassing.

Accidents happen. It’s not like we pre-planned to fart in a fitness class. Right?

Read on to learn about how to handle farting in a fitness class based on three different situations.

I’ll never forget the first time I farted in front of all my clients during a fitness class. I knew this day would eventually come. I was so embarrassed.

Everyone heard it and one client immediately reacted by making fart noises with her mouth. To be honest, this made me feel so much better and we all laughed.  

There was another time I farted in class when men were present. Everyone ignored it and I’m so thankful they reacted like that. Personally, I feel less embarrassed farting in front of a woman than I do a man.

So how should you handle it when your fitness instructor farts? This will vary depending on how well you know your instructor, what type of personality he or she has, and how well you know the group.  You can either ignore it or make a funny joke.

This is by far the most important one of all. We are about to get serious here.

You should not react in a verbal or physical manner when another class participant farts in a fitness class. Instead, wait until you see how they react. Then you can choose what to do based on their reaction.

If they giggle, then you can giggle. If they choose to ignore it then so should you.

Farting in a fitness class unintentionally is embarrassing, and for some people, it can be traumatic. If you bring attention to the situation verbally (“OMG who farted?”) or physically (plugging your nose) you may cause that person to feel even worse than they already do. In fact, it could become so bad that they never return to their fitness class.

Keep in mind that some people have less control than others. Also, holding in farts can become extremely painful. Every ‘body’ is different. There could be a medical reason too.

Unless a participant is farting purposely to literally create a “stink”, there is no reason to bring attention to it causing further embarrassment. Instead, try to make the person feel comfortable. If they ignore it, you ignore it. If they giggle, then you can giggle.

As a participant, I farted in a fitness class and while it never made a noise, it stunk!

Immediately my heart started racing and I’m pretty sure my face turned red. I thought “OMG! What am I going to do?”  I choose to ignore it, hoping no one would notice (wishful thinking).

I was with a group I didn’t really know. Had I been a regular in this class, knew the instructor and participants, I probably would have excused myself and made a funny joke.

So how should you handle it when you fart in a fitness class?

I can’t decide that for you because it is a very individual thing. Depending on what kind of personality you have, how well you know the group, and how you feel about farting in general with being key players in how you react.

However, I do recommend this – do what makes YOU feel better because you are going to feel more uncomfortable about it than anyone else in the class. To be honest, many others won’t care that much about it because, at the end of the day, we all know that farts sometimes happen when we least expect it. Right?

So there you have it – how to handle farting in a fitness class. It’s a real thing, it happens, and it’s perfectly normal. Feeling embarrassed is a natural reaction. If you’re with a good crowd, no one will really care as everyone farts and life will go on.

Do you have a fart story to share? I would love to hear about it, and no, I’m not joking. I grew up in a family where farting was funny and to talk about it is pretty normal. So go ahead, spill the beans.