demotivating fitness instructors- rant

fitbot
fitbot Posts: 406
edited September 27 in Fitness and Exercise
so as i mentioned previously i ADORE my new gym.
I am trying out all the classes to make a super power routine that will kick my butt all the way to perfect bikini form.
So last night I went to a circuits class with a teacher i did not know. Now.... just to preface this story, this gym is a 'woman friendly' gym and there are ppl of all sizes and all ages there. Which is great. The instructors range in age and shape also, and this is awesome as it makes all things less intimidating. In fact I have one instructor for kickboxing who is a bigger girl, but has so much energy, enthusiasm and muscles that she makes you push your limits in the class.
I dont think that all instructor should have competition type bodies and I do know that some people are in good shape even if they do not appear to be skinny.
But last night, this girl was FAT, had NO muscle definition, sweated buckets thru the class, the exercises looked like they were painful for her, and was a sloppy instructor.
if this is her JOB (so presumably she works out a lot) and her results are this poor I see this as a demotivator, and am wondering if i should write a formal complaint to the management. Being in that class made me really angry and needless to say I will be avoiding anything taught by this woman from here on.

Am I a total *kitten* for wanting to complain about her? I am paying these people for a service and the service is below acceptable, I should be complaining. no? I mean... if this is what becomes the standard, won't other instructors just 'let themselves go'?

please advise.

Replies

  • farewellantic
    farewellantic Posts: 27
    Maybe she was sick? I personally would do one more class with her and see if it was just a bad day. Maybe she had a cold and ate a whole box of doughnuts or something. If it was still as bad, if not worse, than the first, by all means, complain away!
    I know I sure would
  • SimplyDeLish
    SimplyDeLish Posts: 539
    I teach a low-impact aerobics class. As you can see by my ticker - I'm one of the fat ones. It's a workout for me as well as the members of the class. And yes, I'm sweating but I can talk and teach through the whole 45 minute session. I think it's the poor quality of teaching you have a right to complain about - not the size of the teacher.
  • chnkydnknmomma
    chnkydnknmomma Posts: 258
    I'm more of an avoider, so I wouldn't complain, just skip that class...my gym has the same scenario...the zumba instructor is a big girl...don't know how she moves like she does, but she does it! Personally, I can't do Zumba, too much on my poor aching feet.

    stick with the instructors you like, and you will have a way more pleasant gym experience.
  • fitbot
    fitbot Posts: 406
    Dear SImply delish, as I mention in my post, i am supportive of all sizes of people. and love my slightly larger kickboxing instructor BC SHE KICKS *kitten* and is a really good instructor.

    this was all around bad, including her being larger without any muscle definition or stamina....
  • ddonkeys
    ddonkeys Posts: 56
    I agree with farewellantic, give it another go and if its more of the same I would say something about it. If not for yourself, for others that might not want to say something about it. Like you said, you are paying for the membership and their services, and it sounds like in that particular instance you're not getting what you're paying for.
  • Mtsidad
    Mtsidad Posts: 242 Member
    Interesting topic.

    I think your feelings are valid. It's hard to be motivated when the instructor isn't where you are but somewhat "below" you.

    With that said, my only advice is to think what you really want, and wait a few days. And if you are going to express your perfectly valid feelings, that you keep it to performance (sloppy work). I'd imagine that like everyone your instructor is aware of her flaws, but the only thing she can really change (for now) is how she does the class.

    Also, since you're not going to be taking the class again, it might not be worth it to complain as you identified one issue (your attendance) and you won't be going again. BUT don't take that to mean "my feelings aren't valid." Take it to mean "my feelings are valid, and I took steps to avoid the issue that triggers me."

    It's really a good thing you found the gym you really like. Stay focused on that and do what works for you.

    Good luck on figuring out the right way to respond to this, and thanks for prompting this discussion. It has made me think.
  • JenniferH81
    JenniferH81 Posts: 285 Member
    You really dont know the reason for her teaching it. Maybe she's new, and wanted to motivate others as well as herself in her weight loss.

    I'd say stick it out, do YOUR best, and I bet she'll improve with time.
  • TrainingWithTonya
    TrainingWithTonya Posts: 1,741 Member
    How did the workout make you feel? If you didn't feel like you got a workout or that the workout was lacking for some reason, then I'd complain. If the workout was sound and you are just talking about the person based on how they look, then no, I wouldn't complain. Fat gain can be from issues other then exercise or lack thereof. Hormones, pregnancy, medications, stress, are just a few of the things I can think of off the top of my head that can cause drastic weight gain regardless of diet or exercise. Without knowing her circumstances, you can't say why she appears out of shape so judging the workout based on her appearance isn't a valid judgement. Also, the physiological adaptation to fitness via sweating is that the more fit you are the more you sweat because the body becomes more efficient at cooling itself. Also, it depends on the person as to how much they sweat. Some people don't sweat much and others sweat buckets. Regardless of where they start on the spectrum the amount of sweat generally increases with fitness level. So, saying that someone's sweat level indicates fitness level is only partially correct. Two out of shape people can have vastly different amounts of sweat, one could barely sweat and the other could sweat buckets. As they improve their fitness level, they will both sweat more. When this happens, the person who sweat less may or may not increase to the level the person who sweat a lot started at. It's just to variable to be a way of judging.

