Hey friends! Happy Friday! How about this crazy hot weather, right?! I don’t understand how it goes from 50’s to 90’s overnight. Something just doesn’t seem right about that. I am going to Tia’s on the water for drinks after work and I can’t wait! Perfect way to spend a hot, Friday afternoon 🙂
Yesterday was not a very good day at work. My work computer got a MASSIVE virus and IT said that it killed everything on my computer and could not be removed and/or fixed. Fantastic. So, from 9am to 1pm, I was dealing with computer sh*t (sorry, but that’s how frustrating it was!). With my job, I literally cannot do anything without a computer, so, what did I do to pass the time, you might ask? Well, I came up with some blog post topics… duh 😉
Since I teach a fair amount of classes each week (6 this week, to be exact), I see loads and loads of interesting things while I am there! Some make me laugh, some drive me cray-cray, but I thought it would be fun to share them with you today. Anyone else who spends any time at the gym can surely agree with me!
Fitness Instructor Pet Peeves
- People who come in late and make a big scene getting their equipment and finding a spot. I understand PT delays or traffic (we have all been there!), but please try your best to sneak in quietly, grab your stuff quickly, and get to work. I get in a “groove” while teaching, so when I have to stop and help someone set up while also trying to keep the class going, it’s super hard.
- Just because I am a female instructor and the class is 95% females, doesn’t mean it’s an “easy” class and won’t be a kick butt workout for guys, too. Trust me, it will, and if you don’t believe me, I dare you to come to a class!
- Don’t come to class in just a sports bra. Actually, don’t go to the gym in just a sports bra. Working out in your home by yourself? Go for it. But at the gym? Please be courteous (even if you have a rocking hot bod) and wear a shirt. I’ve witnessed a “nip slip” in my class and I’d love it if that never happened again!
- When people come in each week and lift the same weights, expecting to see a change. Change happens when you do something different. Get out of your comfort zone and listen to me when I say “go heavy”.
- When people roll their eyes at me when I throw in crazy/weird things into class. Please humor me and at least TRY to do what I am instructing (jump squats with weights, full burpees, crab walks, etc.). I understand injuries and other limitations that inhibit you from doing some of what I teach, but I know there are “fakers”, who just don’t WANT to do what I’m instructing because it’s hard 😉 I’m onto you!
- People who come in and talk to their friend the whole class. Class is 1 hour out of your day and it’s so distracting to me and the other members when you’re having a full on conversation with your friend, so save it for before or after class.
- When people are not mindful of their space, my space, and their neighbors space. No one wants you up in their space!
- Speaking of space, don’t “share” equipment like steps/benches. Get your own!
- When members give me the evil eye when I tell them that they only need a mat and weights. You don’t need every piece of equipment in the room to make it a “good” workout, so put your barbell, body bar, 4 sets of weights and step away. K? Thanks!
- Smelly people. Please be courteous of everyone else in the room (which tends to get hot when we are all working hard) and wear deodorant. ’nuff said.
Anyone else feel the same way about any of these?! Any that I missed? What is your BIGGEST pet peeve when you’re at the gym?
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We just got news that our best friend, Sara, is on her way to the hospital to hopefully have her baby soon! If she has it today, my sister and I will head up to Maine after I teach tomorrow!!!!
Burpees to Bubbly 
great pet peeves–I agree with all !! Zeke has lots of friends cheering he and his Mom on!!
Haha, thanks, Jean! No baby yet, but hoping he comes soon because sara is in so much pain:(
Great post! Sometimes we have to let it out… all the frustrations! #6 is a big one. Sometimes you just want to interrupt their conversations and say “shut up and workout – talk after class… this is a workout class, not coffee time!” I also hate it when people come in and interrupt the class. And of course when you’re actually trying to workout by yourself and people come up to you and want to tell you their life story… earphones in/workout = in the zone, please don’t talk to me right now.
Thanks! I know- it’s seriously so rude and drives me crazy!!! Being interrupted during MY workout is the worst. I try to put my “mean face” on, which basically says “don’t even try to talk to me”.
Hey Nikki! Thanks for venting about this stuff (sometimes it just needs to be said!). #1, #5, and #6 REALLLLLLY get me!!!
