I go to my gym on a regular basis. I like it there, but some of the people are just bloody annoying.
In a previous thread, I talked about some guys who insist on whooping and barking like dogs during the cardio bootcamp classes, in an obvious attempt to say, “Hey, look at me, everyone! I am the man!!!” Today, I’d like to rant about a few other annoying people.
Loud talkers. I’m referring to people who feel the need to carry on loud conversations with their buddies, sometimes going so far as to yell across the room. Shut up, people.
Why? First, it’s annoying. Second, it’s distracting to people who are trying to concentrate on lifting weights – and yes, if you’re serious about gym work, you know how important such concentration can be. Third, it’s distracting to people who are trying to read while using the cardio equipment, or who are perhaps trying to concentrate on whatever happens to be on the gym TV sets.
Laughers and gigglers. Every now and then, you get some women attending the cardio classes who find themselves laughing or giggling when they encounter a move that they have trouble with.
I want to say this cautiously. On the one hand, I’m sympathetic; after all, everybody has to start somewhere, and some people are in worse shape than others. I also understand that they doubtlessly feel nervous about doing the moves correctly. But giggling? I know this sounds harsh, but if you feel like laughing or snickering… don’t. Not during a group class. That’s just common courtesy. At the risk of sounding overly strict, if you’re a grown adult, then you should know by now how to suppress that urge when it’s inappropriate.
Cardio class attendees who can’t do the basic moves… at all. Again, I understand that some people are in worse shape than others. I also understand that some people aren’t terribly well coordinated. I further understand that a lot of people need to adapt the moves based on their fitness level. All of that is perfectly fine.
However, there are people attending these classes who habitually step to the left while everyone else is lunging to the right. Or people who zig in one direction while everyone else is zigging another way. The occasional mistake is fine, but if you do that habitually, then you are presenting a physical hazard to the other people in the class. What’s more, you’re also throwing people off their game, since people have a natural tendency to follow what the folks around them are doing. So if you have so much difficulty that you habitually find yourself going the wrong way, then please, for everyone’s safety and benefit, learn to concentrate. If necessary, practice the moves at home for a while, so that you can get the proper benefits and avoid injuring your fellow gym-goers.
Less annoying are people who do go in basically the right direction, but whose moves bear little resemblance to what the instructor is calling for. Again, I understand that some people need to adapt the moves based on their fitness level. That’s perfectly fine, and it’s an indication that you’re willing to work through your limitations.
However, there are a few people – not many, but some – who can’t manage even a basic knee raise or a light kick. They basically do nothing more than step in place and maybe lift their hands a little bit. I know that this sounds harsh, and so I want to say this as carefully as I can. If you’re so badly out of shape that you can’t manage the basics of lifting your knee into the air, perhaps you should start off more slowly – going for a brisk walk, perhaps, and practicing some knee raises at home.
I’m not saying this to be cruel, though I’m sure that some would read it that way. Rather, I’m saying this because if you’re basically just stepping in place, then you’re not really getting any benefit from the cardio class. You may as well do that sort of thing at home, where you can practice and build up to these moves. Besides, as I said earlier, it throws other people off their game when someone nearby is doing the moves in a blatantly incorrect way. That’s just human nature, which is why it’s important to ensure that your moves at least somewhat resemble what the class is calling for.
There are a lot of nice people at my gym, and the people I’ve described are in the tiny minority. Still, there are times when they can be really aggravating… sometimes without realizing it at all. Sigh.
(And he is never even close to getting back to the machine by the time I’m done with it, and yes, of course I wipe it down very carefully when I’m done.)