Didn’t think I would ever be posting a “Guess what happened to me in the gym” thread, but here I am.
I have been working out since March with my best friend who was never athletic in her life. She is on vacation so I decided to ask one of my neighbors to join me during this time. My neighbor was thrilled because she has been watching my gains and wanted to improve.
We are wrapping things up and this female employee approaches me and asks my name…I tell her my first name and she asks for my last…I tell her…and she turns and starts to walk away…I ask her why she wanted to know and her response was: No reason. I said, Excuse me? There apparently is a reason and I expect to hear it. She then said: It appears to me that you are personal training here. I chuckled and said,…no, this is my neighbor and we are just working out together. She asked if we were both members and we both said yes.
I plan on going in to see the manager tomorrow as this really ticked me off. Asking my name is one thing, but her disrespect in the middle of the free weight section was uncalled for.
So, now my question …Where exactly is the line between friends helping friends, boyfriends helping girlfriends, or dad’s teaching sons to bench properly…and actual personal training? All of the other scenarios were happening at this time and I was the only one spoken to.
I plan on going in to see the manager of the facility before my cardio in the morning. I have three other friends that want to join my gym because of the improvements I have seen and now I don’t think I want them there. I fully expect a written apology from this employee as I think she handled it poorly.
I certainly don’t want to interfere with the work of the trainers that work in the gym. If any of them were actually worth anything, maybe more people would hire them…nothing against the good trainers that are out there, but I have only seen three in my gym that I would even begin to think could help me and none of them ever go out of their way to be personable.
So, enough of me ranting and venting all at the same time. I really never thought I would have an issue like this because my gym is a wellness center owned and opreated by a local hospital…nice, calm gym with cardio rehab patients, senior activities, physical therapy and family nights. I guess any organized facility will have issues crop up, I just never expected to be a part of it. :o)
Your thoughts and comments will be greatly appreciated.
Well, I think you are over-reaching if you expect a written apology, but I would still mention this to the manager, and just ask what’s up with that. You may be over-reacting (?) I don’t see the major conflict here, and I wouldn’t do anything that escalates what drama might be there. Who needs it, if you are happy with your gym in general.
The best possible scenario is that everyone lightens up and they decide to always leave you alone in the future no matter what, even if you are working out in a gorilla costume.
They might have just wanted to know if you are registered as a trainer at the gym, for insurance purposes, or something stupid like that.
Kick her in the head next time you see her. That’ll straighten her out.
JK. But really, just tell the manager how rude it was, give him the time it happened, and I’m sure he has to do something about it. I wouldn’t expect a written apology from the lass herself, but ya never know, it could happen. Maybe he’ll reward you with a free personal training session. Ha, that would be great.
i have a great story myself, as well as some thoughts.
a couple years ago when i first got into the bb thing i also helped out a few of my friends in the gym. i was approached by the general manager and fitness supervisor of the gym and asked if i was training people there. i said no they are just some friends and i was helping them out.
here is the best part. they proceeded to say well you seem to know what your doing and you seem very thorough in your approach. we have an opening here, would you like to work for us?
so i ended up training there for about a year. i have since moved on to bigger and better things.
now as far as where you draw the line between helping your friends and actually taking business away from the club. i think that 1) if you are getting paid to train them and 2) if the people you are training were possible clients for the gym’s trainers then you have crossed the line. but if no money is involved it is just you helping out a friend.
Hey IM,
They’re just worried that you might be training people (for $$$) without giving them a cut and/or stealing clients from their already pitiful staff of trainers.
I agree that they could have been more professional when clumsily trying to figure out if you were a trainer. They could’ve just asked! You may want to take it as a compliment. You’re probably one of the few people in there who actually looks the part (along with the knowledge) of a trainer (or someone who practices what they preach).
I instruct friends and family all the time in my gym, but they know where I come from there. Of course, when the trainers walk by me with their clients I start referencing Exercise Phys. text/journal studies verbatim just to make their mono-syllabic jargon seem even more primordial than it already is, lol.
