One of the real joys of a vacation is having to go to shitty commercial gyms to get a workout in and of course taking in all the glory and grabassery (yes that is a word) that is the modern gym scene. This trip to Michigan has been no exception.
Today for example was marked by interuptions to my squat sets where I was informed I was “squatting too deep” and warned I must stop because it is “dangerous.”
Now look, I am a nancy when it comes to back squatting. I do my working sets with 250-350 and I stop my sets before they get hard. I don’t bust blood vessels, I don’t get buried in the rack, and frankly I don’t even squat deep. Not compared to any O lifter. I do 90% of my reps to a 13″ box. That puts me right under parallel. I do a lot of volume, but I am not limping out of the building. All those sets take time to get in, but I am in and out of a rack in under 25 minutes and I dont rest more than 1:30-2 minutes. In other words a lot of the time I am in a rack I’m working. Not sitting around fucking off…I wouldn’t have guessed anyone would take issue with it. I was wrong.
Right as I racked the bar from set #2, I was approached and asked how long I would be in the rack. I said 25-26 minutes depending on how many sets I was going to do. I was informed that was too long, and that I needed to hurry up. If you know me, you can guess my response to that. My nosy little buddy took my advice and wondered off, only to return 10 minutes later and get his workout going in the rack beside me. What did he do? Curls. With 65 lbs. Not an additional 65 to the bar, I mean 65 as in a bar and a 10 lbs plate on each end. He screamed each rep and his eyes scanned the floor continuously for women exercising. If any of them came within 50 ft of the racks he would resume the screaming and 30 degree ROM curls while making some pretty severe fuck me eyes at himself in the mirror.
"Seriously Brah"
It was obnoxious. It was childish.
It was also how 50% of the other DBags in the room were behaving. How special.
I was reminded why I work in a private gym. I certainly didn’t need a reminder, but BAM there it was.
It’s likely a case of a minority of stupid assholes ruining the experience for a majority of perfectly fine customers, but at any rate I have to share with you a not so secret belief of mine. Commercial gyms suck.
Over ten years ago I began collecting and stock piling equipment to get away from having to exercise in a commercial facility. By 2008 I opened my first gym. Since than I have enjoyed the excellence that is a members only private facility. I think it’s time you give it a shot. I do of course find myself in a chain gym any time I am on the road, and even the shortest trip yields a bountiful harvest of close encounters of the idiot kind.
I know I am not the only one who feels this way. I would go so far to wager most people who lift at chain gyms dislike their overall experience. The problem is many people don’t know there is a better alternative.
The best part about this, it’s not just an alternative. It’s a completely different way to train, a different way to experience fitness, and a completely different community of people.
I am going to make a some very specific comments relevant to Movement Minneapolis, but overall many of these points are true for private gyms compared to Commercial facilities. While I certainly do not vouch for every private gym (nor do I scoff at every commercial gym) I will say the average of them is far better compared to the average of the globo gyms.
Movement Minneapolis is better than a commercial facility #1: We are a gym which exists to give you the space and tools to exercise. We are not a social club, we are not a dating site, we are not a fashion show. People come to The Movement Minneapolis to get move, train, and get better. There is not a persistent gaggle fuck at the water fountain, there is no juice bar, there is not a 10,000 square foot locker room full of people having three hour conversations.
Better than a commercial gym reason #2: No intimation, no harassment. In a commercial facility there is some unwritten code that every women on the floor is there to be harassed and bother by every dipshit in the building. It doesn’t seem to matter how little interest the women show to the continuous advances or offers for “help and advice” the fucktards keep bugging them. A great majority of it boils down to straight sexual harassment and the gym staff does nothing to curb or stop it. At Movement Minneapolis this behavior is not tolerated even 1%. We provide an environment where all are welcome to train provided they will simply be a decent human being and treat each other with respect and dignity. I really think its a god damn shame that this is not an industry standard BTW…
Better than a commercial gym reason #3: We have the equipment you want and need to achieve your goals. We stock Barbells, dumbbells, bumper plates, kettlebells, clubs, hammers, maces, stretch bands, and specialized strongman equipment. We didn’t blow our budge buying 30 machines that do nothing but collect dust and take up valuable space for lifting platforms. Good luck finding even 10% of the equipment options we offer at a commercial facility.
