healthy endeavours

[flaviomatani]

Ok, so went to the local Sports Centre one more time. Decided to upgrade to monthly payment membership -and regretted having done that today; had to waste over an hour, fill in a lengthy form (which it later turned out was unnecessary as they already had my details from the previous pay-as-you-go registration, but I had to follow what they told me and  they didn't seem to know what they were doing and contradicted one another at every step) and had to wait for a replacement membership card to be issued (which turned out to be unnecessary because I already .. you get the idea how this went on). At the end of all that i went in exactly as every previous time, do my programme set by one of the instructors, etc....  apart from the awful, awful music pumping out at full volume (which tends to put me in a mood to kill people or something), all was ok so far...   

Then I get a female instructor approach me. 'Excuse me, you cannot be here dressed like that'. 'Oh? I've been dressed like this every time I've been here'. 'Maybe so, but the rules...' I was dressed in normal clothing, black jeans etc. I had been told that it would be 'better' to wear something loose, but I hadn't been told thus far that it was forbidden to be dressed in any other than leisurewear. Oh, yuk, if you know me even a little you will know how I feel about 'leisurewear and  how I responded now that I had been enjoying their sweet R'n'B trash pop at full volume for an hour. I said send the manager, I want to have a word with him about your policies. She sent a security and I repeated the same thing so they sent a manager. A junior one. Sorry, sir, it is company policy. No, sir, we cannot admit you in future dressed in any other than leisurewear. Yes, sir, we have no control over the music which is programmed and sent to us centrally.

I turned around to look for the telescreens and the  Ingsoc banners. I think I may have spotted one or two.

Comments

[combat-kitten.livejournal.com]

dressed like that?WTF - as long as you are paying their fees... I have never come across anything like that that is so appalling!!! So sorry to hear that. I;ve seen twats/chavs in the middle of summer wearing hoodies (yes witht he hood over their heads) on the crosstrainer, men wearing high knee socks, and god knows what else... oh yeah, a woman wearing just a sportsbra with nothing over it.... eh yuk...

[flavius-m.livejournal.com]

I'll go with shorts and change there, but there was a point of principle, wasn't there. There was indeed a woman dressed with very very little (although I have to say I didn't complain about that...:P ) and various fashion murder attempts, but hey. Whatever. I'll find out who I have to complain about this and write letter after letter, that'll be fun.

[sinbadsilk.livejournal.com]

What a bunch of arseholes.

If there isn't a dress code included in the terms and conditions for joining, or if you weren't presented with this information when you joined, then they have mis-sold the membership to you.

So I say make a formal complaint to the senior manager of the club - and state that you were mis-sold membership and that you are considering taking legal action if the jumped up little so-and-so's aren't told to back the fuck off and let you wear what you want.

Although I would recommend you wear black cut-off shorts and a black sleeveless t-shirt - like I do when I go to the gym ;-)

[jaketherat.livejournal.com]

This.

Also ask for a written definition of 'leisurewear'.

Then you get to have immense fun obeying the letter of the rules whilst utterly, utterly ragging the shit out of the spirit of them.

[red-woman-red.livejournal.com]

hmmm i dont know i mean you reallys houldnt wear jeans in the gym, not for the mentioned policy reasons but for health reasons. i understand their approching you but of course on the wrong principles. even if they mean good (not them, the policies).
being underdressed or stupidly dressed is totally normal in a gym, hehe, wearing jeans is not. the former just makes you look stupid, but the latter is actually bad for you.

[flavius-m.livejournal.com]

Hold on. Nobody said 'you should not wear that because it is not good for you'. I was told 'It is prohibited to wear that because of company policy.. which, I'm sorry, is a red rag to a bull. I can accept reasoned requests with explanations, I don't take very well to petty bureaucratic exercise of power...

[red-woman-red.livejournal.com]

thats exactly what im saying :)

[djpsyche.livejournal.com]

Well, I think it's unwise to exercise in jeans but who are they to stop you from doing so based on their own aesthetic preferences? Like red_woman_red said, had they said "Hang on, it's not good to exercise in jeans" it would have been one thing.

I say you go in shorts and the most offensive T-shirt you own ;)

[PS, Guilty of being the woman who was working out in a sports bra and nothing else (on top anyway). But then again considering the size of my boobs "sports bra" is the same as "crop top".]

[flavius-m.livejournal.com]

I say you go in shorts and the most offensive T-shirt you own ;)

I thought that was what nearly everybody else was doing :D

[lsur.livejournal.com]

That loud music is one thing that put me off training in a gym. Why people need it, or can't see that it's not the same rhythm for everyone, I don't know.

Regarding dress sense, I would get in touch with a higher manager and ask for clarification. Don't write in an agressive way at this stage, just see what the policy/rule is and take it from there.