No intimidation "gyms"

lemurcat2

My mom did Curves for a while and loved it -- she was in her late 60s at the time, I think.

aliciaose

I don’t use PF because it’s a “no intimidation gym.” I use it because it’s extremely inexpensive.

HeliumIsNoble

Yep, Curves' selling points translate across the Atlantic much better. The UK has 55 of them already, but even if I didn't know that already (thanks to the power of internet search engines), I'd be able to predict that Curves franchises could make it here.

mph323

One of my friends has been a Curves member practically since it opened. She keeps going because it's simple and very social. She's made good friends there and does much better in that kind of environment because it suits her goals - stay active and maintain enough strength for everyday activities.

zamphir66

I've not read every single comment, so apologies if I'm regurgitating, but here's how I see it: The essence of PF's messaging can be boiled down to "judgment free" and "no intimidation." Which, consequently, bolsters the impression that gyms are typically places full of judgment and intimidation. Any regular gym-goer can tell you that's not the case. Just look at the other thread asking whether men or women get more mean comments, and 99% of the comments are along the lines of, "um, neither?"

So why is that important? If you're anxious about going to the gym, but there's no PF nearby, then you might not go at all. And even if you have no intention of going to the gym, PF possibly contributes to your non-motivation in some small way by filling the psychosphere with notions of intimidation and judgment.

When fewer than 20% of Americans routinely go to a gym, I think it's irresponsible positioning for PF to promote itself by demoting other gyms. Just my .02.

And for the record, there's no PF anywhere near me. I have the use of a huge university rec center for about $25/month. All kinds of people, of all fitness levels, use it unmolested, not just svelte 20 year olds.

kaizaku

I heard once a month free pizza and bagel night. I would have joined for the pizza 🍕

Motorsheen

doubleIronDog wrote: »

I’m sure it’s been said here somewhere, but in my opinion... the person who is intimidated and or insecure at the gym, will be that way no matter what gym they go to. So a gym with no intimidation is kind of a funny concept.

Trooth.

gradchica27

So I joined a new gym and I can say *I* am a little intimidated. No one is intimidating me or being anything but helpful, it’s totally me.

It’s a climbing gym, so the whole reason I feel intimidated is I am unfamiliar with the sport, the equipment, and everyone’s about 10-15 years younger than me and light years hipper. (If I met those hipsters in the upstairs weight room, I’d feel totally comfortable because that feels like “my” turf. The bouldering room where there are 20something dudes lounging shirtless on the floor? Not my turf).

So moral of my story is I can better appreciate how people who have never been to a gym could psych themselves out very easily if they end up somewhere full of super fit people who may be perfectly friendly but bc the new person feels out of place/too old/too fat/too uncoordinated/not hip or fashionable enough they could labeled that feeling intimidated and run out the door.

shunggie

I will never understand the hate PF or Curves get. If it's not your thing - don't go. For folks like myself that just want cardio and weights it's perfect. I have gone to the YMCA and 24 hour fitness, both WAY MORE EXPENSIVE for the same equipment and experience. It's not the PC culture that's the problem, it's people being jerks for no good reason that is the problem.

RGv2

shunggie wrote: »

I will never understand the hate PF or Curves get.

It's probably their perpetuation of a nearly non-existent gym stereotype, all while turning the fitness enthusiast into a caricature while calling them dumb all in the name of being non-judgemental?

It's not the PC culture that's the problem, it's people being jerks for no good reason that is the problem.

Can you expand?

cwolfman13

shunggie wrote: »

I will never understand the hate PF or Curves get. If it's not your thing - don't go. For folks like myself that just want cardio and weights it's perfect. I have gone to the YMCA and 24 hour fitness, both WAY MORE EXPENSIVE for the same equipment and experience. It's not the PC culture that's the problem, it's people being jerks for no good reason that is the problem.

Because if you deadlift or squat, etc you're just a big dumb lunk. The stereotype they perpetuate doesn't actually exist. My 70 year old gym friend who deadlifts is hardly a "lunk"...he's a very mild mannered artist who spends most of his time making sculptures...and he's a grandpa. There's an older lady at my gym who olympic lifts...she's just a little granny who sees value in performing very functional lifts.

I've been in and out of gyms for most of my life at this point...I've never seen anyone being a jerk, and if they are, management deals with it pretty quickly. Every gym I've ever belonged to except for one has had a wide variety of clientele, from young to old, from fit to just trying to get fit. In that regard, I'd say people trying to get fit and lose some weight far outweigh the number of very fit bodybuilding types.

Bottom line, the stereotype that PF perpetuates simply doesn't exist. I don't hate them...I'm not offended...I just think it's stupid and I feel sorry for people who actually bye into their *kitten*.

shunggie

You feel sorry for people who are working out and getting healthier while spending less money, ok.

The problem is always people being jerks, not sure what more explanation is needed.

janejellyroll

shunggie wrote: »

You feel sorry for people who are working out and getting healthier while spending less money, ok.

