To complain about this fitness instructor?

[mondaybluesblues]

I normally exercise at home, but about 3 weeks' ago I started going to a class with a friend every Thursday night at a local council run sports centre.

The class is quite small, and although I hate to use the word, it seemed quite cliquey from the off, with the instructor walking around the class whilst teaching, chatting to people. I am fairly quiet, and the friend that I went with is very chatty and always seems to click with people instantly, so the instructor immediately took to her and chatted away to her and didn't welcome me to the class or bother with me. I mentioned to her that I have an existing shoulder injury, but that it's ok if I do light weights and she was really snappy and just said 'well you NEED to build up strength in the area'. She also kept inferring during the lesson that I am unfit because I've never been to her class before, which isn't the case.

I went to the second class and again got totally ignored by the instructor. She's regularly walk over to my friend during the class to chat but ignored me. If I said anything to her in a jokey way as the rest of the class were doing then she would just look at me and raise her eyebrows as if I wasn't worth her time.

Went again last Thursday and again she spent the whole lesson walking around chatting to people and totally ignored me, although she went up to my friend several times and asked if she was ok with the exercises etc. Then after she'd wandered round everyone she said to me 'oh sorry I forgot about YOU again, I always forget about YOU' in a really nasty dismissive way. I just smiled. Then a bit later I was struggling with an exercise and she was chatting away to my friend and kept looking at me and ignoring me so I said "Forgotten I exist again, have you?", and she then turned the music off and started lecturing me about how she hadn't forgotten about me, but that she hadn't had time to check on me that lesson. Then she said "I'll make sure I stand near this lady so I don't ignore her now", whilst cackling away.

At the end of the class she apologised in a really insincere way, and I said "I think your behaviour is really rude, but I will vote with my feet and not come back" then I walked out of the dance studio.

I mentioned it at reception and they were appropriately sympathetic and said that they do get other complaints about her behaviour being cliquey and unfriendly, and I went home. But now I am getting more and more cross about how she treated me. The class was £6, so not cheap, and I expect to be treated respectfully and decently like most of the other customers seem to be.

I am not sure whether or not to contact the head of leisure at the local council and make a proper complaint or not, or whether to just leave it?

[KatoPotato]

ummmmm.... I'd just move on tbh, doesn't sound like much fun, but not worth giving yourself grief over.

[Unexpected]

Well £6 strikes me as cheap for an exercise class but, that aside, if reception agreed that they had complaints about her attitude previously it is pretty bad that they obviously haven't done anything about it. So yes I would complain in writing. Her attitude is probably contributing to the size of the class, the council could probably get more money by employing a more professional instructor, and surely should be encouraging people to attend and exercise, rather than putting them off?

[AlpacaYourThings]

I think you have made it clear you aren't happy. I would let it go.

What about doing another class at the centre? One where she isn't re instructor.

[Lilaclily]

Sounds like school
the teacher likes you better than me

[parakeet]

Sorry but this all sounds very subjective. You don't like it when she ignores you, and then when she does speak to you, you don't like her intonation. Why do you even care if an instructor is friendly to you or not?

[Nomama]

Oh dear! So you didn't click with a group fitness instructor.

Find another class. One with an instructor who is a better fit for you.

You won't need to complain any more, it is a numbers game, so voting with your feet is enough. If she pisses off enough people her classes will be given to someone else. If not, she will continue to teach. That's how the industry works.

[BelleateSebastian]

Move jog! on and forget about it :)

[HeyBungalowBill]

Why do people always suggest to let things go? People get away with treating people like shit over and over again because every person who encounters them decides to let it go.

Write a letter of complaint about her with these examples you have told us.

People can't just walk allover people and get away with it over and over!

I reported a lady in asda the other day which is the first time I ever reported someone. She spoke to me like complete dirt and was incredibly rude. The manager was pleased I had complained and I felt proud of myself for not letting her get away with it!

[PenguinBear]

I'd complain in writing. She sounds rude and shouldn't have treated you like that.

[emms1981]

Oh poor you :( this sounds just the way I get treated by people. I always thought maybe I'm just touchy but she sounds like a cow.

[emms1981]

Oh poor you :( this sounds just the way I get treated by people. I always thought maybe I'm just touchy but she sounds like a cow.

[Paq]

I would complain in writing and then move on, there are plenty of other classes to choose from but a council-run centre shouldn't be putting people off exercise.

[scarlets]

She could be putting vulnerable, unfit people off exercise. It doesn't take much to perturb some people. She shouldn't be getting away with it.

[Rhine]

Yes I'd complain, and I'm surprised that people are telling you to let it go. Why should you let it got when someone is bloody rude to you?

[Aeroflotgirl]

She sounds awful, I wouldent complain but I woulden't go again, she sounds really unprofessional and quite nasty.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Actually complain in writing, just read your end bit, she has a form fir this. Good on you for telling her, she needed to be spoken to like that. More people should do the same.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Gym Instructors are just another form of PE teacher in the main. To be avoided and certainly not someone to pay good money to. My experience is most of them have their little cliques of thin tanned coiffed ladies to whom they pay attention and then the rest whom they ignore. Just like the PE teachers did at school.

[MammaTJ]

You are ok and able to move on, but what if the next person through her door has to get all their emotional strength together just to get there.

Do complain, something needs to be done to stop her behaving in this bullying manner.

[mondaybluesblues]

Thanks everyone! I am going to make a written complaint tomorrow.

Emms1981, I often get treated badly by people too. I think I have a 'don't like me' face, even though I'm not a horrible person. But am buggered if I'm actually going to pay to be treated like poo

[theimposter]

Yes you should complain she sounds like an arse. I trained as a PT and can assure you that nobody who qualified with me would dream of talking to clients like that. The ethos is to encourage people not talk them down. Maybe she trained with a shit company or is just crap at her job. I have many gym friends even though I no longer do PT myself and there is no cliqueyness with any nor in any classes I went to before training myself. I certainly don't fit the typical gym instructor mould either so it's not a 'being part of the gang/looking a certain way thing' either.

[MistressDeeCee]

Im glad you are going to make a complaint OP. Who does she think she is? She could have affected your self-esteem massively for all she knows.

Im not sure about your friend. But if I were going to a class and instructor treated me like that, I know 100% my friend wouldn't be having cosy chats with said instructor I think we'd both end up having a go at her! She's a bully & thats the main reason I think you should ignore the 'just move on' advice, and take it further. It might just give her the shock she needs to treat people courteously and do her job well. Might have been an idea to speak to centre manager at the time tho, but still go on to make a complaint.

[Chottie]

I go to lots of classes and none of the instructors would dream of treating attendees like that. I would complain too, well done.

[Flossyfloof]

Of course the instructor is going to be more friendly with people who have attended the class before. You were actually pretty rude to her, from what you say. What is complaining about her going to achieve? She apologised but in a really insincere way? Why would she apologise if she wasn't sincere? It may be that she has an unfortunate manner but it sounds to me as if you have as well. I understand that many people. when they are anxious, can sound aggressive without meaning to. Perhaps you are one of those people. Move on, don't waste your life on this rubbish. If you are so unhappy, just don't go back.

[ChickyEgg]

Flossyfoof go back and read the op. I'm glad Monday stuck up for herself. If the instructor is working with the general public the very least he/she needs is 'people skills'. You can't pick and choose who you will or won't be friendly with. How ridiculous!

[ChickyEgg]

Sorry flossyfloof!