Because sports and wellness are personal. We show our bodies, learn new things, and step outside our comfort zones. For some, it is simply the uncertainty of a first workout. For others, it is the ongoing question of whether they are truly welcome in that space.
We asked our Urban Sports Club community what makes a sports or wellness space feel safe, open, and inclusive – and what experiences people have had. The results show that this question is a reality for many: 76% of respondents say they have already felt uncomfortable, excluded, or insecure in a sports or wellness environment at some point.
At the same time, the responses also show that safety is often created through small moments – through respect, awareness, and people standing up for one another. Find out what makes a Safer Space and what each of us can do to help create these spaces together.
What Are Safer Spaces – And Why Are They So Important in Sports and Wellness?
A Safer Space is a space where people can feel welcome, respected, and safe – regardless of their body, identity, background, experience, or fitness level. The term is particularly relevant for people who experience barriers or exclusion more frequently – for example LGBTQIA+ people, FLINTA* people, BIPoC people, as well as people with physical or mental disabilities or neurodivergence. At the same time, everyone benefits from spaces where respect, openness, and consideration are part of everyday life.
A Safer Space does not mean that a space is automatically free from mistakes or conflict. “Safer” means that people take responsibility, listen, learn, and respond when boundaries are crossed.
“This Is a Safer Space for You…”
We asked our Urban Sports Club community: How do you know that a studio, club, or sports facility is truly safe and welcoming? These were your answers:
“… When I Can Simply Be Myself.”
Many people describe safety as the opposite of being judged: not feeling like you have to prove yourself. No fear of looks, comments, or comparisons. A Safer Space means: I do not have to change myself first in order to belong here.
This is especially important in sports. People enter spaces with different bodies, stories, and experiences. Safety is created where no one feels they first need to look or perform “the right way” in order to belong.
| What you can do as part of the community: Avoid unsolicited comments about people’s bodies, appearance, or performance – even if they are meant as compliments. Not everyone wants to be evaluated. Approach others with curiosity rather than assumptions, and let people decide for themselves what they want to share. |
“… When Beginners Are Just as Welcome as Professionals.”
The first visit to a class can take courage: Am I fit enough? Can I keep up? Am I doing something wrong? A Safer Space does not mean everyone starts at the same level. It means different starting points are part of the experience.
This includes clear information beforehand, understandable explanations, and an atmosphere where questions are welcome. Coaches in particular have a major influence here: Through their attention and the way they interact with people, they can determine whether someone feels seen or out of place.
| What you can do as part of the community when people are new: Remember what it felt like to be new yourself. Reach out to people who are attending for the first time. – Actively welcome new people. – Ask: “Is this your first time here?” – Briefly show them where the changing rooms or equipment are if they seem unsure. – Include people in conversations or small groups. Especially in classes where many people already know each other, a small gesture can determine whether someone feels welcome or like an outsider. |
“… When Boundaries Are Respected.”
Physical closeness is part of many sports. But trust can only develop when people can decide for themselves what feels right for them. One sentence was mentioned particularly often: “Ask for permission before making physical corrections.”
Personal topics also require respect. One participant shared how uncomfortable it can feel when a pregnancy is mentioned in front of the entire group without consent. Safety therefore also means allowing people to decide for themselves what they want to share.
| What you can do as part of the community to respect boundaries: Do not assume that your comfort zone is the same as someone else’s. -Ask before touching someone – for example during corrections or in contact sports such as partner dance – whether it is okay. – Respect a “no” without discussion. – Do not comment on someone’s body, clothing, or performance without being asked. – Accept that breaks, adjustments, or distance are valid. The topic of photos and videos was also mentioned by many members of our community. If you are filming or taking photos: Ask beforehand. – Ask whether other people want to be in the picture. – Pay attention to who appears in the background. – Respect a “no.” Training should always come first. – Do not share recordings without the consent of the people affected. For some people, social media is part of their training experience. For others, it can mean feeling watched or exposed. Respect often shows itself not through big gestures, but through allowing people to decide what feels right for them. |
“… When Diversity Is Visible.”
IInclusion often begins before the first movement: on the website, in the class description, or when entering the studio. The question behind it is: Am I included here? People want to see that different bodies, identities, backgrounds, and experiences belong. This is not only reflected in who is represented in a space, but also in how people are addressed.
Language can make people feel visible – or exclude them. This includes not automatically assuming how someone wants to be addressed, but asking openly and listening. Respect also means recognizing the cultures behind sports and movement practices. Whether it is hip-hop, yoga, or capoeira – many sports and forms of movement have histories and are closely connected to specific communities. Understanding their backgrounds often leads to more appreciation and fewer assumptions.
| What you can do as part of the community when it comes to language, culture, and visibility: Let people decide how they want to be addressed and stay open to learning something new. Treat people and cultures with respect. – Ask for names or pronouns instead of making assumptions. – Use respectful and inclusive language. – Learn about the origins of the sports you practice and approach them with respect – for example hip-hop, yoga, or capoeira. – Respect the people and cultures behind them rather than judging them. Small moments of awareness can show: You are seen. |
“… When Disrespectful Behavior Is Not Simply Allowed to Happen.”
A safe space does not mean that nothing uncomfortable ever happens. It means people know: If something happens, it will be taken seriously. One person shared how music from their country of origin was played during a dance class and others made jokes about it. What could have been a connecting moment became a situation where they felt disrespected and could no longer enjoy the session.
These moments show: Exclusion does not always happen openly. Sometimes it is small comments or actions that remind people they do not belong.
| What you can do as part of the community when someone is excluded: Pay attention. If someone is belittled, laughed at, or excluded, choose not to look away. – Ask whether everything is okay. – Support the person affected. – Address a comment if it is disrespectful or hurtful. – Be open to feedback and willing to learn. Courage often starts small – with the moment when you decide not to stay silent. |
“… When the Space Itself Supports Safety.”
Safety is not created through words alone. The environment also plays a role. Our community mentioned practical things that can make a difference: enough space, clean facilities, clear orientation, accessible entrances, or the option to step away and take a break.
Accessibility means more than ramps or elevators. It also means that classes are flexible enough for different bodies, needs, and abilities to participate. A space can only truly be inclusive when people can actually use it.
| What you can do as part of the community: Make sure spaces do not only work for you. Make room – physically and socially. – Do not take up more space than you need, and make sure others can move freely. Do not simply stand in someone’s way. – Be aware when someone may need support – without making assumptions about other people’s needs. – Respect different ways of doing sports: not everyone moves the same way, trains for the same goal, or needs the same conditions. – Question whether what feels normal to you is equally accessible to others. Inclusive spaces are created not only through structural changes, but also through the way we treat each other. |
A Safer Space Is Not Created Through Rules Alone.
A Safer Space is not a responsibility that only studios, coaches, or staff members carry. It is created through many small decisions – also by us as a community: welcoming someone, respecting a boundary, asking a question, not looking away, and treating people in a way that means they do not have to prove themselves before they can belong.
At first glance, this may seem like many things to consider. But that is exactly the point: No one has to do everything perfectly right away. Even individual steps can make a difference. What makes you feel welcome in a studio or class? Let us know in the comments.
