What Are Your Gym/Fitness/Routine Moans?
Discussion
Have recently returned to the gym after a decent break. I used to train in a fairly spit and sawdust place, some very big chaps and chappesses in there, the owner was an ex competition body-builder, you know the sort. Worked nicely for me however we've moved and for convenience I've joined the DW Fitness First near my office. What the f
k has happened with gyms?! Are they all full of vacuous Insta-cock-wombles?
The personal trainers are clearly under a bit of pressure to land clients, I get that but Christ sake, I've come in to train, let me do what i need to do and then get the hell out. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be your mate and i definitely don't want to be followed around the gym and chatted at.S
k has happened with gyms?! Are they all full of vacuous Insta-cock-wombles? The personal trainers are clearly under a bit of pressure to land clients, I get that but Christ sake, I've come in to train, let me do what i need to do and then get the hell out. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be your mate and i definitely don't want to be followed around the gym and chatted at.
SSebo said:
Have recently returned to the gym after a decent break. I used to train in a fairly spit and sawdust place, some very big chaps and chappesses in there, the owner was an ex competition body-builder, you know the sort. Worked nicely for me however we've moved and for convenience I've joined the DW Fitness First near my office. What the fk has happened with gyms?! Are they all full of vacuous Insta-cock-wombles?
The personal trainers are clearly under a bit of pressure to land clients, I get that but Christ sake, I've come in to train, let me do what i need to do and then get the hell out. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be your mate and i definitely don't want to be followed around the gym and chatted at.S
I used to train in a spit and sawdust gym in the loft of an industrial unit. It was so hot in summer it was like training in a sauna and so cold in winter that steam would come off you if you worked hard enough k has happened with gyms?! Are they all full of vacuous Insta-cock-wombles? The personal trainers are clearly under a bit of pressure to land clients, I get that but Christ sake, I've come in to train, let me do what i need to do and then get the hell out. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be your mate and i definitely don't want to be followed around the gym and chatted at.
S
I currently go to a commercial gym (work gym but open to anyone) and I'm afraid what you describe is pretty much average for the type. On the plus side a lot of the insta-cock-wombles are young ladies in lycra taking pictures of themselves in the mirrors, which I can live with. I only hope there aren't too many instagram posts with me in the background perving
These^ posts highlight an issue with PT-ism which has perplexed be for some time.
I'm quite keen on taking a career change, and one of the directions which has seriously interested me for the last 2-3 years is weight-based and lifestyle training for oldies (45-70?).
But what has stopped me pursuing it is the gym and PT setup in this country.
In order to get cheap 'shift management', gyms use 'independent' PTs, wearing the gym's branding and, in turn, give them exclusive access to that gym's membership. This means that users of that gym are tied to whichever monkeys happened to have landed a slot there, and truly freelance PTs can't work a geographical area, joining clients in whichever gym they happen to be a member of.
As it's weight-based training that I'm focused on, being a 'mobile PT' and visiting clients at home/office/wherever is out of the question, and domiciled in a 'normal' house, as I am, rules out them coming to me. And it would be uneconomic to get myself a lock-up unit, equip it, and use it only for booked clients.
Such a shame that PTs can't access all gyms on a PAYG basis. I daresay gyms would point to an insurance issue, but that's just bks, because PTs all carry their own risk polcieis anyway (or should!).
Harumph.
I'm quite keen on taking a career change, and one of the directions which has seriously interested me for the last 2-3 years is weight-based and lifestyle training for oldies (45-70?).
But what has stopped me pursuing it is the gym and PT setup in this country.
In order to get cheap 'shift management', gyms use 'independent' PTs, wearing the gym's branding and, in turn, give them exclusive access to that gym's membership. This means that users of that gym are tied to whichever monkeys happened to have landed a slot there, and truly freelance PTs can't work a geographical area, joining clients in whichever gym they happen to be a member of.
As it's weight-based training that I'm focused on, being a 'mobile PT' and visiting clients at home/office/wherever is out of the question, and domiciled in a 'normal' house, as I am, rules out them coming to me. And it would be uneconomic to get myself a lock-up unit, equip it, and use it only for booked clients.
