One customer totally dominating everything at the gym!

[HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer]

I am a member of a branch of a national chain of gyms.

There is one member who is a total exercise obsessive. She goes to classes every morning, then the gym, then runs home, then is back again in the evening for more classes. As a former fitness professional I can see she has a problem, but that's a whole other thread.

Basically she dominates all of the classes. For example there is a very strict system of booking in for classes, but she gives the receptionist a list days ahead of when the booking list is opened and they book her in for the lot in advance. So she gets into every class. Spaces are at a premium and sometimes it's very hard to get places, especially for things like Body Pump and Zumba.

Next, at every class she is in, the instructors will say things like 'Oh we were going to do X routine now but as S came this morning and did it then we'll do something else' with no thought at all about any of the other customers. I have said before 'Actually I would like to do what you were originally going to do' but it still has to suit this woman. Or in a spinning class the instructor will start playing a track and she'll say 'I hate this one' and the instructors will swap tracks, again disregarding the fact that the other 19 of us in the lesson might like it!

Lastly, in the spinning room she has 'her' bike, in the front row and woe betide anyone who sits on it! Everyone tiptoes around her and if a newcomer sits on they all start saying 'Oh that's S's bike, you can't sit there'. I've seen her really create a scene when others have sat on it and she even stormed out of a huff once as she came in once the class had started, someone else was on the bike and she didn't like it. The instructor chased her out of the room and came back and 'negotiated' with the other person that they moved bikes!!

It's really starting to piss me off and I'm thinking of speaking the club manager about it. We all pay the same amount per month btw, and it's a gym with one level of membership for all, it's not like she's got 'super gold' membership and we're all on bronze or anything like that.

I agree with SSW to a point, but when people like this are unkind to other gym members (and causing a fuss to get someone off a particular bike could be pretty embarrassing and discomfiting to many) then I think it merits something being said.

It does affect the service I have paid for though SomethingSuitably. Some of the routines this woman doesn't like are ones that I like. Should I just accept we can never do them if she's in the class? Or doesn't someone's wants and preferences matter if they're not vulnerable or psychologically disturbed in some way?

I just don't 'buy' all this 'be kind and understanding' stuff. Surely everyone is entitled to come first sometimes, not just one person!

I don't actually think being kind and understanding is always the healthiest option. There are far too many entitled people about, and that attitude, whilst the nicest, only encourages them.

Well, hexagonal you said in the OP that the changes to the routines were when this woman had already done them once that day - not because she had said she didn't like them. Maybe you mean spinning and specific tracks have specific routines attached? I haven't ever done that, so I don't know.

As for the suggestion to be kind/understanding: I am not advocating being a doormat or never putting yourself first in life. However, you are probably the stronger, more confident character here: probably well-placed to be the bigger person if you want to be. But as I said before, if you really feel you have a legitimate grievance, then complain. But I don't see any merit at all in rounding up a posse to denounce this woman and her favourite bike to the management. I think you'll only regret it.

Why would you just sit on her bike, when god has given us itching powder?

Or perhaps a variation of the prawns-in-the-curtain rail jape, using the seat pole thing?

Don't be surprised if she kicks off bigtime when challenged...tears, shouting, hysteria, accusations of bullying etc.

I speak from experience of a similar situation.

I didn't give in though.

I agree with SSW. In what feels like a previous life I was part of the "dominant clique" at the gym, one of those annoying people that were always on the same step, always in the same spot for pump, always on the same bike for spin, always drinking coffee with the instructors. I was in my early 20s at the time and looking back every single one of us in that clique were desperate for the approval of the instructors and vying to be the "top dog". All I had in my life was my addiction to exercise, my obsession with the gym and work.

If that's remotely the case for this woman then maybe you should just feel sorry for her and be glad that you have other things to channel your energy into, not just an obsessive compulsion for exercise.

I have to say that I'd let the bike thing go. I know it must be really fucking annoying but really it's not hurting you is it? It's not like anyone else in the class has any more right to it.

Personally I'd focus on the stuff that is more objective.

If the rules are you can't block-book/pre-book then she shouldn't be allowed to do so. This does mean someone else is potentially losing out on a place.

Instructors should not be changing planned routines/classes based on the preferences of one individual.

If I were you this is where I'd focus your initial objection. It's harder for the management to fudge their response here. You can always use the over the top stropping off when someone sat on "her" bike example to back up your claims of preferential treatment later on.

oh i would so sit on the bike. and when the instructor came
back to "negotiate" i would ask him /her could they clarify the rules on booking classes/having a specific bike/the choosing of tracks and routines. if they are going to give all of you the same perks fair enough but otherwise i'd complain and write a letter to head office if things didn't improve. you all pay the same money, you should all get the same service.
in my opinion, the changing of routines does alter the quality of the lessons. in my zumba classes, we start off with a routine with the basic steps and she adds to it every week making it harder. if the routine was totally changed i wouldn't be able to follow it as well. My spinning classes, generally have the same tracks and it helps as i know what to expect and approx how long i have left.

