Feeling disappointed in my gym (rant-ish)

Pucks_and_Balls

I've been going to the local YMCA for about a year and a half. I went mostly because it was close to my house, but over time, I found the instructors to be very friendly and encouraging, and the other members were kind people as well. I haven't made any best friends at the gym or anything, but I started to feel like part of a group and looked forward to seeing other class regulars every week.

Well between being singled out in a BodyPump class last week and what happened today, I feel so done. Today, the Y posted the group exercise schedule for July on their Facebook page, and some members expressed their disappointment in the schedule, particularly the loss of some Zumba Gold classes on weekdays that were popular, but moved to less convenient times for the members. I followed the discussion but really didn't comment because all I had to say was that I was disappointed that my favorite instructor's Pump time had been moved. (I found out later it was due to a conflict she had, so I'm not mad about it anymore.) So I was seeing how upset some of the members (a couple of them regulars I knew well) were at the changes, and I understood their POV.

Unfortunately, two of the group fitness instructors came on and were commenting telling members that they were going about expressing their concerns the wrong way and that they shouldn't be doing it on Facebook. (Funny, I thought FB was a public forum for commenting.) One instructor even pointed out that one member commenting didn't have good "social ethics," and they were insisting that it would be good for people to try new classes, go out of their comfort zone, etc. While I personally am up to trying new things, I can understand why some people, especially those who go to Zumba Gold because they need the low impact exercise, don't want to go to a hardcore BodyPump or BodyAttack class.

This might be the day I kick the gym membership and work out at home. I'm just so put off by the rudeness of some staff, and I wasn't really affected. (Those I did receive a condescending-ish message from whoever runs the Y's Facebook page about why my favorite instructor's class time was moved, with a lecture about how hard teaching too much BodyPump can be on the teachers.)

Not sure if anyone else has had a bad experience with gym staff like this. I had to get it off my chest that this bugs me, though. And I work in social media as a side gig and know all about why this is a crap thing to do to customers. Just leaves me with a bad taste.

Alluminati

Did you go to the gym to work on your body or worry about who said what to whom?

You seem to have awfully high expectations of a gym.

Barbellarella_

I can imagine how its hard in a small gym to stay out of drama when it happens.

I would say, if you can overlook it and still get your workouts in, then stay. If you can't, then maybe find another place.

Coltsforlife

Take it as a positive. Maybe it is a sign to look at other gyms or to start working out at home , at least they are giving you a heads up on the scheduling

JoRocka

show up for class when there is class.

if there is no class- go lift weights on your own.

I fail to see how social media networking at all is doing you anything. it has zippo to do with the gym.

show up- work.
go home. shower
lather
rinse
repeat.

meshashesha2012

Id tell them to go suck a d*ck on their facebook page. Facebook is the place to leave comments if they dont like it then that's their fault for having a page :flowerforyou:

Alluminati

Id tell them to go suck a d*ck on their facebook page. Facebook is the place to leave comments if they dont like it then that's their fault for having a page :flowerforyou:

Yes, OP, make sure to burn some bridges on the way out. Sage advice right here.

monikker

That was definitely a ****ty way to talk to you guys about your thoughts on the rescheduling. And you're right, really bad just from a business perspective - especially with social media - especially with customers. No doubt.

I definitely think you should weigh the other options you have at the gym besides that class you loved that got moved, and decide what's more important to you. If the machines, amenities, and other perks that the gym DOES offer outweigh the cons, then you know what to do. Good luck

amandzor

That was definitely a ****ty way to talk to you guys about your thoughts on the rescheduling. And you're right, really bad just from a business perspective - especially with social media - especially with customers. No doubt.

^This.

Businesses take their Facebook pages way too seriously sometimes, and see them as negative marketing. Which is true, but you should not expect them to be happy with the public criticism, which can easily be seen by hundreds of people if it goes viral fast enough.

That being said. Schedules aren't changed willy nilly. It's better to ask questions first, rather than assume and ***** about it uninformed.

Pucks_and_Balls

We do have a nice facility otherwise....it was renovated before I became a member. There's a good pool, a fitness center, etc. I do resent the implication that all I do is "social networking" and that I don't go to the gym to work on myself, as I've lost almost 20 pounds. (The reason my ticker only says four pounds lost is b/c I deleted my first MFP account and came back, so I had to reset a little.) The thing is, people were asking questions but saying their calls and e-mails were ignored, etc. The gym deleted the post without following up to provide further clarification.

