Let's get Physical...
The words "physical" and "physique", like the word "physics", comes from the Greek word phusis. In turn, phusis comes from the verb phuein, which, in its earliest form, means "to grow". However, it has been suggested¹ that the verb shares a root (pha) with words such as phos – light – and phainesthai – to show oneself. Physical entities, on this understanding, are things that are visible.

Meanwhile, the word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek word that literally translates as "place where people are naked".

So one might expect to see quite a lot of flesh on display at the gym. HOWEVER, if you happen to be so large that, were you to jump into the air, you'd get stuck... well, could you please think of the children and try to wear something a little less figure-hugging and midriff-baring? There are some sights we really don't need. And, men: it's OK to wrap a towel around yourself in the changing-room when chatting with a vague acquaintance or making a phone-call, you know. Etymology is not an excuse for having quite so much of your physique quite so visible or flapping around quite so much...



¹viz F. Sprecht, “Beiträge zur Greischen Grammatik”, Zeitschrift für vergleichende Sprachforschung 59 (1932):31-131
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 10 Jul 2009, 11:14, 2 replies)

I don't really have a problem with nudity in the changing room
provided it's not done for the purpose of showing off. For example, simply walking to the showers in the nude is acceptable in my book.

However, there's one man whom I sometimes encounter in the swimming pool changing room who dresses in a most peculiar order. He puts his shirt on first, then his tie. Then he goes over to the mirror, adjusts his tie and combs his hair. All with his cock and balls dangling for all to see.

That's a bit wrong.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 10 Jul 2009, 12:32, closed)

Ewww.
Yeah - there's always one gratuitously nude bloke. Edited for clarification...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 10 Jul 2009, 12:42, closed)