    So, my best recommendation would be to think back to the workout without imagining the instructor. Focus your memories on how your body felt during the workout. Was it a good workout? That's all that matters.
  • kenjisparks
    kenjisparks Posts: 1
    I understand what you mean. When I was looking for a martial arts instructor a few years ago, I found many that were really out of shape, and wondered how good can their martial arts be if they aren't in shape? How can you be motivated to do better when your instructor is in the same--or worse--boat than you're in? You may want to have a word with the management there or ask around just to see if this instructor has had any extenuating circumstances. Did they have an injury that removed them from being able to keep in shape for a long period of time? Medical complications? Child birth?

    I think you should say something, but just check out the instructor's background a bit more before sending a formal complaint in, just to avoid looking foolish if there happens to be an actual reason for their current fitness level.

    All the really good advice has already been given!
  • farewellantic
    farewellantic Posts: 27
    You really dont know the reason for her teaching it. Maybe she's new, and wanted to motivate others as well as herself in her weight loss.

    I'd say stick it out, do YOUR best, and I bet she'll improve with time.

    But isnt the point to teach. You should at least have the stamina to keep up. If she wants to teach it, she should build up the stamina and ability to teach first. All she is going to do is hinder those who are more advanced than her.
  • starboardzor
    starboardzor Posts: 312
    If this is your only complaint about the gym/instructors, I would just skip out on that class and be stick with the ones that do work for you. Not every class a gym teaches is going to match your level. But if you're the type to complain about every unsatisfaction you have, complain away.... Maybe the level she teaches is perfect for some customers, just not for you.
  • fitbot
    fitbot Posts: 406
    I like the discussion this has raised.
    On one side, you have weight loss/fitness which is a field where you want to be supportive and accepting of everyone. On the other side you have customer service and getting what you pay for.
    For instance, if this was not in a sensitive setting (calling people fat is mean), but like... a spa. And I had gotten a terrible manicure, I would definitely complain. Or a restaurant, and I had gotten terrible food or service, I would also definitely complain, without thinking of the 'feelings' or 'having a bad day' of the people offering me said service.

    i can definitely say I will not be taking a class with this person again, and sticking to the things that motivate me.
    We all have a busy schedule and when I commit to working out 4-5 times a week, I want to get the most out of every minute. I am not there to support my intructor's journey through HER weight loss, or HER teaching curve.
  • Mkleder
    Mkleder Posts: 289
    Maybe she was sick? I personally would do one more class with her and see if it was just a bad day. Maybe she had a cold and ate a whole box of doughnuts or something. If it was still as bad, if not worse, than the first, by all means, complain away!
    I know I sure would

    Love your ticker, farewellantic!


    Maybe this was not a class she normally teaches and she was called to sup for the regular trainer? I have seen that at my gym from time to time. If that were the case, I wouldn't complain. But if this is a class she teaches regularly, I would at least mention it to the management.
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,728 Member
    I'm more of an avoider, so I wouldn't complain, just skip that class...my gym has the same scenario...the zumba instructor is a big girl...don't know how she moves like she does, but she does it! Personally, I can't do Zumba, too much on my poor aching feet.

    stick with the instructors you like, and you will have a way more pleasant gym experience.

    I agree with this. If you don't like the class just don't go. Maybe other people like the class and her teaching style. If her class doesn't have students, they will stop the class.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    The first time I tried Crossfit I quit because I didn't like the instructor (i.e. drill sergeant). Boy am I glad I went back and tried out a different instructor! I think we as humans gravitate to people we have something in common with or admire in some way. I would take another class...I mean, maybe the bigger girls like this lady because she motivates them better than a thin instructor or they feel they have more in common with them and are less intimidated? Different strokes for different folks.
  • Caffeinewitch
    Caffeinewitch Posts: 110 Member
    How was she a sloppy instructor? Were her instructions unclear? Did she not know what to do next?
  • fitbot
    fitbot Posts: 406
    and just to add, it WAS ****ty workout. I have taken this same class with another teacher last week and it was absolutely amazing, and intense. this made me so angry i had to go run immediately after.

    I am not a complainer-im too nice and do worry about hurting people's feelings, in fact, things have to be REALLY BAD for me to want to complain....

    and yes, the point is to teach, so there should at least be enough stamina to get thru the class.
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