Better than a commercial gym reason #4: We want you to be here. See commercial gyms operate by selling as many memberships as possible, all the while hoping to have minimal attendance. It is no secret many of them will over sell their facility upwards to 300% past the number of members they could actually support and help. Simply put- they want your money, but not your attendance. In contrast Movement Minneapolis operates with a goal of 100% success with each client. We are not trying to fill our roster to the gills with people who will not use the membership. In fact we are specifically only interested in having members who are as serious about their results as we are. When you sign up at Movement Minneapolis you are agreeing to get in and get your train on, 2 to 3 days a week. We want you here.
Better than a commercial gym reason #5: We allow you to train the way you want to train. Many commercial facilities these days ban chalk, ban overhead lifting, ban lifting and dropping weights, they ban kettlebells, they ban loud noises and hard work. In many ways it seems they are only concerned about keeping a pretty interior to their health clubs and quasi spas. On the other hand, Movement Minneapolis not only allows all of these outlawed practices, we encourage them. We want you lifting bells, throwing weight overhead, and pulling big deads off the floor. We have no issues with you getting a some chalk on the floor as you prepare to break your next personal record on the floor. We have not and will not forget the reason a gym exists is for the motor miracles of lifting weights.
Better than a commercial gym reason #6: We help you out when you need it. Today I watched a gym owner laugh to several guys at a juice bar as a pair of 18 year old looking kids tried to figure out how to use one of their god damn machines. The comment which stood out most to me was “oh what a dumbass.” Indeed, someone in that equation is a dumb ass. I would argue the one who earned the title is the one who is laughing when members do not know how to safely use their equipment. You would never see such atrocious behavior at Movement Minneapolis, where the staff is on the floor everyday providing guidance, assistance, encouragement, and feedback to every member on the floor. That is an included benefit of being a member, always having competent caring people to help you with your workouts. Don’t expect such help at your local globo gym.
Better than a commercial gym reason #7: Community. One thing I always get a chuckle from is the passive aggressive hostility of the weight room floor in every commercial facility I have ever been in (which is a lot of them) as people engage in bizarre staring matches and scowling show downs. I guess all the other members are too stupid to notice that since Big Jim the steroid shooting bully is curling, no one else is supposed to curl either. Its pretty damn stupid if you ask me. Naturally these roaming staring matches can go on for hours, as no one is training. On the other hand at Movement Minneapolis you will meet a number of like minded people who are in the room for the exact same reason you are, to get better. You become part of a community where mutual respect is the currency and enjoyable fitness is the standard.
Better than a commercial gym reason #8: Benefits not features. Speak to any marketing agent of any corporate gym and you will find them attempting to pitch you on 30 things that are not even mildly related to results. “Come visit our juice bar, notice how many mirrors we have, look here at the huge locker and shower room, try out our new tanning saloon, go get your nails done over there, and please make sure you browse our new fashion boutique.” Wow all that shit and yet chalk and overhead lifting is banned! Movement Minneapolis is not here to replace your fashion needs, we are here to help you get RESULTS. What are results? Losing body fat, building lean toned muscles, getting stronger, moving better. We don’t have a juice bar, we don’t have tanning beds, we don’t sell ten thousand supplements.
Better than a commercial gym reason #9: No fucking around. Things you will not find at Movement Minneapolis – People on cell phones, people crowding equipment, people hogging floor space, grab ass appointments in the locker rooms, or general buffoonery anywhere inside the premises. Not like this guy
Saw something not too far from this today BTW
maybe this all speaks to you, maybe it doesn’t. If you want to shell out 100 dollars a month to a club where training is frowned upon by a staff that would rather never see you except to to renew your membership than please ignore this post. If color coordinated dumbbell sets and 100 machines is your idea of fitness training, just move right along.
If you are in Minneapolis and you are tired of the madness of commercial facilities, I think you need to check us out. If you are in another city, I urge you to contact a members only private training facility and try out a new fitness experience. I think once you do it will change your entire perspective on fitness and health.
I will be much happier to get back to my studio….
Oh and before I pull the plug, I have to share this last pearl of wisdom with you. I was informed all that squatting is a “waste of time” and that leg extensions supersetted with leg curls would work better for me….I didn’t ask for that, I didn’t even indicate the slightest interest to have it spewed at me. It just happened. We stared at each other for a moment and then I said “thank you.”
Broadcasting from South East Michigan, trying to be part of the solution…ATG out.
{ 21 comments }
Awesome post Adam. I quit as an employee from 24 because of the reasons above. They even had the ‘trainers’ selling shit.
I believe at some point there will be a massive shuffling in this country of gyms and customer expectations. I would like to think we are part of the solution in this problem
this is why i am about to join powerhouse.
