not liking gym classes.

trudijoy
trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
The lady at my new gym today thought it was very odd that I prefer not to take classes at the gym until I explained why....

I'm a teacher: I work with almost 800 people. They make demands on my time and energy. In the gym, it's all about me. It's not about anyone else. As soon as I start a class, it becomes about other people again.

Pretty sure I'm not the only one to feel this way so was very surprised at her reaction!

Replies

  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    Nope. Makes total sense. Stick to your story. It's nobody's but your own. :)
  • JRSchumaker
    JRSchumaker Posts: 93 Member
    I definitely prefer to do my own thing at the gym. Group fitness classes is not that thing. I like the zen of being in my own peaceful headspace.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    makes perfect sense to me. I prefer to workout alone - it allows me to clear my head.
  • gowrirao81
    gowrirao81 Posts: 139 Member
    I hate them all too! Glad to know I am not alone ... it somehow manages to take all the joy out of a workout for me.
  • bunbunzee44
    bunbunzee44 Posts: 592 Member
    I prefer working out alone too, at my own pace (: much more satisfying to me.
  • ajourney2beme
    ajourney2beme Posts: 181 Member
    Your reasoning makes sense to me, but what's more important is that it makes you happy. If working out on your own and pushing yourself does it for you then who cares what others think. Good luck!
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Yay you're all awesome ;)
  • Troublemonster
    Troublemonster Posts: 223 Member
    +1 more for no classes. I know what I am there to do and I don't need a leader or people to share it with.

    The ONLY person I enjoy working out with is my wife, she has the same level of drive I have and is great at deflecting the distracting chatters. We run interference for each other.
  • Kingacat
    Kingacat Posts: 33
    I like spin class as you don't have to interact with other people!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    The only group activity I do is the winter indoor cycling with my tri club and even then the coaches make it very clear - you control your own intensity, you're there for you.

    One of the things I love about running is the solitude, even in a race with 15,000 other runners it's just you........
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    umm no you are not the only one.

    My current gym has very few classes and most of them are in the middle of the morning so that was a no-go anyway. I wouldn't mind a yoga class or zumba but they don't have it. for the most part i prefer to be selfish and do my own thing.
  • jennz81
    jennz81 Posts: 194 Member
    You're not alone. I prefer to be by myself when I work out, that way I can concentrate on myself.
  • SandraMartin3008
    SandraMartin3008 Posts: 22 Member
    Yes, classes are so boring! I can never take one! I prefer hiking, swimming, going out jogging.....but never a class!
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    woohoo! I love not being a freak for not being into group classes :) thanks all x
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Gym classes also bring out the "competitive jerk" in a minority of people, who feel compelled to talk about your form, energy level, and how much of a "burn" you got from the class, relative to themselves.

    Give me free weights, a heavy bag, or a circuit training area any day, if I must work out in a gym.
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    The lady at my new gym today thought it was very odd that I prefer not to take classes at the gym until I explained why....

    I'm a teacher: I work with almost 800 people. They make demands on my time and energy. In the gym, it's all about me. It's not about anyone else. As soon as I start a class, it becomes about other people again.

    Pretty sure I'm not the only one to feel this way so was very surprised at her reaction!

    Personally, I wouldn't try justifying yourself to her now, you have told her what you prefer to do and she should leave it at that, regardless as to whether she finds it odd or not.

    I don't like classes at the gym either, I like solitude during training hence why I run alone and when I do go to the gym, I train alone.

    I like some "me" time, as by the sounds of it, so do you. What I am more surprised at is the amount of people that never choose to have any time to themselves, always surrounded by people. I can't do that, it throws me right off my path and I can't think straight!

    Stick to your guns! :flowerforyou:
  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    As a group fitness instructor this hurts my heart a little. LOL!:laugh: That makes total sense though, and we all have to do what gets us to our goal! For me, I was a stay at home mom who NEEDED adult interaction, so group ex is what made this time different as far as losing weight...but if it makes you cringe...solo it is! :-)
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    really? It is that big of a deal to her/them?

    I never take classes and always work out solo with weights..

    Is this a female thing?? LOL
  • freemystery
    freemystery Posts: 184 Member
    I think if I needed instruction or advice I'd approach a trainer and ask but I didn't come here to socialise. I came here to get in shape. I'm not the same as anyone else here, I have different goals. A different pain threshold. Different abilities whether it's strength or balance or stamina... I don't feel like I can work on myself as an individual in a group environment. I always end up comparing myself to others.

    I guess that's me though, not the classes themselves. But I see where you're coming from!!
  • jolodo
    jolodo Posts: 24
    I'm with you on this. Never attended classes at the gym. Taken it one step further now and cancelled my gym membership to work out at home for the first time in years.

    Love it and wish I'd done it ages ago - seen more results in 6 months working out at home using treadmill and dvds than in all the years I slogged away at the gym.

    Maybe no distractions at all works best for me.

Categories