Correcting people at the gym

bokchoybaby

Do you ever do it? When, if ever, do you think it's appropriate? Have you ever received pointers/corrections that you appreciated? If someone comes up to you and delivers bad, unsolicited advice what's the most politic way of handling it?

I'll admit I often don't pay enough attention to what others are doing to notice execution unless they're doing something I want to try or doing something in a drastically different way than I do and I'm curious about the benefits of executing their way. Even in those cases I tend to ask my trainer about it later rather than the individual unless it's someone with whom I already have a rapport.

Pandora_King

I think it's sad that people are so afraid of offending someone that they will fight an urge to speak to a complete stranger. How else are you supposed to make friends and learn new things?!

emilyisbonkers

I'd be a bit pissed off if someone I didn't know just came over and started correcting me. Like why were they watching me in the first place, can't they concentrate on their own work out?
If I had asked them to correct me, then cool, otherwise, nah

aakaakaak

If they're doing something your unfamiliar with but would like to give it a shot ask them about it. Wait until they're between sets, but ask. Most people are more than willing to take a couple minutes to explain what they're doing and why their form looks the way it does. Some may even be willing to spot you for a few reps to get your form right.

Unsolicited advice is a tricky area. From my experience, you usually only give advice if asked or if the person is about to cause injury to themselves or someone else. If they're doing something that looks like it's going to give them no results just giggle to yourself and move on. Don't film them and go "hey! look at this dummy!" Just let them do what they want to. There are plenty of ridiculous looking exercises that put incredible focus on one particular muscle group. Who am I to tell you that you're doing it wrong if it doesn't hurt anybody?

Edit: 1,000 inane comments by me! WOO!

TwoPointZero

I am generally against this, but, the other day, there were two guys that were _such_ beginners, and were doing something so stupid, and dangerous, that I felt I had to intervene. I just tried to talk to them in the most non-judgmental tone I could muster. Surprisingly, they actually took my advice . . .

patrickblo13

I'd be a bit pissed off if someone I didn't know just came over and started correcting me. Like why were they watching me in the first place, can't they concentrate on their own work out?
If I had asked them to correct me, then cool, otherwise, nah

What if your form was bad and were risking injury...you would be pissed because someone was trying to help?!? I don't think I am one to offer advice at this point but I am more than open to anyone critiquing my form or making suggestions on my workout. More knowledge is power

ETA: As long as they weren't a **** about it

Serah87

I had someone correct me on lifting and was very thankful for it and he was polite about it.

SkinnyFatAlbert

I'd say it's good if I'm doing something drastically wrong. If I'm pretty close but not perfect I'd say keep it to yourself unless your perfect and are willing to devote your time to training me for free.

rduhlir

Depends on a number of things. Is the person there to truly get a work out in? Or are they there just to make it look like they are doing something? Are they veterans of the gym (you can tell, believe me) or are they beginners (again, you can tell)? Are they doing something to obviously dangerous that to not intervene would mean calling 911 in the next 10 minutes?

For example, there was a female at the gym the other day who was doing bicep curls. And while I tend to stick to myself and not pay attention to others, the dance she was doing while doing the curls made it obvious she was using way too heavy of weights (at least that is the impression I got). You should not be humping air when you are doing bicep curls. She looked like a flapping fish out of water, literally. Luckily, I held my tongue. Because she was one of those people who just went from station to station, did 4 or 5 reps of the lightest weight, then texted, then did some more, then texted...you guys get the idea. So I just held my tongue and enjoyed the show.

GauchoMark

I corrected a couple of teen boys at the gym just last week. I explained to them that I was doing leg lifts on a table that was facing them and happened to notice them and asked if I could give them some friendly advice. They said sure and that it was appreciated. I spent about 5 minutes helping them get it right, lowing the weight until they could get the form correct, and explaining why. They were going to end up blowing out their shoulders if they continued with what they were doing (overextending on a chest fly - they were letting their arms go straight back behind them!).

They seemed genuinely appreciative and agreed that they could actually feel the burn in their chest now. One of the kids mentioned that his shoulders were hurting but he didn't want to say anything to his buddy.

I don't do that very often, but if I see someone about to hurt themselves, I try to help a little. Most people appreciate it. The ones that don't just are embarrassed because their ego got in the way. I've been lifting for 25+years and have been corrected a few times too and always appreciated it.

On a side note, there was a "trainer" watching these kids hurt themselves and didn't say a word to them...

FlaxMilk

Someone corrected my form at the gym. The advice helped a lot and I appreciated it.

redheaddee

I have been on both the giving and receiving end of this subject. I believe it is all in how you approach a person. As long as the approach is polite, I have found advice given to me to be very helpful. Others can see angles that I cannot, and I appreciate that. I have offered the same to a couple of women who I knew were very new, and if they would have continued, would have led to injury. Every time it has resulted in lovely conversations and new gym friends.

jim9097

Wow, I can't believe some of you would be mad. I have and I would correct someone. Specifically if they were doing something that could end up hurting them. In most cases when you see someone doing something wrong, they are trying to exercise the back without locking out the core. This is a surefire method for hurting the lower back. If I was doing it; i would be greatful if someone pointed it out to me.

Number_44

I lifted for years and never got stronger and would always get hurt.

Then someone I didnt know corrected me and now I never get hurt and my gains have never been better. I am so thankful for that.

smc864

The only time I correct someone is if it looks like they are really going to hurt themselves or if they look completely clueless on how a machine works. I will usually only help women because anytime I've ever helped men they give me the whole "I know what I'm doing" look, even if they don't.

fbmandy55

I would hope that if I was doing something in bad form, someone who knew better would let me know.

