Fitness Class Rant

You know what? That is the fault of the fitness class leader - they should be correcting that stuff otherwise those people who aren't using proper form are going to be prone to injury. And while it would annoy me to no end as well, I also have to say that I can't do every exercise to its fullest potential due to weight, bad knees, muscles that are still developing and getting used to the exercises, etc. So I modify. Maybe that is what this person is doing?

totally agree with LAceylala

probably because she doen't realize that she's doing it wrong... It's impossible to ee what you're doing without a mirror and if you don't know your own body perfectly well it's not always possible to tell that you're doing anything different from what others are doing.

Does she have mobility issues? Perhaps a knee replacement? Cement in her bones? lol Who knows! Maybe she was put there to remind you how hard you should work to get the results you want... and her moves ain't cutting it!

I agree - where is the instructor. I teach a resistance class and even though I repeat myself and show proper form there are still those that are ALWAYS going to do their own thing. I try not to single out people unless they are doing something that could lead to an injury. If there isn't time to show it in class I pull them aside after class.

I hate to sound bad here, but so what if she wants to finish first? Do your thing and ignore her.

Threads like this are exactly why I don't go to a gym.

it only bothers me when it drags down the level of the class.
otherwise, as has been mentioned before, she's just cheating herself.

That would annoy me too....I often use the circut training room at Planet Fitness, and you're only supposed to be in there if you're doing circut training (ie, using the machines in a counter-clockwise order, only staying on each machine for the alloted anount of time. I hate when people come in there, go the wrong way, and just pick and choose which machiens they want to use.

Granted when I hurt my back, I skipped the ones that would hurt me, but I still followed the order and I wasn't in anyone's way.

Yeah, first while it is super annoying she's the only one getting cheated out of a work out. You feel like you're not "winning" because you're not completing the task first, but you really are the one "winning" because you're the only one that's getting the intended benefit out of the move (careful to not say she'll see no benefit, since she's still getting a workout just not the one the instructor is intending).
Instructor liability only goes as far as "I've told you the right move, I've shown you the right move, I've tried to correct your error once maybe twice, now the onus is on you." When the instructor is constantly correcting it turns the positive mood of the group fit class very critical, you have to find the right way to be supportive and positive while still encouraging (not forcing upon people) proper form and function. This is especially true when you have someone who is hesitant to be in the class in the first place but really need it. They're not going to stay if they feel constantly put down or they perceive that the instructor is overly critical. Hopefully the instructor is giving tips here and there and emphasising in all the right places for participants to be safe.

As a GFI, I usually tell people to work out at their own pace. Step is my favorite class to teach, and not all people have the perfect form in the beginning. When doing lunges, the front knee shouldn't go over the toes, and the rear leg should be parallel to the ground. If a participant can only bend the back leg a little, I'm okay with that as long as the front knee doesn't bend over the toes. Lunges take a lot of balance and coordination; and usually the more advance students can do them perfect, and the beginners look a little off balance with horrible form. I always tell my students if they mess up it's okay because nobody is paying attention as long as they're not passing out or bleeding. I hope I'm not wrong about that; because if they think they're being judged, they won't come back.