Oh I certainly wouldn't complain about the bike thing. I'd reserve complaining for the block booking and the lesson changes.

But I could have an awful lot of fun with the bike.

Oh believe me Sarah, I'd have an awful lot of fun watching you (even if I did secretly feel I should disapprove)

I think SSW has a point, which is why you shouldn't confront her in a class, thus causing her to lose face in public (because - however annoying she is - she probably is vulnerable). However you absolutely should go to the management - it is their job to sort this out at tactfully as possible.

I'd definitely complain about the booking. Totally unfair if you can only book a a certain number of days in advance if she manages to circumvent it.

Re the other stuff it's kind of hard to complain about without coming across as a little bit precious. I suppose you could say that it helps if you are following a routine from week to week so you would prefer if it wasn't changed.

I feel your pain though. We have weird regulars at our gym. One of the girls clearly has a huge crush on the body pump instructor and wears completely inappropriate glittery eyeshadow to exercise and a bra top and crop pants which don't cover very much. It's fun to watch her when Christina Aguelira Dirty comes on - I have never seen anyone manage to writhe with weights in their hands before. All very amusing for me skulking in the back row.

Who are these people who think everything revolves around them? And why are so many people prepared to pander to them?
It must be sickening to see, OP.

YANBU. I'm a gym instructor and also run fitness classes and there's no way I would let someone dictate to a session I had planned or harass people for being in their spot.

For example I alternate cds for one of my classes and one particular lady said if I played a certain cd again she wouldn't be coming back, this didn't stop me playing that cd again as everyone else enjoyed the variety.

She's obviously taking it to a whole other level which isn't healthy and the instructor as a professional should be setting guidelines to maintain a healthy lifestyle and not over doing it. Raise your concerns with the instructors and if nothing changes take it up with a supervisor or manager. Your all paying customers, nobody should be getting special treatment imo.

Understanding is fine when you aren't paying for a service. I would write to the manager and say what has been going on, without mentioning the womans name. They will know who you are talking about. Say that it is affecting your enjoyment if teh service you pay for, and that you find yourself actively trying to avoid her, which means that you cannot use your membership fully because she is there so often. You should also find out exactly what the policy is on booking classes and tell them you believe she is not made to stick to the same rule as everyone else.

The staff may all seem to like her, but they are being professional. I'd guess that she irritates them just as much with her weirdness, but they need to be told from the top that they have to stop pandering to her.

I think you have every reason to complain.

I think that if you go to the management you can discuss with them the fact that their instructors "allowing" her to have the same bike etc is unfair. Fine if she gets there first, but the instructor in charge of the lesson where she had a strop about the bike should have told the woman that the bikes were first come first served and that if she couldn't accept this she shouldn't come.
I would raise the "special bike" block booking and instructors changing lesson material specially for her with the management.
They should then take her to one side and tell her that she can't always have the same bike and book lessons up and has to abide by the same rules as everyone else.
I accept what folk say about her being a bit sad really, but as her behaviour is affecting other gym users, like the poor woman who got chucked off the bike she should be told that she doesn't get special treatment just because she uses the gym alot. If she can't cope with alternating her exercise bike she should be seeing a psychologist, not making other users move.

SSW may have a point but I feel most sorry for the poor new person who gets this woman's vitriol for daring to sit on 'her' bike.

I'd really complain about that as its just not on.

YANBU. I would sit on 'her' bike too ]

I would complain that:

• she gets preferential treatment for booking classes, leading to other people with the same membership losing out on a place in the most popular ones.

• another member was asked to move from a bike to suit her, which was embarrassing and awkward for everyone.

• class routines are disrupted as the tracks are changed to suit her preferences.

Those are concrete things that actually affect you.

This must be a worldwide phenomena then, I've met women like this at the fitness studio I go to. Weird and from what I can tell they are pretty insecure.
What I'm worried about now is are all UK gyms so busy that you have a hard time getting into class? We just turn up no booking and I can get in daily, sometimes it's pretty full but do-able.
I'll be having withdrawls when I get back to UK if I can't get my exercise in!

i'd be another who'd intentionally sit on the bike.
It's the same with people who leave their towels/drinks bottle on weight-benches while they go off an use another piece of equipment and get pissy when I move them so I can use it.
that and traffic cones on a public road to reserve someones "spot". Nothing surer to make me park there.

major I'm SO with you on the cones. Fine if it's once in a blue moon for a removal lorry or sofa delivery but doing it daily? Who do these people think they are?

Is it the David Lloyd and does she have long blonde hair?

Why are these instructors pandering to her? I'm an instructor and there's NO WAY I let people dictate what I do/play!! Weirdness. I don't care if someone's already done the same class that morning, that's their business, and shouldn't affect everyone else! I also get VERY annoyed with people hogging bikes/steps/pump spaces.....tough!! You get that a lot and it drives me mad - I really try to make sure everyone is included and there aren't cliques as that really puts the less confident/new/everyone normal off....DEF get on her bike, and stay in it!!

Definitely complain, and as others have said I would get others to complain too.