I was training at my uni weightlifting gym yesterday (just recently started back training)and i was doing BHN seated shoulder presses, without a spotter. The gym instructer comes over to me and goes you should be really doing that in the squat rack - i stopped myself from laughing - and i replied " do you not think i should leave the squat rack for more important exercises like squating" he was stuck for words and said about having a spotter as it was dangerous. So i asked if i could still do it with a spotter and he said yeah uneasily, i continued to do it untill my workout was finished whilst i was being watched like a hawk.
Do you think i handled this well, as i don’t want to get chucked out of the gym .
P.S i rarley use spotters for BHN pressing because i know my body and power press it if i get stuck.
If it happens again, my tried and true answer that always seems to resolve things without hastle is to look at the trainer and say(in a very polite tone), “Thank you for your concern, but I’m very comfortable doing this exercise in this manner. I’ve been doing it for a while and I’m confident I can continue to do it without injury.”
If a statement like that isn’t enough to get them to relent, its likely nothing else would either.
They might be easier to unload in the event of emergency. If you try them, be ready to reduce load since they will require all kinds of extra stabilization and/or coordination.
[quote]Avoids Roids wrote:
That is not a wise exercise to be doing in my opinion. It causes more injuries than it does good. Do front presses or DB presses instead.[/quote]
It’s a good exercise, if you have the flexibility in the shoulders there is no reason not to include it.
If it happens again, my tried and true answer that always seems to resolve things without hastle is to look at the trainer and say(in a very polite tone), “Thank you for your concern, but I’m very comfortable doing this exercise in this manner. I’ve been doing it for a while and I’m confident I can continue to do it without injury.”
If a statement like that isn’t enough to get them to relent, its likely nothing else would either.[/quote]
[quote]mazilla wrote:
or, you could just find a new gym. preferably one NOT for women only.[/quote]
This gym is mint, it has a platform for oly lifting and other ares for it. It only has one bench and 2 squat racks. The guy is only there some hours of the day, i don’t know if he has authority to ban gym users, but just incase, i ask for advice.
I would think it is very unlikely that you would get banned for doing an exercise without a spotter. If that is the case then you could just suggest that the gym employee spot you, that should resolve it (and is often part of their job anyway).
I do have to say I second the opinion of forgoing behind the neck presses, regardless of flexibility. They have so much more risk and such little extra benefit compared to front presses.
I’ve basically had this as well. I was doing skullcrushers (lying tri extensions) and a trainer ran up to me - half way through my set - and started spotting me whilst practically shouting at me “you need a spotter, you will break your nose” lol, he kept repeating it.
I was actually very pissed off at what he done - what ever way someone is performing an exercise, you dont run up and interrupt them half way through a set - thats more dangerous than any exercise, in my opinion. I just said “you don’t suppose that is the reason why they’re called skull crushers do you” then politely told him not to interrupt my sets, then politely ignored him.
[quote]KPj wrote:
I’ve basically had this as well. I was doing skullcrushers (lying tri extensions) and a trainer ran up to me - half way through my set - and started spotting me whilst practically shouting at me “you need a spotter, you will break your nose” lol, he kept repeating it.
I was actually very pissed off at what he done - what ever way someone is performing an exercise, you dont run up and interrupt them half way through a set - thats more dangerous than any exercise, in my opinion. I just said “you don’t suppose that is the reason why they’re called skull crushers do you” then politely told him not to interrupt my sets, then politely ignored him.
I come from Canada and I have never herad of problems like this.
(Not that I am implying they don’t exist).
Anyways, from planet fitness to this shit?
You guys need to move to Canada.
Join at the YMCA or something. Nobody says shit.
It’s all because of the freakin’ lawyers and their lawsuits. Liability insurers sometimes put clauses into policies that you have to respect to actually be covered. I don’t know about ‘spotting’ clauses but it would not surprise me.
I have been riding and training horses for 55 years. I go to a ranch in MT each year to help friends move cattle down from the mountains at the end of the summer. Because it is also a dude ranch and I am not an employee, I, and everyone else, no matter what their skill level, must go through 4 hours of lectures and supervised riding before we can ride there even though we sign waiver of liability forms. This is even on nose-to-tail group trail rides! My friends are embarrased about it but it is what is required by their insurer.
It’s the ambulance chasers. It will never change because it is allowed by our elected lawmakers who quite often are lawyers themselves or people who take money from lobbyists. We need to adopt the British system to stop these crazy assholes. And, they are multiplying. Kill the lawyers, I say.
[quote]superscience wrote:
KPj wrote:
I’ve basically had this as well. I was doing skullcrushers (lying tri extensions) and a trainer ran up to me - half way through my set - and started spotting me whilst practically shouting at me “you need a spotter, you will break your nose” lol, he kept repeating it.
I was actually very pissed off at what he done - what ever way someone is performing an exercise, you dont run up and interrupt them half way through a set - thats more dangerous than any exercise, in my opinion. I just said “you don’t suppose that is the reason why they’re called skull crushers do you” then politely told him not to interrupt my sets, then politely ignored him.
Funnily enough,the guy was irish lol
Lol, not all us guys are like that.[/quote]
Yeah - I know. The irishman in question is actually a really good guy, I get on well with him now that he knows not to bother me.
In commercial gyms in Scotland (probably the whole of the UK), things like this are very common. Infact, a manager of a commercial gym in Glasgow that i knew, refused to get heavier dumbells (they went up to 40 kg / 90ish pounds), and also refused to get a squat rack, due to the ‘clientelle’ that heavy weights and ‘old school’ equipment attract, because they intimidate the majority of members. What a lot of shit.
I blame the goverment, personally. For allowing these people to be educated in this way, it’s disgracefull.
“squats are bad for your knees and lower back, stick with leg extensions” - very ‘safe’, lo
