For many individuals starting out at the gym, they see it as a taunting place where they force themselves to go to achieve their desired goal before summer starts. Alternatively, people sign up for the gym as an attempt to prove to either themselves or their friends and family that they are still committed to their new year’s resolution, although they may be dreading it. However, after observing individuals at the gym on several various occasions and at different timings in the day, I have noticed most of the gym goers that weight lift or attend classes make it a point to go every day they can, and sometimes they will go twice a day. These individuals within the gym community consider themselves or are classified as gym junkies or gym rats. …show more content…
Newbies are often shy and intimidated by everyone within the gym, especially the bodybuilders and weightlifters. So, they usually stay at the outskirts of the gym, mainly where all the cardio equipment is. Eventually, as time progresses and they begin to feel more comfortable they will start to integrate weights within their workouts, while also starting to interact with others at the gym. On the other hand, some newbies require help at the gym so they hire a personal trainer to help them out. Seeking out the help of a personal trainer has obvious benefits like proper form and better knowledge about exercises and equipment to use. Also, the hidden benefits which include the social aspect which is having a relationship with other gym goers. Since personal trainers are always at the gym they have a relationship with almost all the regular gym goers ‘junkies’. Thus, this can help newbies break boundaries with other gym goers because of their mutual friendship with the personal …show more content…
The gym in which I was observing has many classes within the day, but the most popular classes are Zumba and body combat classes. These members have their own community in the gym and often don’t cross over to other parts of the gym. Each one of them has a specific place where they like to stand in the class and every other person in the class is aware of it. Usually, the frequent goers will wait outside the class and engage in small talk until the previous class finishes. Afterwards, they will go into the locker room and discuss the class they had just attended or they will talk about the techniques the instructor
Social psychology is defined as the study of the relationships between people, their community and their environment (King, 2011). People tend to conform to society to feel accepted. However, their circumstances play a role in their capability to conform. For example, people are inclined to wear specific attire to the gym. The typical workout outfit is gym shorts, a t-shirt, and running sneakers, and typically, females put their hair up in a ponytail holder. Wearing anything other than these articles of clothing is abnormal and breaks the social norm.
When it comes down to it everyone ends up working out because it becomes a part of their everyday life style and they enjoy doing it. A person who is slightly overweight would get into the gym for weight loss and quickly see that there are many other people around working towards the same goal. Progress becomes easier when encouragement is received from others. Whether it is said or not everyone has their own motive to go to the gym, that easily separates people in this discourse community. However, it also brings unity to their own group.
The need to exercise is more of a necessity today. People are enrolling into gyms, though they are unable to continue. Why? It’s because people want rapid results. They go after strength exercises (because biceps and abs are cool), but soon realize that they are unable to continue. What’s
When I reached the weight area I noticed the surrounding walls covered in mirrors. Throughout the gym floor, next to water fountains, you can find plastic containers hinged against the wall filled with antibacterial cleaning agents and paper towels. The open space and the high ceilings trapped the sound of the ongoing pop music interrupted by the occasional grunt or the crash of a dumbbell on the matted floors. The metal on metal as weight bars are hoisted back onto their rack. The commotion of treadmills, elliptical, and stationary bikes is the white noise of the gym. Briefly, I analyzed my surroundings observing how the weight area was mostly male dominated with a handful of women, an absolute disparity in comparison to the cardio sections.
The gym is a place where a typical American college student goes to work out their bodies. Based on the fact that I personally could be considered a gym rat, a stereotypical name for someone who spends a lot of time in the work out area. This is partially by choice being on the swim team requires the strength training equipment that is available to our disposal in the gym. While I have been to the gym many times I haven’t really taken the time to take in the other people around me. Within this ethnographic exercise I will explore the college gym norms within Roger Williams University.
Entertainment has been an established part of the American culture almost since its founding. The types of entertainment that most Americans enjoy in today's world are going to the movies, going out to eat, and exercising. Different forms of exercise vary from running and playing sports to weight lifting. Those who enjoy weight lifting can choose to do so in the privacy of their home, in a community center like the YMCA, or in a health club. At a health club one can expect to find a wide variety of people; however, some of these people add to the downside of working out at a local health club because they can be annoying and obnoxious. Three types of these annoying, obnoxious people found at the weight room of a local health club are the show-off, the know-it-all, and the wanderer; these types can be identified by their physical appearance, their social behavior, and their attitude.
