This is why I never go to the gym. Exercise is supposed to be relaxing and fun, not about being pressured by others.
If it’s like the lat machine or the rowing station, where you just need to move the pin, that’s one thing. But if I’ve got 225 on the bar and you want to use 95, that’s another.
It doesn’t usually come up when I am trading sets with the hardcore gym rats, fortunately. There’s something to be said for being sweaty, ugly, and badly dressed - you mostly get the free weight area to yourself.
Regards,
Shodan
In practically every gym class I’ve ever taken there’s been that person.
When I used to do 15 minute abs class almost every day there was always one person who seemed to be doing a completely different workout and it wasn’t always the same person either. 40 people on their backs, legs in the air and I glance left to see this one guy doing downward dog. Why?
I’ve never had a big problem with people not following the spin instructor. It’s a little harder to zone out if the person in front of you is doing something different but not too bad. Far worse is the late comers and early leavers who need to socialize. And the bike savers! The spin classes I visit are usually lightly attended but sometimes there are flurries. In one flurry a pair of women I’ve never seen, and I’ve been doing that class for 8 months, saved 4 extra bikes with water and towels. People were turned away for lack of bikes. 15 minutes in a couple of other ladies show up, socialize, use the bikes for a while then leave early. Fortunately I’ve never seen them again.
I hope it is clear that the problems discussed here are a result of people being inconsiderate towards usage of a shared resource.
Nobody is going to bother a group of friends who are relaxing near the exercise equipment or by the pool or in the basketball court, if the relaxation does not occupy shared exercise equipment or exercise space that is in need.
That’s about it.
If you want to hang out and enjoy life on the sidelines while some friends shoot hoops, nobody is going to pressure you about anything and you will fit right in with many other folks doing the same thing. But you wouldn’t stand in the middle of the basketball court to have your chat, because that would be rude.