Powerhouse is a fantastic gym, while perhaps they share some of the qualities of the globo gyms, for the most part everyone is there to get better and they are serious about adding more and more equipment options. It is slightly catered to the bodybuilders, but whatevs. I have a membership there, at least while I am still building up the equipment pile on my front porch.
Another note, I’ve added 60lbs to my deadlift since starting the gym movement protocol. Now, if only my other lifts would just test well…
As your baseline range of motion improves you’ll most likely see new exercises testing well. At least this is what occurred with me. Deadlifts almost always test well though, maybe no the best though on any given day.
The one in Tampa I plan to join looks hardcore as hell.
I hope I dont sound too hateful here- there are def some bad ass gyms out there. My favorite big one is Metro Flex in fort worth, now that is a bad ass gym
Good post Adam. I am currently in the throws of opening a facility like you have created. Cant wait.
This is funny, yet sad. In the end it’s up to us to train in an environment we like.
My gym is in my school, therefore there’s a mix of commercial gym behavior and people-who-get-results behavior. It’s funny to look at. Most if the time I can train in peace though.
Still, soooo much space wasted in useless machines. And a whole floor for treadmills and elliptics XD
Many cheers to Movement gyms!
I have a vision where one day, Movement Montreal will be for real. There’s a nice ring to it.
My gym has one member – me – and is fairly well equipped I think – even by Adams standards. There’s a lot of years worth of love and effort in it. My wife calls it my “Fortress of Solitude” and she is right.
Chris you’re gym is Awesome. A grip athlete’s haven.
Reminds me of the gym i go too. Thankfully i joined my brothers powerlifting club under the summer here. Nice group to train with and everyone helps each other out.
I am laughing so hard I am in tears.
But seriously, Adam it is good for you (every now and then) to venture out and see what most people who do not own their own gym or live in the vicinity of one like the Movement MN have to put up with.
My nuggets of experience on the topic-
I joined Gold’s Gym in 1998. Great gym but often too full of people. And the hazards of working out with just anyone allowed in can happen to men too, not just women- my brother got cornered in the men’s locker room by a weird weird dude who was hitting on him…. but Weird Dude had the decency to leave after his weird series of come-ons. Traumatized my brother though.
Sadly that Gold’s Gym is no more, I think it was too costly to run a large gym operation in that small of a town in California.
I had an Anytime Fitness membership for a long time but it was too small & there were never trainers around (I think the corporate method for this chain is to reduce manpower needs, aka empty gym. Nice leather couches though…)
That is awesome stuff! So, the gym scene hasn’t changed since I was a teenager? Great progress. I applaud your restraint Adam in responding to the suggestions of said dbag.
Posts like this remind me of why I like this blog so much. On vacation last month, had to go to globo gym for a workout. Did bent presses, got looks like I had sprouted a third eye. Is there a Movement facility anywhere in the southeast US?
Charles we will have one there sooner than later. Bent pressing will raise an eye brow in most hard core gyms, I can only imagine the Staring which was directed at you
I curl in the power rack.
Of course, that power rack is mine and only people who share my last name are members.
Yeah and you curl what they quarter squat …
I am the exception, and so is my commercial gym. But i have seen it all before. I have worked for LA Fitness [twice], World Gym, etc. Philadelphia Sports Clubs are tip-top. That’s where i lift, as it is right across the road from Trader Joe’s, the Ardmore train station, and a mile from my bachelor pad.
I enjoy this place due to the fact that i only train at Gary’s Kettlebll studio for grip and deadlifts/barbell work. All my beach muscle work is done at PSC. And rightfully so.
Do you want to know what else is funny? The women in that neighborhood are so rich and stuck up and mean that very few men make advances. I mean, these cunts are vicious. Nobody runs game on a Main Line broad away, but certainly not in the gym. They will have their lawyers eating your soul and bank account before your workout is over!
Despite many mixed views I want to believe that everyone that goes to the gym is there for the same purpose, to get better. There will always be grab ass-ing stares when I set up on my dead lift, the space around me will close in, there is a guy at almost every gym I go to going through labor next to me in the squat rack which prompts a little prayer that his guts don’t shoot out his butt, (because I will throw up and it will screw my entire evening workout), the pussy footing fellows with kid gloves dropping jaws, the grunts, the grits, and the groans. The marshmallow men will make a point to break from their insanity/P90X whatever the hell video he watches to walk clear across the room to ask if his video is too loud just as I twist out of a back bend. None of that matters. What matters is this: Did I do something amazing today? Yes. Did I get better? Absolutely!