That said, there are other instructors that I like that teach non-Les Mills programs. I have a Piloxing class tomorrow morning. The instructor for that did not insert herself into the FB discussion. Some of the LM instructors are coming off as a bit snotty lately. I know they work hard, as do the non-LM instructors, and even that they have harder training than people in other specialties. But it just doesn't excuse it.

I go back and forth between the gym and working out at home depending on how my schedule looks, so I might start leaning towards more individual activities like the pool and the wellness center and take less group classes.

hearthwood

Hmmm. No matter where you go you will have schedule changes. As far as personality conflicts between staff and others ignore them. You're there to work out, not have conflicts with others.

jkal1979

I was going to a Bootcamp style class awhile ago. During the polar vortex when we got dumped on with snow the mayor had declared a state of emergency, the state capitol was closed and so was Michigan State for about 2 days. The instructor posted on Facebook that he would still be open and when people replied that they were unable to make it due to not being able to drive he told them to man up and get to class. He lost a few customers from that.

AlyRoseNYC

This drama will pass. FB drama always does. Just keep doing your thing and don't let things like FB discussions deter your from your goals.

rbiss

My gym changes stuff up all the time. I print the schedule, get to what I can, and occasionally get excited when there is a good class/instructor time slot for a month. Your fitness schedule shouldn't be so rigid that removing one class ruins it and definitely don't get caught up in stupid gym drama. Work out then go home.

margannmks

The y is a nonprofit christian based facility, with the type of positivity they try to exude i can see why they would try to difuse a potentially negative situation and give it more of a positve spin. You dont have to agree with it but i dont think its a very legit complaint.

47Jacqueline

I guess I'm pretty lucky. My gym seems to keep schedules pretty stable, although there was a big change of schedules when Body Pump was brought in where they changed instructors' schedules and got rid some shred classes. It didn't really affect me because I only belong to one gym,not the whole chain. Also, they don't post on Facebook or have a forum or anything, so people come and go.

I don't know what I'd do in your situation. Probably join a different gym, but I live in a big city that may have more choices than you do. My first reason for choosing this gym was also that it's close to where I live. But another company took over a location that's now just as close, although a bit more expensive.

If one of the reasons you go to the Y is that you like the social aspect, you might not find working at home to be a good solution, so I would think before just reacting and putting yourself in an untenable situation. There are a bunch of workouts online that have some sort of positive reinforcement, like FitnessBlender, the Daily Burn and BodyBuilding.com. Also, I just started doing the 30DS dvd, where she talks through the whole thing.

I'm studying to be a group fitness instructor, understanding group dynamics is important to me. I'm sorry this experience happened to you. Just think before you jump.

JoRocka

Seems like you just have two options.

1) Get yourself fit in a solitary fashion by: walking, jogging, swimming, bike riding, floor exercises using your body weight as resistance or fitness videos.

Or

2) Get fit with others in group fashion and deal with the tedium, pettiness, politics, cliquishness and annoyances of group dynamics.

Personally I prefer no. 1.

or option 3.

show up- get a new class schedule- and show up for the classes she wants and avoid facebook drama.

so she can do the classes she wants- and still not get wrapped up in stupid ****.

Flab2Fab27

Bring it up with management if it bothers you that much.

ahamm002

I'm not surprised that the gym asked you to stop publicly criticizing them on the internet. If you had already tried several other avenues to air your concerns and didn't get any answers that would be one thing. But I'd be pretty annoyed if I ran a gym and the first place I saw complaints from longstanding members that I thought were satisfied was on the FB page that prospective new members might read.

dakotababy

Okay, first - things change. schedules change, people change. Not everyone is going to be happy and it is impossible for a gym to make sure everyone is happy and gets their way.

People can pout and moan...but really - the gym is not going to be heavily impacted on it. I dont know why anyone would get their panties in a knot over something so silly.

Either suck it up, or suck it in.

leggup

Hmm.. I read this thread and I read your thread about being "singled out" by the substitute teacher. Honestly, it sounds like you're being too sensitive. One instructor encouraged you to push yourself. Other instructors argued with clients on a facebook page. And? If the staff was being inappropriate to you, I'd talk to management. You weren't even involved in the facebook back-n-forth. It's not your job to police their facebook page.

ashenriver

I'm not surprised that the gym asked you to stop publicly criticizing them on the internet. If you had already tried several other avenues to air your concerns and didn't get any answers that would be one thing. But I'd be pretty annoyed if I ran a gym and the first place I saw complaints from longstanding members that I thought were satisfied was on the FB page that prospective new members might read.

They did try to get information by emailing and phone, and didn't get any responses.
Also posts were deleted on facebook without any feedback from staff.
This is from a follow up post by the OP