Such a shame that PTs can't access all gyms on a PAYG basis. I daresay gyms would point to an insurance issue, but that's just b
ks, because PTs all carry their own risk polcieis anyway (or should!).Harumph.
RTB said:
On the plus side a lot of the insta-cock-wombles are young ladies in lycra taking pictures of themselves in the mirrors, which I can live with. I only hope there aren't too many instagram posts with me in the background perving
I think I’m going to see myself on Instagram later grunting and sweating I’m the background. The girl next to me was filming herself squatting. Actually. She was probably filming me. HahaAh its a January thing? I have seen some super hot lady newbies in our gym. All dressed up, makeup, hair extensions you name it, to work out with the PT. I picked up some tips too. Apparently you have to flick your hair several times prior to starting each deadlift rep. I think thats where I've been going wrong actually, as a 40s guy, my hair is way too short.
I mean it worked for Samson right?
I mean it worked for Samson right?
V8mate said:
These^ posts highlight an issue with PT-ism which has perplexed be for some time.
I wonder if the rise in independent gyms will better cater for that.My old local independent gym had their own gym staff in their branded kit, as well as PTs which were not employed by the gym and didn't wear the gym branded clothing but did appear as affiliates or what ever on the employee board.
gregs656 said:
I wonder if the rise in independent gyms will better cater for that.
My old local independent gym had their own gym staff in their branded kit, as well as PTs which were not employed by the gym and didn't wear the gym branded clothing but did appear as affiliates or what ever on the employee board.
If anything, the chains continue to crowd out indie gyms - so many seem to come and go in under a year.My old local independent gym had their own gym staff in their branded kit, as well as PTs which were not employed by the gym and didn't wear the gym branded clothing but did appear as affiliates or what ever on the employee board.
V8mate said:
If anything, the chains continue to crowd out indie gyms - so many seem to come and go in under a year.
I guess it's different in different areas. The indie gyms in my old area have taken off, indeed it is the Fitness First that has closed.Out here you can barely walk 10 paces without passing a 'Goodlife' - all the independent gyms here are boutique type places with a price tag to match.
I am mates with a manager of a massive national gym, he has managed a couple of other large gyms.
The PT's can pay 'rent' at however many gyms they like however it often makes financial sense to pay your rent via gym classes and tidying up, think they call these service hours. The big national gyms have to have a minimum of their PT's on service hours.
There is nothing stopping these PT's paying rent at more than one gym however they cant make the money to cover the costs. The gyms obviously set the rent high to encourage the PT's doing service hours.
The PT's can pay 'rent' at however many gyms they like however it often makes financial sense to pay your rent via gym classes and tidying up, think they call these service hours. The big national gyms have to have a minimum of their PT's on service hours.
There is nothing stopping these PT's paying rent at more than one gym however they cant make the money to cover the costs. The gyms obviously set the rent high to encourage the PT's doing service hours.
I guess the flip side is something like the Municipal place I go to - Part of the local Leisure Centre farmed out to a private company.
The 'kids' that work there are nice enough but, in their own words, they're not much more than glorified cleaners for the building & lifeguards for the swimming classes. I watch the gym ones show others around the equipment on a regular basis. They know the bare bones but that's about it.
There's a couple that are into their training but they're not allowed to work with anyone as they're not the designated 'gym' people.
I've never seen a proper PT in there. Maybe they don't allow private practitioners in - I'll ask tomorrow.
The 'kids' that work there are nice enough but, in their own words, they're not much more than glorified cleaners for the building & lifeguards for the swimming classes. I watch the gym ones show others around the equipment on a regular basis. They know the bare bones but that's about it.
There's a couple that are into their training but they're not allowed to work with anyone as they're not the designated 'gym' people.
I've never seen a proper PT in there. Maybe they don't allow private practitioners in - I'll ask tomorrow.
ORD said:
A pretty hopeless job for most, I think.
