Health knowledge made personal
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Are you a member of a gym? Or recreation centre? Or even do any form of exercise that involves being in a group with an instructor or coach? Many people do, and while I am not a fan of regular gyms, I am a member of a local family recreation centre that has a number of facilities such as a pool, yoga room, pilates area and gym. It's a pretty friendly, relaxed environment and I have always quite enjoyed going. Until Sunday. We arrived and began setting up our bikes and a female instructor walked in. Glenn immediately told me she was not the usual instructor and I think because he sensed I was a little apprehensive, that I should just go at my own pace and not be too concerned about anyone else. As the room filled up with spinners, the instructor asked us to slowly warm up by riding at a gentle pace. OK. Good. Then she started to talk more and I wish she hadn't. Proceeding to tell us this was going to be the hardest, most gruelling workout any of us would likely have ever experienced, she picked up the pace. My stomach began to churn. She went on informing us we were going to "hurt like hell" and that there would be no let up for anyone for the next hour. Out of nowhere I suddenly had the most intense reaction. I started to cry. Not just a few teardrops escaping from the corner of my eyes, but streams of them running down my face. I was angry, shocked, sad and upset. I sucked in a few gulps of air and thought about continuing but then stopped, wiped my face with my towell, picked up my water bottle and left. "This is not what exercise is supposed to be like. I'm out. Going for a swim instead," I said to Glenn on my way out. He asked if I was ok and I said yes Truthfully I was seething and wanted to shout at someone the way I had been shouted at. Not the best response I know. Glenn followed not long after telling me she was the worst instructor he had ever had (for anything) and that she spent the next thirty minutes screaming at everyone in the class and pushing them beyond clearly what many people felt comfortable with - including him. We both agreed it was outrageous that an instructor at a family recreation centre would run a class in that way - and on a Sunday morning no less. This sort of backward thinking, military style barking at people to motivate them to exercise is not the way to encourage people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels to develop a life long and positive relationship to exercise. It's shaming, belittling and even frightening. I'm still not fully sure why I reacted the way I did, but frustration I'm certain is a big part of it, as ever since I have been wondering how many other people have had experiences like this in gyms, at sporting clubs with coaches, or even in primary and high school with physical education teachers. Exercise should be something that is fun, engaging and even a bonding experience between a group of people doing a class. It should not, under any circumstances, involve severe hurt or pain or make you feel inadequate because you are not prepared to 'suffer' under the bark and growl of an instructor who clearly has no concept of how to encourage and support people in their exercise attempts. I have written a letter to the recreation centre complaining. Not something I normally do, but I felt compelled. I am hoping it will make them realise there is no place for instructors like that a family recreation centre. There really is no place for group instructors like that where any member of the public can participate - anywhere. What are your experiences of gyms and group classes? Even a PE teacher that taught you about sport and exercise early in life? Have you ever had similar experiences? I'm hoping you haven't, but something tells me that my experience is not a lone one. |
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