The problem is always people being jerks, not sure what more explanation is needed.

In this formulation, who is being a jerk?

The guy lifting heavy in the corner minding his own business? Or the big corporation that decides to make him the butt of their joke?

The woman who feels more comfortable doing a difficult workout in a small tank and close fitting pants? Or the business that tells everyone that she's doing it because she's impossibly vain?

mmapags

shunggie wrote: »

You feel sorry for people who are working out and getting healthier while spending less money, ok.

The problem is always people being jerks, not sure what more explanation is needed.

Are you intentionally missing the point? Many people in this thread have said the low cost and convenience of their locations has appeal and value. What most are objecting to is the stereotyping and false premises in their advertising, me included. I would also add to the list of things that I don't like their god awful color scheme.

KickassAmazon76

Intimidation is a mental thing. A gym isn't intimidating, it is the individual that is intimidated by their own mental preconceived notions.

Personal insecurity is where intimidation comes from.

I am intimidated when I go to a new gym. I'm afraid that I look like a fool, afraid that I *look* like I don't know what I'm doing, or that I'll somehow break gym etiquette. I'm afraid that I'll look like a lifting poser. But I know it's ME that is the problem. I am insecure. I acknowledge that.

Thing is... I also want to lift heavy. HEAVY. (I'm not there yet, but want to be - that's my goal). I want to lift in a cage (for security and no need for an additional spotter - again, personal insecurities at play), and I want to have ample plates available to me for whatever weight i need to lift.

Most "standard" gyms have one or two racks at most and I'm scared of "working in". So... to accomplish my goals, I'm better served by either building my own home gym (which I'm doing, slowly, as money allows) - or going to a crossfit gym (nearby) that has a dozen places for squatting and lifting heavy, with STACKS of 45s, 35s, 25s, 10s, etc. Crossfit gyms are spendy as hell, so home is better for me.

It intimidated the hell out of me, going into a crossfit gym and seeing all these powerhouses going at it. But it was a barrier I needed to overcome, in order to get closer to achieving my goal... and once I did, I realized that these are all normal people who just want to help eachother. I went, got some personal training from a powerlifter friend of mine, and then took it home with me.

PF plays on the mindset that intimidation comes from the outside. That it's the fault of fit people, of these LUNKS, that make gyms unsavory and unapproachable. It is basically saying that all bodies are welcome only here (but not elsewhere). And it also seems to imply that heavy lifters are NOT welcome. (I'm sorry, but sometimes I cannot get that 1RM deadlift down without a thunk!

Ironically, PF intimidates THOSE types instead and makes it clear that they are not welcome.


But... it has it's place. In the end, if it gets people in, gets them working out, and starts them somewhere... then all the power to them. I just wish they'd not use the mental manipulation and play on insecurities to do so.

breefoshee

There's just a reality where I don't want to have to fight my gym intimidation every time I go to the gym. It may be "me" or my own insecurities or just that one lone jerk giving me the stank eye, but it already takes some motivation to go to the gym.

It's raining outside. I gotta put on pants. Drive down the road. Then I gotta go sweat. Take a shower after. I don't need an extra thing tripping me up-- fear that people are judging me at the gym. I want to eliminate as many excuses that I will give myself as possible.

I go to an all ladies gym that is seriously the BEST and cost wayyy too much... but I don't care. It's 1 minute from where I live, has a million classes, all the equipment, pools, a full spa and a place to get your nails done. Everyone is super positive and not in the least bit intimidating.

I love going to that gym.... I look forward to it. I'll trade that any day for paying less, going to a gym that I hate feel intimidated to go to, ultimately quitting working out anyway and wasting money every month on a gym I'm afraid to attend.

Bottom Line: You do you, boo. If you're intimidated to go to the gym, find something you're not intimated to do and start there. If that's PF or Curves, then go for it and don't feel like a failure because you can't workup the courage to go to the co-ed gym. You got dressed. You put on pants... good for you.

Motorsheen

I dunno... but a $10.00 membership fee sounds like a bargain for the comedic value of a Planet Fitness lifetime ban.

newmeadow

Motorsheen wrote: »

I dunno... but a $10.00 membership fee sounds like a bargain for the comedic value of a Planet Fitness lifetime ban.

And an even better bargain considering I asked them to please get the Super Bowl off the TVs and show Heidi and Bright Eyes featuring The Good Ship Lollipop starring Shirley Temple and they did.

lkpducky

newmeadow wrote: »

Motorsheen wrote: »

I dunno... but a $10.00 membership fee sounds like a bargain for the comedic value of a Planet Fitness lifetime ban.

And an even better bargain considering I asked them to please get the Super Bowl off the TVs and show Heidi and Bright Eyes featuring The Good Ship Lollipop starring Shirley Temple and they did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Game

Theoldguy1

The squat and hip hinge (deadlift) are two of the basic human movements. To me it is strange that a facility that says they are promoting health, effectively prohibits these movements in their facility.