A woman asked another gym-goer if she should help her fellow gym-goers train, sparking a serious debate about gym etiquette.
Although the woman admitted she didn’t mean to insult the stranger’s training habits, she couldn’t help but wonder if she should step in to help. And the majority advised her to mind her own business.
A woman noticed her fellow gym-goers were doing their workouts “wrong” and wondered if she should correct them.
In a TikTok video that has been viewed more than 320,000 times, a woman says: shelby tai I filmed myself at the gym thinking about helping a fellow gym-goer.
“Honestly, I don’t know if it’s better to correct a stranger when they’re doing an exercise incorrectly, or to just leave it alone and let them figure it out, because either way it feels mean. ” she wrote in the video’s text overlay.
The woman added in the caption that while the urge to help was strong, the urge to care for herself might overwhelm it.
Most people believed that unless the woman was a personal trainer assisting a client, they should not interfere.
“Unless you pay, leave me alone,” one TikTok user commented.
Another user shared: “I have anxiety and if someone corrected me I would cry and not be able to go back to the gym.”
“Unless it’s a trained physical therapist, I don’t think so. They may be doing modified exercises for their own safety,” another pointed out.
While there are no conclusive studies that discuss why you shouldn’t modify someone else’s workout routine at the gym, most people who go to the gym are trying to focus on their own workouts and don’t like other people telling them to do so. I feel it’s rude and intrusive to approach someone just for the sake of it. They believe their practice is wrong.
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We don’t fully know their training history, injury status, or personal goals they have set for themselves. They have their reasons for training the way they do, and correcting them can come across as condescending or harassing.
But is there ever a right time to modify people’s workouts? Some people believe so.
Some people argue that if you see someone using gym equipment incorrectly and you’re at risk of injury, you should be polite and careful.
According to Data from the National Safety Council, Approximately 57% of injuries caused by exercise equipment were caused by men, and 43% of injuries were caused by women.
In 2021, there were a total of 40,485 fatal accidents involving exercise equipment.
If you see someone incorrectly using heavy equipment at your gym, intervening could save their life. However, rather than trying to deal with it on your own, you may want to cautiously approach one of the gym’s employees and have them professionally intervene.
Contrary to popular opinion, some people say they want to correct their form, believing it will improve their fitness, even if there is no risk of injury.
One TikTok user commented, “I think I’m finally able to swallow my pride and prioritize my health.”
“I want it fixed! I think it’s better to be a little embarrassed than hurt yourself or waste your work,” another user shared.
“Being helpful is not rude. You all need to grow up and get over it,” another wrote.
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Even if you don’t want to be straightened while at the gym, it’s important to note that most straighteners have no malicious intent and simply care about you.
However, if you’re someone who likes to help out, focus on your own workout unless you see someone trying to put a 50-pound weight on their head.
There may be invisible reasons why other gym-goers train differently than we do, and they don’t need unsolicited advice.
Megan Quinn is a writer for YourTango, covering entertainment and news, self, love and relationships.
