Rude people at the gym

[redcat9]

I go to a gym class three times a week. The best spot for the class is the front row on the right hand side of the instructor. No spot is reserved. Whoever comes to the class chooses her spot. But there are a couple of women behave badly. Whenever they arrive they just put their mat, coat or other belongings on the spot, regardless of whether it's been taken or not. If I insist that I had taken it and I arrived first, we would end up in an argument. But they have been taking it for granted. It's no big deal but it does leave an unpleasant feeling. Am I being petty? No one else has bother to have any conflict with them.

No one owns a spot. Although if they are hearing or sight impaired they might need to be close to the teacher.

But I suspect they're teachers pets and the teacher hasn't got the guts to tell them to cut it out.

How do they know 'it's been taken'?
Is your stuff on it? Do they just push it off?

Could there be a reason they sit there, like one is deaf or partially sighted?

If I really wanted to be there I'd just sit on the mat until the class started and if they challenged me with a 'we always sit there' I'd be "yeah well unless there's a good reason for you to be hogging the same spot every week, I will be here today as I can't see well up the back and need to see. Give the newbies a chance to learn. You're good now and you don't need a front spot".

If there' a mat on the floor it means that spot is taken.
None of them has any disability. One woman put her mat right in front of mine, so my space is really restricted that I would have to kick her if I did not move to a different spot. Another just put her coat on my mat while I was pick up dumbells and said "I can't work out on the other side." Both time the gym was still empty so I just moved to a different spot.

I have had similar issues. Just go early and lie starfish style on your mat…doing a few random stretches. Also wear headphones, eyes closed - and no need to interact with anyone until the teacher begins. Works for me.

I’m experiencing the same at the moment. My old gym closed down and I lmoved my membership to one in a wealthier area and the entitlement is insane. One woman told me the other day that if she could not have the spot I had randomly chosen before the class then she would leave the gym and not work out that day. I moved because it was no odds to me and I am new to the class but now I think I shouldn’t have entertained this behaviour. It’s putting me off going, to be honest.

I like the headphones idea, I may try it

Some women like to play diva. Most people (normal people like myself) go to the gym to unwind/relax and do not wish to end up in a conflict. That's why they could get away with their behaviour.

It’s 1st come 1st served at gym classes. If someone put their coat on my mat I’d move it off and tell them they’ve made a mistake. If they put their mat right in front of mine I wouldn’t budge an inch, but would ask them if there was a good reason for doing it. If there is a good reason there’s no problem if they communicate it politely.

I am an ex fitness class instructor and this used to drive me crazy! I had one class in particular where a couple of women used to behave like this and what was meant to be a lovely relaxing class (Body Balance) ended up more like a battleground! I would end up trying to referee the squabbles and be as fair as possible “this lady was here first, please move to another part of the room” but I’m not kidding, it was impossible! Believe me when I say these nightmares were NOT my teacher’s pets, in fact I actively discouraged that behaviour but still they persisted. It is bullying and we are all meant to be adults but I often felt like I was in a children’s playground. In fact I’ve seen better behaviour from children at times. My advice would be to take it up with the management of the gym. It’s their responsibility to remind their members to be respectful of others. The class instructor will know who they are if you don’t know their names.

I think you just need to put your mat down and sit on it and not move!

I would report to the manager of the gym. This is really rude! If they want a certain space they should get there early!

You’re not being unreasonable OP - it’s first come first serve.

I used to go to an aqua class where a woman did this. She would rock up late and wade her way across the pool to stand directly in front of the teacher, and purposefully standing right on top of someone else.

You need to plan out your stuff out take extra coat and water bottle

stand in the space and claim it
I wouldn’t move

I would just sit on the mat and not move till the class started. I have saw women like this before who try and barge right in, so rude and entitled. I like to stand at the back and hide lol

Stay out OP and accidentally put your feet really close to their faces. Maybe they won’t do it again

Some people are just entitled and expect things their way all the time.
Funnily, I was at the gym this morning and was using an area which is for people for stretching/floor exercises/weights. I was a few steps away to put something back and when I returned two blokes were behind me. No problem but then one asked me to move as I was "in the way between him and the mirror". I said no as I was there first and there was other space. My jumper, water bottle and some dumbbells were on the mat so it was clearly in use. He huffed and mumbled something then moved along.

I totally get this. I used to do a body pump class twice a week before work when I lived in london and people would set up their mat and equipment literally centimetres away from me because I’d get there early to set up and get “the good spot”. There were obvious bigger other spaces people could choose but they’d instead go in these no existent spaces. It meant I’d then have to do the class either not fully stretching out etc. or I’d then be forced to move if I wanted any personal space. It was really odd as if I got there late (train delays etc.) I’d just have to accept that I’d get a less desirable spot but there were a select few who seemed to just think they were entitled to these non existent spots regardless as to whether they were in someone’s personal space.

Interesting to hear this from the instructor’s perspective :) it must be so hard to referee

That is another reason I do not wish to have an argument with these rude people. I do not wish to be a headache for the instructor.

I was always willing to go into battle, but what these people don’t realise is that they not only upset the people they’re bullying, they upset the instructor and then delay the start of the class meaning the instructor either runs over and risks annoying the next one waiting to start their class, or has to cut theirs short likely annoying everyone else in the class. I had to give my class up in the end, there were just too many disruptions (not just about their ‘spot’ on the floor) and I couldn’t cope particularly after one of them started screaming at me in the locker room after one of my classes!

I hate it when one person then saves 5 spots for all their friends. It gets so clicky. I went to a spin class that was always booked up but I managed to get a space. They all stared at me and loudly
Moaned that 'Dave' couldn't get in this week......

I would go early every time and be lying on the mat with my body on the floor in front of it and doing yoga/relaxation face until just aftr the class started, when I bounce up, yawn and get going. These women are the mean girls from school being mad mean bitches in the class.

I know it’s not a fitness class, but I used to go to a very busy weight watchers class. You had to go in and collect a number ticket, and when your number was called you got weighed. I didn’t drive at the time, so I used to get the bus. So I was early for the class. When I arrived there was only 5 folk in the room, so I assumed I would have ticket 6? No I was number 12.
So as the weigh in starts 30 min later, and the room is full, 6 women trot in and one of the women who was in before me, hands out the tickets to these women. They should have been number 30+.

These women who thought they owned the place and done this every week. Well this week I had enough and took my place after number 5.
The women who done the weighing started moaning at me for skipping the queue, well I told her straight that these women walk in front of the queue every week. A few other folk agreed with me. The skippers started shouting and screaming. I don’t think I was popular that week and never went back. I’m usually quiet but couldn’t let it go lol