Why do people go to the gym when they don't want to? Is this a New York City thing? Is the rest of the gym population of the US of A having fun going to the gym or are they equally as miserable as some of the women who come to NYC's various gyms?

Now, I have been taking shots at the NYSC population but this goes for Equinox, Crunch, and David Barton (I have worked for each of these clubs as an instructor). So, in all fairness, here is a story from each of these gyms:

David Barton Gyms

This story happened earlier on in my fitness instruction career, so I actually did give a crap if someone injured themselves in my class. Nowadays, I give you one warning and you're on your own! It was a 8:00am Body Sculpting class and, of course, being David Barton on the Upper East Side of NYC, it was populated by women who had too much time and money than they knew what to do with. In one corner of the classroom was this fleshy, pale-as-a-ghost, doughy-looking woman who had the poorest form I had ever seen. She would do exercises with a hunched back, locked knees, head sticking out, etc. I gave my usual verbal cues to watch their form, i.e. bend your knees, stand up tall, BUT she did nothing to correct her form. Finally, on my bent-over row, I went straight up to her and pulled her shoulders back and stuck my finger on the small of her back and said "Lengthen your spine before you hurt yourself!" Then it dawned on me, "Oh my god, this is Isabella Rosselini AND, boy, does she have bad skin, awful posture, and thick thighs."

Crunch Fitness

I was teaching a 9:30am Low Impact class to quite a number of people. As a matter of fact, they were now all return customers who obviously enjoyed the class. People were screaming and yelling and having a good ole time when I noticed this woman in the back doing class while covering her ears. I remembered her as the woman who had asked me if I need to teach class with such loud music. I also remember telling her that I always teach with the music at the same level AND that all the other students took my class because of that energy AND that next time she should not stand next to the speaker during class. Suddenly, she walked up to me up front and yells out, "It's too loud!!" Since the other students and I were stunned that she had done this, we were not prepared for the fact that she proceeded to turn down the volume on the stereo. Since I was so stunned at this, I could not even react when a regular attendee of my class grabbed her arm, screamed "We like it loud, now GET OUT of class if you don't like it!". The only thing I could do was make sure no fists were thrown. I dropped the class two weeks later.

Equinox

I arrived at Equinox to teach my very first class for them ever. I was excited and absolutely psyched that I had started working for what was then considered the elite place for instructors to teach. I got to class and proceeded to set up class. Now as some of you know, there are members in every club who like setting up in the front row. To these people, it is imperative that nobody obstruct their view of themselves. They are almost fanatical about this. Well, here I am setting up my body sculpting class, when I noticed this lady set herself in front, right next to the mirror. She was so close that if she exhaled, she fogged up the mirror. She spent the rest of the class working out next to the mirror never taking her eye of herself.

So, is it only in New York City that this psychosis exists or is it just me? On the other hand, please don't tell me if it's only here; it would just depress me. Later.  ¶ 11:08 PM