Thursday 15 April, 2004
Ranting Dragon
I miss my old gym.
It had no air con, the paint on the walls was falling off, the mirrors were mainly broken, and most of the members grunted while lifting and threw their weights on the floor when finished. But it had something better: atmosphere was always welcoming, all the members were dedicated to train hard, you could always get a spotter, and the equipment was geared towards a more serious trainer.
But since I have to work such ridiculous hours, going to a gym after work is really not an option. Therefore I now frequent a modern gym across the road and train during lunch hours.
This gym is expensive, does not have a squat rack, and getting anyone to spot you is chore, as practically all the other members of the gym never use the free weights. On the bonus side there is a decent selection of weights, you never have to queue to get to the bench, and there is a boxing ring and gym instructors I can spar with.
But the other day, while I was doing decline bench press, I noticed in the corner of my eye how one of the ladies training in the gym was speaking animatedly to one of the gym instructors and gesturing at my general direction. I paid no heed, as I thought she might just be curious about the exercise I was doing. I had enough in my mind anyway (a big weight on your chest tends to do that).
But as I finished my set, the gym instructor approached me and said: ‘One of the other members complained. She feels threatened by you and the weights you use. Could you use smaller weights please?’
For a moment, I just stood there, speechless and staring incomprehensibly, thinking that this must be a practical joke. But the face of the gym instructor that had just delivered the line remained grave.
With all the politeness I could muster, I explained that I pay a lot of money for my membership, I was completely quiet while I trained, I was not in anybody’s way, I certainly did not place any other members in danger, and the weight, while reasonably heavy, was something I can easily handle without a spotter, and I was using good form. I then concluded that I would carry on.
The gym instructor, clearly embarrassed, went back to the lady in question with my answer. She got visibly angry, and shouted about making a complaint and soon stormed off the gym swearing that this would not be the last I heard of her.
Now I understand that I am not the typical customer of the gym: the gym makes its money out of women who come to sit in the rowing machines to chat to each other –I am cool with that. I understand that for somebody looking to do some light fitness I might look out-of-place in their cosy heath spa doing big compound movements with a barbell. But this really goes too far. If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. If you cannot stand weights being lifted, stay out of a gym.
Posted by Dragon at 15 April 12:53, 2004Unbelievable. :D
I realize this is probably no laughing matter at all to you, but I am laughing out loud here. It's so... utterly absurd. Thanks for the cheering up. :)
# 2 - Dragon (on April 15, 2004 03:42 PM):
I'll laugh too in a few days when I am less annoyed, and once I am sure she does not do anything else like make an official complaint.
LATER: Looked at my contract: Health Club can terminate my membership instantly if: 'The member's conduct is likely to cause harm to the interest or reputation of the club OR THE INTERESTS OF OTHER MEMBERS. Let's hope this is the last I hear of this.
# 3 - Miira (on April 15, 2004 05:33 PM):
How can lifting weights cause harm to the interests of other members? Jeez...
# 4 - Dragon (on April 15, 2004 05:37 PM):
To be honest, gyms DO have a right to choose their customers, and if the investors' vision for the gym does not include people lifting weights, or if other memebers find this disagreeable, then my contract would allow me to be kicked out because of this. But I know the head honcho of the gym, and helped him to make excercise programs for beginners, so I reckon I'll be fine.
# 5 - Antti (on April 15, 2004 05:54 PM):
Usually it's a compliment when somebody feels threatened by the weights you use...
I can only imagine what you must feel like, it's shit like this that makes my blood boil just reading it. Next stop, they'll ban sweating.
More hardcore places may not come with all the bells and whistles but at least people go there to train, not to socialize. But those places are few and far between these days.
# 6 - Dragon (on April 15, 2004 06:09 PM):
It's all down to money. The bottom line is that the money in gym business is made in expensive health clubs that aimed at people not really interested in any hardcore training. If hardcore trainers deter the casual people, then it makes sense for the gym to ban them. I just don't have an option of not training there: I either train at lunch hours or not at all.
# 7 - Gareth Lewin (on April 16, 2004 08:12 PM):
Haha.
The world of political correctness is going too far. Soon you won't be able to use the gym, because you are not ethnically diverse enough!
# 8 - rannva (on April 17, 2004 06:52 AM):
Amen to that Gareth!
My gym experience of the week is embarrassing:
I thought the front desk staff had lost my driver's license that I had given them as a token instead of my membership card and spent about 15 minutes watching them get increasingly frantic trying to find it. I went through their box of membership cards myself, all to no avail. The head honcho showed up and wheezed under her breath that the girl who took my DL might be liable and that she better find it. Good, I thought, that should make them find it sooner. By now I was wondering what weirdo was leaving the gym with my DL in her/his pocket. They asked me again if I was sure I didn't get it back from them. I said I was very sure. It was about one minute later that I put my hand in my pocket - very smart of me, huh? - and felt a rectangular shaped card! Oh my God! It was my DL! I had just spent a long time claiming that the gym had lost my card while it had been with me the whole time! I had obviously been asbent minded (as usual!) when entering the gym - and forgot that they handed it back to me. I didn't have the guts to tell them I had the card - so I told them hastily that I needed to leave and that I would call them as soon as I got home and that they should keep looking! I did call them when I got home - told them that I had found it within the pages of my book that I had brought with me. Now, how the hell to I return to this gym like a normal person? :)
# 9 - Kolibri (on April 17, 2004 11:52 AM):
Ouch rannva :(
My suggestion would be - just pretend it never happened and walk in with your head held up high ;)
You can't add any more comments, but if you wish you can email the author.