I went with my mother (a member) to help her with some exercises. The membership is 10$ per month so I figured it might be a good deal. The symbol on the sign out front is a large Thumbs Up with the slogan "Judgement Free Zone" underneath.
Looking around I notice a weight area the size of my bedroom. There are 100's of treadmills, eliptical machines, and exercise bikes. There are no barbells, not 1. There are no benches (2 smith machines). There is a sign above the dumbell rack "Warning! An alarm will sound if a weight is dropped or a grunt is emitted." No joke. At this point I'm thinking, maybe a second gym for cardio and lighter days?
I approached the counter to ask if I could get a tour of the gym. A rather thin fellow (about 5'7" 140) greeted me. He wanted to give me and another woman a tour. At the start of our tour he looked at me and said: "We do not have dumbells over 80lbs. because we do not cater to bodybuilders or powerlifters. This is a judgement free gym so we try to avoid that type of crowd here"He repeated this "We do not cater to bodybuildes or powerlifters" statement to me 5 times on our 15minute tour.
So after this 'tour' (more like attempt to get rid of me) I asked if my mother could show me some of the equipment. He said "Do you know what level of membership she has" I said "Not sure, I believe it's 10$ per month". He tells me that, because of her membership level, I am not able to be in the gym area unless I pay $20. I may sit in the waiting room.
Yea, judgement free my ass.I never knew that looking like a bodybuilder means I throw weights with reckless abandon, grunt, yell, and judge everbody around me!? I didn't know how to react. As I walked out and the kid said "Thanks for comming" I flexed my pecs, grunted, and laughed at him.
Anybody have a similar experience of being unwelcome in an exercise facility based upon your appearance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3xT39htUyM
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