I don’t know how other gyms work but the one I work at doesn’t mind if outside personal trainers come in, we’ve just got a few rules that we expect to be followed:
You need to show us that you have liability insurance for a minimum of $2million. We’ve had people get hurt by trainers that don’t work for us then we get sued because they don’t have insurance.
You are not allowed to advertise or market yourself (including talking to existing members to get them to work with you) in the club. Those of us that work there get that privilige and we pay for it with a cut of our training. You can train people there but you can’t market there.
I think we’re pretty reasonable about it, we don’t worry too much about the marketing thing as it’s never really been an issue. We are sticky on the insurance thing however, but only because we’ve been on the bad end of that one before.
I think that the trainer probably had a reasonable question but the way she approached it was very poor. I would talk to the manager as well, partly because it will prevent this from occuring in the future and partly because their employees need to develop some tact.
About a year ago I brought some of my friends to my gym with me, because they showed some interest in it. Normally new members get sort of a “tour” to see how most of the machines and major lifts work and they get a standard program that you follow for a couple of weeks. A somewhat lame program, but better than what you see some places.
But when I brought in some guys they didn’t want to do that because I could just show them the ropes. They encouraged my training them.
It isn’t all that relevant though, because they don’t have any personal trainers at the gym, they have a few instructors that you can ask stuff and get to make programs for you, all for free, so that’s pretty cool.
Actually I think the gym is a little more hardcore than most, at least half the members are powerlifters, or training (more or less) like powerlifters. Has a platform and lots of chalk or whatever that stuff is.
HOWEVER, there are no power racks, not one.
Anyways, at my gym, this wouldn’t have been an issue.
You’re not over-reacting, give them shit. Since when is it a crime to train with someone else and offer them help and advice?
Liability is an issue for the gym, of course, but where was there any indication that money had changed hands?
I’d be finding a new gym.
Sturat, your gyms policies seem pretty reasonable to me, more places should be as open minded.
The manager is a super nice guy…of course.
Apologized all over the place and stated that said empolyee was out of line in her approach.
Written apology from her to follow. She was just the manager on duty that night and has no training experience. She was just observing me correcting my friend’s position and demonstrating a lift and blew it all out of proportion.
He did bring up the liability issue. My counter on that was that there are plenty of people, mainly the Sr. Citizens that are using the machines improperly with lousy form and if he is really worried about liability they should be policed closer…he will bring this up at the next meeting.
He then brings up that I have only been a member at the gym for a few months and did I really think I was qualified to be passing out advice…oh, this got me fired up.
Explained to him that I have been around the weights and training longer than some of the trainers have been alive. While some girls my age had posters of Donny Osmond and Leif Garrett; Zane, Columbo and Arnold were on my walls. My brother was a bodybuilder and then power lifter and I worked in the gym in college. If nothing else…I have excellent form! I have his word that I will be left alone in the future. I invited the trainers to work in with me anytime they like… ;o)
Thanks all for your input, I did mention to him that I brought this point up with several trainers and the responses were all the same…$$ makes the difference. He stuck to his liability issue as being his chief concern. Boy attorneys sure have messed up our world!