Clique at gym classes

[Ykn]

Not really an AIBU but posting for traffic.

The clique at the exercise classes at my gym are really spoiling it for me. They are a group of around 4 or 5 women who all know each other and the instructor who takes one of the classes, they save each other spaces at the class, stand in the same area of the studio each class, exclude others from their chats, glare and ignore newcomers, and even regulars who aren't in the clique.

One of them even looked at me like she was going to kill me when I arrived at a class last week.

I'm going to start looking for classes at different times, or a new gym.

How do you/would you handle such a clique in your exercise classes?

Depends how much you like that gym I guess, not a nice feeling though

I just ignore and crack on with the class .... I think you get these sort at lots of hobbies/groups. I'm not there to make friends, not interested in their 'group'.

I do, however, save a space next to me for my friend if she's running late, lots of people do.

Just ignore them and get uber fit whilst doing it

I go to a dance class and there's a little clique of women who behave like that. I absolutely couldn't give a flying fuck, and I just get on with my day.

Ignore them. It's only four or five women out of a class of what, twenty? Who gives a shit?

I would find that quite funny. They sound very sad.

Another one who ignores and gets on with it. I may not be in with the clique but I have enough gym acquaintances to pass time in the queues / say good morning to.
Don’t overthink it - do you get what you want from that gym? Those classes? If not move on.

Just ignore them, if a bunch of adults want to act like a group of school kids, just let them and get on with your work out, I couldn't get worked up about it

I just ignore them if my efforts are rebuffed.

I tend to get to classes early and chat to anyone who is waiting outside the studio when I get there though. Ive never had an issue.

If someone genuinely gave me the cold shoulder then I'd just ignore them from then on in.

Just ignore them.
If I go to classes, I'm there to exercise and have fun. It's nice to shoot the breeze with people if I know anyone, and overtly hostile people aren't great, but if people want to act like dicks, let them cracking on with it.

There's a maximum capacity of 10 at each class.

Ignore them anyway. Talk to the other people. Life's too short to be bothered by unimportant things like this.

Kill them with kindness. Every time. Plaster a big wide smile and loudly say, “GOOD MORNING!!! How are we all today?!”. I did it once with the school mums stasi.

Either it makes them feel so under pressure to respond and talk to you, or they will quickly look away - which I always found really funny, and made sure they knew that. But I continued to do it every day without fail and eventually they spoke to me every day - not that I have a shit about them, but I counted it a great personal victory to have turned the tables on them.

How do you/would you handle such a clique in your exercise classes?

I wouldn't because I'd find it hard to give a shit 🤷‍♀️

Problem is it can be fairly common, you might find common ground with one of the other people.

I went to a new class and the instructor had a bunch of mates who came, stood at the front and giggling and getting loads of attention. I remember asking the instructor for some advice and she could not be arsed as she was in some private joke with her mates.
her mates stopped coming though, I kept going for a bit and then went somewhere else. Cue instructor putting up sad fishing FB posts about where all her clients had gone, and being super nice to me in a shop. Too little too late.

I get there super early and go in one of their places I love pissing off the Royston Vasey lot!

OP if you really like the class, and feel this is putting you off, could you mention something to the instructor about people 'hogging' places.

The other stuff like chatting and laughing you can just ignore, but the hogging spaces will piss me off.

If you're early for class have your phone with you and be busy on your phone. Then put it down just as the class starts. That way you'll notice them less.

I always have my phone handy for occasions like this.

I don't speak to anyone at gym classea ao wouldn't bother me, you arrive, do the class, and leave surelg

You aren't payong for this high-school reunion, are you? If so, find a place where you feel OK

This all the way.

I'm a massive gym goer (although 33 weeks pregnant and haven't stepped foot in a gym since November) never once in all my years have I ever felt the need to join a clique or leave because of one. Just pretend they don't exist. Smile at them when you enter the class, say hi & bye etc. Dont let them get to you!

Promise you'll soon forget they are even there.

Weird for grown adults to behave in such a way, I've never witnessed it at a gym class.

I would just ignore them.

MN often refers to cliques but surely it is just a group of friends.

I don't think establishing a friendship group and gravitating towards those friends is a bad thing.

Weird to glare at people of course but can't help wondering whether you're imagining that. If a friendship group is a nefarious clique, maybe a glare is just someone looking over at you.

And I'd handle them by saying hello and making a bit of small talk if the opportunity arose, otherwise ignoring to get on with the class. Try talking to the 4-5 people who are not in the clique maybe.