Where Am I Supposed to Train?
By Curtis Schultz
for Elitefts.com
Why are we unwelcome in our domain? Do I not pay my membership just the same as the individual who uses the squat rack to do curls in? Do I not pay a membership like the girl who sits on a machine reading her book or Cosmo magazine in-between her sets? To the current fitness gym owner and managers the bodybuilder, powerlifter and hard-core junky are unwanted guests.
This will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. I'm flipping through the latest issue of Musclemag and I come upon an article written by Preston Rendell, gym owner and "Natural" bodybuilding champion. I'm a little facetious with the natural comment because most individuals who attack big bodybuilders always assume those individuals are on gear. And the "natural" bodybuilder puts down everyone else who lifts more or who is bigger then them. Well, half of those so-called natural bodybuilders are juiced up to the gills and are taught how to beat the drug tests. I know this because I've met a few. Enough of that, let's get to the real problem and Mr. Rendell's article.
Here's a direct quote from that article, "Health club owners beware - for every big intimidating bodybuilder you keep, you may be loosing 10 to 30 members." What kind of crap is this? Are we just reverting back in time or what? Isn't this the 21st century?
When I come to a new town I always look through the yellow pages to look for a place to train. Recently, I came across a Worlds Gym ad, and as I run my finger down the lists of things they have to offer my finger stops in amazement. It read, "No Powerlifters!" I sat in astonishment that this gym owner had the balls to put that in writing. And then under the World Gym logo it states, "We'll take care of everything you need to know & teach you everything you need to do from the first time you walk through the doors." I beg to differ. First, I don't care what state you live in but saying or putting in writing that a certain population or that someone who is different is not allowed is "discrimination!" Plain and simple it's illegal. Also how can they teach me everything? I would assume that if they cannot teach me powerlifting they cannot teach me bodybuilding or Olympic lifting techniques either. And if they cannot do any of that then they cannot teach me proper technique in benching, squatting, and any other lifting exercise thus they cannot "teach you everything you need to know." Or is it only what they know?
I'm an ex-powerlifter and collegiate strength coach who has worked at the University of Colorado, UOP, and many others as a football strength coach. My wife used to be a top NPC national level bodybuilder and we are still big, lift seriously, love helping people in the gym but also have fun ourselves while training. We have entered many gyms, excuse me, I mean fitness facilities, and they have told us that bodybuilders and powerlifters are not welcome. Is this what Joe Weider is teaching the outside world? Is this what World Gym, Gold's Gym and Powerhouse Gym franchises are teaching their franchisees? So, Mr. Rendell, where would you like for us to train? If Mr. Olympia Ron Coleman moved to your area and wanted to train at your gym, according to your rules, he's not welcome based on how one looks. Is everyone in the gym industry discriminate to bodybuilders, powerlifters, and real serious lifters? There are some places that don't even know who the stars of bodybuilding are. My wife and I walk into a gym and she's wearing a short sleeve shirt, her arms are a good 15 inches. And the person behind the desk tells her that there is a ladies only area that you might be interested in. What dummies!
If you're a gym owner, and have been a bodybuilder then why don't you educate people when they join instead of just showing them the equipment and selling them a membership? Teach your members about gym etiquette and why some people in the gym are very serious about their training and tell those non-serious people that they should respect the individuals who are serious. Why not educate people instead of giving bad advice? We can all train together and have a great time together but it starts with the gym owners. All these new so-called gyms are making it bad for good people who are big and like to lift seriously by cultivating hate and discrimination. If more gym owners educated others instead of bitching, putting down or complaining maybe the industry wouldn't be the way it is.
Also, these places that saturate America, the places we call gyms, are virtually the same in every way shape and form. It's true. If you think I'm wrong go to each and every gym in your town and across town and answer this; what makes them different from one another? Here's my point; They all have the same type of people working behind the desks; the same type of equipment, the same bland décor, or neon lights all over the walls, and the same commercial laden radio stations pumping through the gym. A few have hard courts or swimming pools, and let's not forget their titles are mostly the same too. Yes, it's true, they all title themselves the same i.e.: "Fitness Center," "Family Fitness," and my favorite the "Athletic Club." Even when someone has a franchise name, they attach the above titles to them. Try this: Powerhouse Gym and "Fitness" Center: Gold's Gym and "Fitness" Center: and Worlds Gym Family Fitness Center. That's my favorite.
Did I miss something or is this a "Gym?" When you look back at history, the majority of members in public gyms was physical culturists, bodybuilders, powerlifters, Olympic Lifters, and let's not forget the early strongmen. These were the spine and subsistence of ALL weightlifting facilities that called themselves gyms. But now the gym owners do not want the above individuals in their gyms.
How many gyms will let you use chalk? How many gyms can you go in and see real people that know how to lift weights working behind the counters? What about the music? Do you hear real up-beat lively music surrounding the iron occupied room or a local radio station that plays more commercials then music? And I'm not talking about heavy metal, just upbeat music. What's the atmosphere like? Most are dull and lifeless. Every place you go to workout is a place to pump iron isn't it? That's why all the machines are weight-loaded apparatuses. So, why is it that most individuals that open a gym don't think about their members? Why do they offer the same stuff as their competitor does right down the street? Why cater to the same non lifting people who only hang out for a few weeks at a time and make your life miserable when they show up and get in your way?
Can any of you remember when you signed up for a gym membership everyone in the place was into lifting weights, getting into bodybuilding or powerlifting, and helping each other? Remember when you needed a spot you could count on the person you asked to know a little about lifting weights? One big happy family geared toward getting into a serious lifestyle. Now the real lifters who want to lift weights walk through the doors and have to watch their P's and Q's. I need to watch what I do? Yeah, I don't want to disturb that person sitting on the leg extension reading their mystery novel or Cosmo magazine. Isn't that what is written in the magazines, ways for us to get bigger and stronger? I don't care where you live; a gym that has lots of iron plates and has dumbbells that go over 100 pounds is a place to workout NOT read a book on a exercise machine, or watch and listen to a basketball game.
They say a gym can't make any money from having BIG people as members. That's not true. In fact that's one of the biggest lies I've ever heard. I have a secret. Use those bodybuilders and powerlifters to make you more money and bring more members in, do the opposite and watch what happens to your profits.
Someday, I guess, things will change. But for now, I'll always be the dinosaur, the powerlifter, the bodybuilder and strongman, the member that no one wants around his or her commercialized non-fun family oriented place of exercise. I need to open a muscle head gym. Excuse me, may I work in please!