To think you might have a preferred space to stand at a fitness class but it's not 'your' space?

[MrsJellycat]

I've just joined a gym. There seems to be quite a large group of core members that have been going for a while and who go to all the classes.

However, in almost each class I've been to, wherever I stand, or whichever spinning bike I've chosen I am told by members that I am standing in 'X's space' or on 'Y's bike' and have felt obliged to move. In spinning all the bikes seem to 'belong' to someone or other, and I ended up having a bike that didn't work properly right next to the speaker!

Today I went to another class, got there early, picked a place to stand, only to be asked to move by another woman as it was 'her' usual spot.

This time I refused to move and said I would rather stay there, thanks. She wasn't happy.

AIBU to think that no one 'owns' a space in a class? BTW membership is the same price every month for everyone.

YANBU - stand you ground- if you are there first, it is your space/ bike

YANBU. First come first served.

If it keeps happening I would complain and ask management of the gym to remind members of this.

This drives me mad, I prefer to be at the back but if someone else is there first then that's how it is. Space hogging is so selfish.

If it was always the same person I might suspect that maybe they were deaf or hard of hearing and needed to be close to the instructor. But no, if it's just people's preference then they can go somewhere else.

I teach a sport though and I will position people where I want them, as the instructor. Various reasons (from grouping similarly abled people together to seeing over heads, etc).

I have a preferred spot but if someone is in it I have no problem standing somewhere else. As I always say 'if you're not fast you're last' so if they want the space they need to get there earlier.

I was just talking to someone the other day about this. This is why we dread starting a new class. You did right refusing to move, they are ruining it for everyone else

YANBU. I've had this before. Some people are so precious. I just go away thinking they're moronic wankers. So should you, because that's what they are! I deliberately use a different space/bike each time I go because I like the variety.

Ugh, shit like this is exactly why I will not go to group classes any more. Too many fucking idiots are allowed to take over where instructors have their pet attendees who can do no wrong.

I left a boxercise class after the main protagonist repeatedly kicked me on the back after I refused to move from "his space", so he made a pint of standing really close behind me throughout. You know the type - male, 30s, slick greasy long hair, wearing a fancy boxing outfit and hands tied up in protective wraps despite what amounts to a shadow boxing class..... I actually left the gym over that guy as he was a complete pervert who fixated on women and would try to use your machines, loom over you until you moved, get on the treadmill/bikes next to you in an empty room etc. Staff couldn't give a shit.

This is the reason I didn't continue attending classes - just focused on using the gym/pool. It all felt very cliquey and I felt like I was intruding by being there. The instructors didn't do much to help that either, they very much focused on interacting with their 'in crowd' and didn't seem interested in new members.

I always prefer to be somewhere at the back as I am too self conscious, being overweight and un-coordinated, to the point where I get there early to get where I want to be. If someone else beats me too it, I either move forward slightly or in the worse case if the only space is at the front, I have left before if the class doesn't have a waiting list. I know its my issue and I would never ask someone else to move to accommodate me.

I have a friend I met through gym classes and the regulars including us have "our" spots, however if someone else is there first I wouldn't dream of asking someone to move! Ironically though that's how we became friends, she went another class I already participated in but I'd never spoken to her, I tried a new class and she told me jokingly I was in her spot, I just moved up one and we've been glued to each others side in every class ever since 😅.
I did once place myself at the back in a class and 2 women came in and stodd RIGHT in front of me and asked if I'd move so they could have more space, I said "no! I've positioned myself with plenty of space, you need to move forward".

I love my spot! However I do understand its only my spot in my head, so if I want it, I get there early. Otherwise too bad. Asking someone to move is rude and inappropriate.

YANBU. Do these people also try make people move in the middle of their coffee break because they want 'their' cafe table?

YANBU - I love my preferred spaces but tend to get there early - if someone else is there first then that's fair game.

Cheeky of them to ask you to move - how ridiculous. (And I have been going to the same class for years)
Well done for standing your ground

I'm hard of hearing and can't see brilliantly without my glasses (which I take off when I exercise), so I tend to try and pick a spot near the front. However I make sure that I am there early in order to do so.

I'm the same. Top left hand corner, but if someone there I just pick a different spot. In threads like this it is very rare for a poster to come on and let others know why they do this. Is that because they know they are wrong but just don't care?

Ha ha this type of behaviour in fitness classes always makes me laugh. Sit/stand where you like. You're all paying the same. Anyone says anything to me, I simply reply "tough, he/she will have to find another spot, won't they?" Toughen up!

I've belonged to a choir for 12 years and have sat/stood in more or less the same place since I joined. I've never asked someone to move but I am very set in my ways and feel somewhat discombobulated if I find someone is occupying "my seat" and I have to sit elsewhere. Nothing feels right.

So I empathise with the regular gym-goers, but I think they're being rather rude and unkind to make a new person move. They should make the new person feel welcome - and resolve to arrive earlier next time to claim their preferred space.

Is this a posh place? Only I've been going to the council one for 10 years and I've never witnessed this ever. Occasionally someone will save a spot by putting a towel or a water bottle on a bike, but otherwise if someone's in your usual place people just go somewhere else.

Prior to that I went to David Lloyd. I didn't feel I fitted in there at all 😆

Cringe they sound really annoying, entitled and rude. We all have our preferred spots as others have said in this thread but it’s not “your” spot. I vote turn up early for the spots you want and decline to move when they ask

YANBU.

I try and get to the class early and have a preferred space which is near the door. Sometimes latecomers arrive and attempt to share my space or look at me expectantly like I should move. I don't.

I go to the gym a LOT and have my preferred space for each class. But it's not MY spot, and if someone else is there, so be it 🤷‍♀️
I can't believe there are actually people out there who ask others to move!
It does get on my tits though when I'm stood in my spot ("my" spot 🤣🤣) and a group of women turn up together and want to do it "together". There's isn't space for then to all be together, but they make space my encroaching onto mine

In your examples, there's no WAY I'd move bikes onto one that doesn't work properly. If Brenda wants that specific bike, Brenda can get there early enough to sit on it

Our Pilates instructor always asks us to select a different spot in the room for each lesson.

If they are going to act like children, act like a child back. By that I mean: dramatically look at the bike/floor and say "I can't see your name on it"