Of course, trainers who don’t workout themselves bugs the shit out of me, but that’s a whole 'nother thread…
I agree, it’s money all the way. On a related side note, my friends started paying a lot more attention after I started charging them $10 bucks an hour to train them. It’s not much, but for some reason, it changes the whole dynamic.
When I used to work in the commercial gyms as a PT there used to be all kinds of problems over that issue.
I have seen it in the past where members have trained other members and though you cannot prove it,you know that the guy is receiving money for his time.
When questioned they always come up with the standard answer that the other person is a friend.
It can really start to annoy the PT especially if they have to pay $125 weekly rent and some guy is getting away with it for free.
I am not saying that is the case here,and it is no excuse for her being rude to you.
IM if it looks like your taining then.
Then back off a little or ask the manager what the policy is on working-out and helping a friend. And, then explain to him or her if its okay to show your friend a few things.
The other thing is try to make it look like you working out together they can’t say crap. Have her spot u and spot her visa versa. If you don’t exchange money at the club your not personal training!
Although, some places may give an excuse saying that we want say there might be a liabity issue which is bull. They just want the money that you are accused of getting.
Although, that particular trainer had an bad adittude about it… You should mention that to the manager. Thats just poor customer service.
Thank you all for you input thus far. Of course in the light of day I do realize that I “may” have over reacted a tad…doesn’t change the fact that I am still pissed at her snotty ass attitude and disrespect.
There is a crew of 7 women that all are being trained by one of the female trainers and we refer to them as the Circuit Girls…they get run through long cardio sessions and the full body circuit every workout…they have also asked me why they aren’t getting more definition/seeing more results when they spend double of my workout time in the gym. I told them I wasn’t capable of answering that and they needed to talk to Lisa. Maybe they have been watching me longer than I realize. I really don’t pay any attention to other members when I am in there lifting…unless of course someone is in MY power rack.
I guess I am lucky to have some of the best coaches and trainers in the world…here at T-Mag. I do now posses more proper knowledge than ever before. I would like to hug each and every one of them!
I almost sent this question to you as a PM, but thought, what the heck, ask the forum and get other views as well.
I figured the liability issue would be brought up as their only defense. I have been in there a minimum of 5 days a week since March, and have referred three other members during that time.
I honestly never gave the training issue a thought.
If they want to worry about liability then they should hire a trainer to scope out the machines and free weights and offer assistance to newbies with improper form. I bet if the trainers would do this and be more personable they might actually get more clients. If you walk around the gym and never make eye contact, never introduce yourself, never help just for the sake of helping then you reap what you sow. Maybe I will ask him to hire me for that job as this is a major pet peeve with me. These trainers could all improve their people skills without coming across as salesmen.
You are not over reacting. What you did happens all the time. It is no different than a guy “training” his girlfriend, or vice versa. As long as you are not accepting money, and working out with your friend.
When you talk to the manager, ask him how many of his trainers actually work in with their clients.
This has happened to Patricia and I.We had a friend who wanted to get in shape, so we let her work in with us a few times. The head trainer pulled Patricia to the side and accused her of training people. According to one piece of shit trainer, he had seen her training other people at other gyms. We used to train at different gyms to mix things up, but it was only Patricia and I training at these gym.
Do not put up with it, and unless they have some definitive proof, they should be real carefull about accusing people. They should also show a little more tact, and do it on your way out of the gym, not on there floor.
The trainers don’t know if you’re accepting money or not. In your case, you’re not doing it for profit so you’re fine. If you were to be helping say 10 different friends at different times and only instructing them during their workouts and not working out yourself then they would have cause for suspicion. If you’re working out though, you can’t be “personal” training.
On a side note, why did you offer your last name? If I don’t know the person, I can’t think of one reason s/he needs to know my last name.
Her approach was rude and asking for your full name in the manner she did was inappropriate. I would definately let the manager know about this incident and let him/her know that it might change your interest in directing new members to the club.
I dont see why you have to pay a fee if you are a member and your client is a member. If you are a member you have every right to be there because you pay dues just like everybody else. I worked in a gym and some lady asked me to train her on the side and the owner wanted me to give him a percentage. Thats fucked up.