BUT, I have never corrected anyone at the gym, in fact, there is one lady who comes all the time and uses all the weight machines wrong. She's even broken one or two and I ALWAYS want to say something but I feel that's a management issue. I try to just refocus on my own workout and drown out the sound of the weights crashing down repeatedly...

I don't think anyone in my gym has ever spoken to me in the last year, no one talks unless they know each other.

cuinboston2014

I don't ever correct other people - or talk to other people for that matter - at the gym. I don't know enough to correct someone and I'm too shy to strike up a conversation.

HOWEVER, I would love it if someone corrected me if I was doing something wrong. Especially as I venture into new lifts with different weights, etc. It's hard for me to always know if I'm doing it right.

Even as an experienced runner, if someone told me about a different work out they do when we are on the treadmills I'd be loving it!

And I want gym friends.... lol I'm open to any non creep correcting me

JONZ64

If I saw someone endangering their life or someone else's I would step in, other than that I do not give or want unsolicited advice.

I have had too many "Personal Trainer wannabe's" or the "I've been lifting for two weeks and read Muscle & Fitness so now I know everything guy" come up and try to talk to me over the years, so I have come up with a standard answer, feel free to use it.

"If I wanted to look like you, I would work out like you!"

EmmieBaby

I've been corrected for my squats once, I appreciated the help. I didn't appreciate though that he gave me advice while I was doing squats and not waiting until I was done or to at least put the bar back on the rack.

lwoodroff

I've been on the receiving end of unsolicited advice. Occasionally it's been helpful, but often they are trying to tell me how to do something their way - eg I low bar squat and they will tell me to do something that is high bar squatting. If you have the confidence, you can just say thanks but [explain your methodology]... or if not, smile sweetly, thank them for their advice then ignore it.

I have also offered unsolicited advice - two guys were deadlifting with the roundest backs ever and I was worried they would hurt themselves. I said 'do you ever film yourself from the side?' which opened the conversation up, and once they had shown that they were receptive I explained the setup that I do when I deadlift. I was worried at the time that I might have offended, but they were very grateful, as they don't usually do it and one of them told me the next day that his back was really sore!

Generally I'll try and keep schtum, and if there is a trainer with someone don't butt in, however ridiculous they are being!

Confuzzled4ever

I did it once.. it wasn't well received.. but that girl was going to hurt herself..

DeadliftAddict

If they don't ask, i stay out of it. If I don't ask, leave me alone. I'm in the gym to workout and get out. I'm not looking to make friends once I start my first warm up set. You can say hey in passing, but I don't want a conversation. I have a stop watch for between sets and during that time I'm thinking about the next set.

paleojoe

If I see someone and I think they might hurt themselves I will offer some suggestions. Other then that I stay out unless asked first.

_Calypso_

I'd be a bit pissed off if someone I didn't know just came over and started correcting me. Like why were they watching me in the first place, can't they concentrate on their own work out?
If I had asked them to correct me, then cool, otherwise, nah

WOW....that seems harsh"!!

What if you were doing something that could possibly cause you injury?! Many gyms have personal trainers on staff that if/when they are not helping a client often watch people working out. Most of the time they will not interrupt your workout, but if they saw you or anyone doing something with terrible form and could cause serious injury - I would think it would be in your and their interest to have them say something.

If Joe Schmo came to tell me something - I'd take it into consideration, thank him/her and then continue with me workout. I'm no expert so I'm always open for advise.

As for me offering - only if I see someone about to get very hurt I may say something. But otherwise.... I let them be.

Kate814

I train at my university gym and get corrected alllllll the time. Usually it's because I'm the only or one of few females in the weight room and the guys either want to talk or feel the need to show how great they are. The advice is usually unsolicited, and most of the time incorrect (I had one kind gentleman correct my deadlift form by demonstrating a squat... not understanding they were different things). I'm an acsm personal trainer, and would like to think I know a little about what I'm doing. However, I always thank the person for the advice, and if it was incorrect politely explain why I was doing it they way I was. I've helped people a few times, but mostly because its my job... and if I'm at another gym usually only if they ask or if I know they're new and seem to be struggling... typically the people who are having trouble adjusting machines and such.

heypurdy

I don't give a crap about other people at the gym.

Rerun201

If someone approached me asking my advice, I would be polite and give them a response.

I give no unsolicited advice.

I would and have interjected some safety warnings when I saw something happening that could injure someone, but generally I would report such to the gym management.

Like Knockingon50, I would not accept the unsolicited advice of anyone and would politely tell them to do things their way and allow me to do things my way.

randomtai

I'd be a bit pissed off if someone I didn't know just came over and started correcting me. Like why were they watching me in the first place, can't they concentrate on their own work out?
If I had asked them to correct me, then cool, otherwise, nah

This... Mind your own business. I will mind mine. If I injure myself, it is my own damn fault.

Myhaloslipped

It depends on their attitude and knowledge of what they are talking about. A trainer corrected me on my weighted sit up form the other day, and it really helped.

fitfreakymom

I love being corrected by people at the gym because I did not always know what I was doing and the people correcting me were either trainers or athletes .

FrnkLft

I'll speak up, but only when it's a safety thing. Like, when I see someone deadlifting or squatting with a rounded back, or with bowed in knees.

Otherwise I'll just leave them alone. Besides usually when you see someone doing those things, they are new, and they appreciate someone giving them some feedback.

I remember when I was starting out, I had to ask people to watch my form all the time and it was kind of awkward for some (they were cool, but it was wierd for them I guess), so having someone volunteer to help would have been cool and really helpful.