I am posting mostly about my dumbfoundedness (did I just invent a word?) over some ongoings in the fitness industry. Normally when I go to the gym (to train, not work), I get in a zone. I appear to be of sound mind and alert but really I am in my own little bubble, and don't really care much for what is going on around me. I just do what I gotta do, and get out. Anyway back to the story. So the last week or so I have been a little more aware of things happening around me.
Now, I have recently become a member of a chain of gyms, which allows me to train basically in any of their clubs. And the stuff I have observed of late just astounds me. I would say the ratio in this chain of personal trainers to attending members (I say 'attending members' as it's a well known fact that the majority of people who pay for gym memberships don't actually ever use them on a regular basis) is roughly 1:2. Yep, one PT for every 2 people in the gym. Maybe that's an overestimate but at the times of the day I train (early morning then right after work) it's about that high. So the place is SWARMING with personal trainers, along with other assorted gym staff. Many of whom I assume would at least have their Cert III in Fitness.
So last week I notice this lady, who I would guess is in her late 50's / early 60's, doing single arm dumbbell rows. Awesome. I love that ladies of that age know the benefits of weight training. BUT while observing her last week, I noticed that her posture while doing said exercise was terrible. The curve in her back kind of resembled the Golden Arches. So here she is, performing the exercise with abismal form (I am not here having a dig at her - my thought is that she was never shown this exercise properly), and about 15 personal trainers walking around. Do you think any of them corrected her form? I didn't observe one trainer say anything to her. Clearly my observations were pretty accurate, as this morning, I saw the same lady, doing the same exercise, with the same arched back. Not good form at all - but even poorer form of the gym staff - THREE of which I saw watching her - not saying anything.
Likewise, this morning I am doing my thing, and the dude on the incline bench next to me, doing incline DB chest press, wearing THONGS (to any international readers, by 'thongs', I don't mean underwear thongs. That would be kind of weird if I knew that's what this dude was wearing, and even weirder that he had more than one on! By 'thongs' I mean what you may refer to as 'flip flops' or 'jandals' if you are a Kiwi). Yeah, that's right - thongs on a gym floor. WTF??? I know I have only just moved states, but I am pretty sure it's not just New South Wales OH&S rules that stipulate anyone on the gym floor MUST BE WEARING TRAINERS?!?! Again - not ONE person said a word to him. Just my personal experience, but my thoughts were - no trainers, no entry. At least that's how it has been in every gym I have ever worked in?
And then there was the PT, who was doing a session with his female client right next to me, talking about bodybuilding and figure comps. He points out a chick on an elliptical trainer, who happened to be lean - but reed thin - and gave his spiel about why she would be the perfect figure competitor, and how it's harder for anyone who has any kind of shape apart from being naturally lean to do well in bodybuilding. On the contrary - I would argue that most people who are naturally lean find it very hard to develop the shape to do well. That's not to say it's IMPOSSIBLE, but speaking from someone who fights tooth and nail to get lean for comp, I wouldn't have it the other way round for anything - as I know so many girls who can't put on muscle - an area I don't seem to struggle in. BUT what do I know?
Anyway I know, pick, pick, pick. But hey, it's my blog and if I can't vent here, where can I???
Hmm...so onto a happier note. My tattoo is healing up nicely already! I didnt post a pic yesterday so here is one -
This was taken the day I got it so it's still a bit red in the pic...but all getting better now. It's not even itchy, which is weird - normally the healing bit is torture cos of the itching!! lol
Hmm nor really much else to report so on that note, it's pretty well bed time for me. Til next time...over and out :)
Oh that so would have totally frustrated me too !!! Poor old lady there is nothing worse then seeing someone usuing poor technique and you feel its not your place to point it out etc and as for thongs do the ppl that work there pay attenetion to any of the clients, big no no world wide i would think! We have had ppl rocking up in work boots as of late and we had to band them as they were leving such a mess on the floor obviously these "workers" are not fans of training legs imagine trying to lunge in work boots!
ReplyDeleteLove your Tattoo very nice : )
Hey Vic, the concentration of PTs is nothing short of amazing. THere isn't any PT there at the moment remotely capable of doing a figure prep and maybe two out of the twenty or so that I would actually recommend.
ReplyDeletexoxxo
Vent away, you gotta let it out somewhere!
ReplyDeleteSounds a bit like my gym. 15 pt's all with about 6 months experience, I reckon they treat their work as social hour.I wouldn't pay a cent for the type of training they're dishing out, its an embarrassment to the profession
Hanni, so true. I have wanted to correct her form but I don't work there, it's not really my place when there are staff walking around everywhere. As for the thongs...don't even get me started!! lol I would have gotten my ass kicked at my gym in Sydney if I let anyone out on the gym floor without closed toe shoes.
ReplyDeleteLiz - yeah I have never seen so many PT's in one place in my life, aside from Filex!! I was actually thinking I might buy a triple pack just for my own amusement ;) haha
Casey - thanks babe, nice to know you guys don't mind me venting on here. I just can't believe how bad it can be out there...and it pisses me off cos you are right - it gives the rest of us a bad name.
hey Chickybabe, I love ur tatt, where did u get it? I year ya loud and clear re the lack of lets say "ethics" in our industry. Most trainers don't give a shit if they are not already getting paid from the person in the gym. Which is stupid as if they helped the people who obviously don't know what they are doing, they could find themself with a new client. But having said that, a lot of ppl (as u know) think they know best.... Glad I am getting out of it really.
ReplyDeleteHope ur mtg goes well tomorrow!!
hugs xxxx
Thanks babe. I love it :) I got it done in Surfers at a place called Frontline Tattoo - it is in an arcade opposite Hard Rock cafe. They were awesome!
ReplyDeleteLOL yeah funny how many in the industry see the issues with the ones who are out there for no other reason than to make money, and couldn't care less about how they do it. It does make me thankful that I decided not to continue it as a fulltime career path.
Thanks - I am hangin for tomorrow, so excited about this season!! And looking forward to your next year too, just quietly :)
xx
You know what, Vic? I see a lot and say little at gyms, but sometimes I just have to speak up. I'd hate to see someone injure themselves - or even get frustrated with weight training and give up because they're not seeing progress, all because they're doing it wrong.
ReplyDeleteI usually say something along the lines of "Tell me to mind my own business if you like, but there's a better way to do that exercise, you'll get more value out of it." Most people are happy to have someone help them. Then I explain WHY it's better to do it the way I'm showing them, and leave it at that. I don't pimp my services (because I don't want to get kicked out LOL), but sometimes I make a friend.
Mind you, the gyms I go to have no instructors or PTs on the floor, they're pretty much budget "at your own risk" type places. Yours has absolutely no excuse.
I know Kerryn...it's hard to know whether to say anything or not. Normally in my comfort zone (ie had it been a gym I had been training in for ages) I wouldn't hesitate BUT having been there only a few weeks, combined with the fact that half the time there are more employees than members there - I kind of feel a bit awkward. Surely one of the QUALIFIED STAFF should be saying something. Yes I know I am also qualified, but hey, noone there knows that.
ReplyDeleteAnyway if I see it again I might get the sudden urge to intervene ;)