In the UK, I think so. I have some friends who do it over here, Canada, who make good money. Forget doing a 3 years sports science degree or what ever also, 2 week course and off you go. My moan for today is the sheer size of some of the machines, taking up masses of space. I reckon the chest press machine (one you can load up with plates) in my gym takes up the space of 2 or 3 benches you could bench press on - where is the value? Don't get it.
Even then, you could ditch the variety of bench press and squat racks and replace the lot with power racks and mobile benches - same space but so much more utility.
I'm fairly happy with my setup, a smallish pure. a platform, a power rack (which is pretty damn big), three squat racks, two good benches, two smiths and lots of mobile benches, plus a climbing frame which has a section for squat/bench.
If I had the say, I'd probably ditch the smihs and maybe could squeeze in another powerrack, maybe two if we jigged something else around
If I had the say, I'd probably ditch the smihs and maybe could squeeze in another powerrack, maybe two if we jigged something else around
gregs656 said:
In the UK, I think so. I have some friends who do it over here, Canada, who make good money. Forget doing a 3 years sports science degree or what ever also, 2 week course and off you go.
My moan for today is the sheer size of some of the machines, taking up masses of space. I reckon the chest press machine (one you can load up with plates) in my gym takes up the space of 2 or 3 benches you could bench press on - where is the value? Don't get it.
Even then, you could ditch the variety of bench press and squat racks and replace the lot with power racks and mobile benches - same space but so much more utility.
I remember reading an article that said gyms prefer machines (even free weight based ones) over barbells/dubmbells for two simple reasons, they are safer to operate with limited training and you don't need to employ staff who know how to lift properly to show people how to use the machines. Point at the sticker on the side and off you go. My moan for today is the sheer size of some of the machines, taking up masses of space. I reckon the chest press machine (one you can load up with plates) in my gym takes up the space of 2 or 3 benches you could bench press on - where is the value? Don't get it.
Even then, you could ditch the variety of bench press and squat racks and replace the lot with power racks and mobile benches - same space but so much more utility.
Was talking to 3 PT's this morning.
2 pretty successful, make a decent wage with regular clients.
1 just starting out got about 5 clients in the 3 months he has been a PT.
The successful guys are all about, look happy to be there, are in decent shape themselves. Will approach people new to the gym and offer their services in a non pushy way. They are also keen to keep on top of gym cleanliness and happy to teach classes!
They say Feb is a good time to pick up new clients as new starters have been in the gym a few weeks and are gaining confidence to interact and try different machines/exercises.
One PT does a really clever thing, he pays his clients membership for them, then just spreads it across their sessions, thought it was a good idea as it adds a little service and most people who have a PT have one to take the thought out of exercising!
This is at a Pure Gym.
2 pretty successful, make a decent wage with regular clients.
1 just starting out got about 5 clients in the 3 months he has been a PT.
The successful guys are all about, look happy to be there, are in decent shape themselves. Will approach people new to the gym and offer their services in a non pushy way. They are also keen to keep on top of gym cleanliness and happy to teach classes!
They say Feb is a good time to pick up new clients as new starters have been in the gym a few weeks and are gaining confidence to interact and try different machines/exercises.
One PT does a really clever thing, he pays his clients membership for them, then just spreads it across their sessions, thought it was a good idea as it adds a little service and most people who have a PT have one to take the thought out of exercising!
This is at a Pure Gym.
In the 3 years I've been training and over about 4 gyms I rarely see a PT that I'd want to PT me. Most of the time the PTs I see are pretty fit themselves and look the part but nearly every time, once I watch them training the new guy it makes me want to cringe. Especially on deadlifts or squats. My back hurts just watching some of the utter fails. Makes me want to throw a copy of starting strength at them.
I do know one very good PT though, very old school, blood, sweat and tears type. He was training at my current gym until he was banned. He was a threat to there business model apparently.
I do know one very good PT though, very old school, blood, sweat and tears type. He was training at my current gym until he was banned. He was a threat to there business model apparently.
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