For #1- People also don’t understand that we don’t typically allow/like when late comers sneak in because it’s also not safe to throw yourself into an intense workout without the proper warm up! They also miss initial instructions, making us have to repeat everything or take a moment to bring them up to speed- delaying the rest of the class!
#5- I JUST experienced the eye roll with a new ab routine in one of my classes. It was TOUGH. And you know what? I am teaching it again next week (insert evil face here), because I want them to learn it and then they will find it is a challenge, but TOTALLY DOABLE. 🙂
#6- It is hard enough to instruct and demo at the same time, so talking not only distracts us, the instructors, but it distracts others and folks may miss out on a safety tip or form correction. Not good and super annoying. It’s OK to encourage each other and cheer others on (that’s what group fitness is all about!) and drop a comment here or there, but long conversations, SAVE IT FOR AFTER CLASS PLEASE! 🙂
haha I know! And i love how so many of you agree with me! The eye roll is the worst. I took over this one class from a guy who had been teaching it for YEARS and 1/3 ofthe group was SO mean. they would congregate and whisper about me after class:( I have gotten better at dealing with that and doing just what you’re going to do- keep doing my thing! if they don’t like it, too bad! 🙂
Wow! I have to agree with you, but I have to admit that I’m guilty of a couple of them!! However, if you really like a class, and for some reason are a little late, I would like to think that it’s okay to come in quietly, and work your way into the class. By the way, Jackie, I was quite vocal about the new ab routine, but it was fine–can’t wait for next week!(I did NOT roll my eyes-haha!!). Your class is the BEST!
LOL #10 is a big one, I can not concentrate when all I smell are bad smells! Also, I can’t stand the people that are on their cell phones in between tracks. What the heck, leave your phone in your bag, in the car, or at home, it’s 1 hour!
yes that’s another one that drives me crazy! it doesn’t happen in my class too much, mostly because we dont ever have “in between tracks” time.
Oh boy Mo. I feel really badly because I know that sometimes you’ll be like “OOOOOK so today we’re going to do a deadlift row followed by weighted burpees and then let’s throw in something new and cool I just learned (which means it is extremely hard) and then let’s finish with some donkey kicks.” So maybe that’s not an exact workout lol but sometimes I do the eye bulge (please don’t confuse this with the eye roll). I’m generally dumbfounded by how you can continue to come up with things that continue to challenge my in various ways. I apologize if my actions have ever been perceived as offensive. I LOVE your classes and you know that I love intensity (too much sometimes. Have I told you that I actually find it helpful when you remind me that I need to stop doing things when I’m in pain? It brings me back to being mindful and realistic.) Anyway, I sometimes come into class late, but I generally try to sneak in quietly. I find it distracting when newcomers enter the class late because they usually don’t know what to do, but when seasoned people come in or leave early I don’t find that too distracting.
#2-please respect females who are just as strong if not stronger than men. On that note, women should always wear clothes while working out, unless you’re in your own home. I don’t like seeing your abs of steel, or lack thereof. Men should wear shirts, too.
#4 cracks me up. I had an interesting situation a few weeks ago after your class. Another woman asked me how my arms are so “ripped”. I explained that I generally always lift heavier than most people, but that I actually am self-conscious of my large arms. She was looking for advice on how to shape her arms, so I suggested going heavier! I don’t want my arms getting any more muscular, so I generally remain stagnant with the weight I choose, but sometimes I lift heavier depending on the exercise.
And alas, my favorite pet peeve, #10, smelly people. Holy potatoes do we have some smelly people in Boston! I almost died on Wednesday because there was a foul body odor so strong that I had to check myself multiple times to make sure it wasn’t me. Perhaps deodorant should be next to the towels.
Thanks for an amazing post!! Sorry for my novel!
Haha I was not referencing you in that post at all! I think it’s funny when you give me the eyes like “what the heck you are you thinking?!?!” because I know how much you actually like it! I am glad you’re finding my tips and hints helpful… I need them, too, and I would hate for you to get injured in my classes! I did the same thing in class on Wednesday… I thought it was me, but knew it couldn’t have been because I wear deod! What a nice compliment! And good advice for you to give her.