Lets start by understanding that cultures are a melting pot of people’s beliefs, language, behaviors, values, material objects, and norms. Norms are written and non-written “expectations of behavior” that govern a certain location, place, or culture (26). These norms also vary from culture to culture meaning what is a norm in the U.S may not be a norm in India. For example, a norm in America would be tipping a waiter after a meal. Another would be acknowledging someone as you walk past him or her, typically done at work or in a public place. In all, norms are folkways, mores, taboos, and written laws that are an established standard of one’s behavior.
Black, Tamara. 2008. Exercise and Fitness in a U.S. Commercial Gym.Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International.
Personal space, body language, and overall interaction between the participants in the gym was something that I hadn't paid enough attention to in the past, from the distance I could see that their interests. The intimate couples that I noticed in the gym seemed again sought to have created a private space for them by erecting invisible barriers through their private body language directed only at each other, resulting in considerable more space between these couples and other groups of people in the gym. It was a clear and present body language of please do not bother us attitude left a sense of diffused power that would be involved power relationships that operate without covert commands and requests. The dynamics of the couple was something that was very obvious, in that I was able to note the dominant and the submissive person. The person who had a tendency to meet the needs and the one who had the ability to be demanding.
Exercise is often thought of in a positive light. It is common belief in today’s society that a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine will lead to a long, healthy life. And in the simplest sense of the word, it will. It has been a tried and true method to control and lose weight, lift a person’s mood, boost energy, combat a variety of health conditions and diseases, promote better sleep patterns, and even increase libido. (Mayo Clinic, July 23, 2011). So with all of these being possible and probable benefits of working out, why would it possibly be anything other than good? Certainly, something with so many benefits can’t be a bad thing? However, we may overlook the fact that it is like any good thing; in excess it can become dangerous very quickly. In society, there are increasingly more athletes that are pushing themselves so hard to the point they are making themselves sick. Whatever happened to exercising for simple joy, or competing because of a love for sport? The motivations behind an individual’s exercise habits are directly related to whether they develop an addiction. There is even a term for this over exercising phenomenon: Exercise Addiction, or Exercise Dependence.
Cause and Effect of the Fitness Movement. In our ever-changing society, the one common thread that now every American seems to possess is a desire to have a body that is not hour-glass (1950’s) nor waifish (1990’s), but one that is lean, trim, and can physically go the “extra mile”. I speculate that the all-around athletic look is so popular because it is probably one of the hardest body types to achieve. In earlier times, hour-glass figures were the product of genetics and corsets, and the emaciated Kate Moss look could simply be achieved by starvation.
For this week’s observations assignment, I have chosen to observe my home away from home the gym. Now, to garner a view of the entire gym I select to jump on the stair master which offers the best vantage point of the facility. The location of the gym is on the island of Hawaii centrally located between the different sides of the island. The time of observation is the peak operating hour of 1600. Additionally, the gym setting is natural lighting, upbeat music, and young patrons. Furthermore, the patrons of the gym are a mix of ethnicities; however, the primary ethnicity is Polynesian because of the gym 's location. Moreover, the socioeconomic class of the gym patrons seems to be middle-class citizens who dress well, have the latest technology gadgets, and newest training aids. So now that there is information regarding the atmosphere let’s move onward to the social norms.
We should be able to offer the support that we need to be able to receive a better outcome for our future generations and as well as the current one. We tend not to add too much to our daily routines only because there is already so much to do in one day. When it comes down to adding a workout to our schedule, some of us are hesitant to do so. Especially if they are a full-time employee, a full-time student, or a full-time parent. It’s a lot of work!
The gym where I train and workout, the Dubuque Martial Arts Group, is a place where I know who I am. It is a place I can go to escape my problems for a while and release some stress. It's not the actual physical building, but rather the events that have occurred there over the years. It's where I have formed some of my closest friendships. It is the place I have invested years of hard work for many of my accomplishments. To some it may seem odd that a place associated with sweat, blood and physical pain mean so much to someone. However, in my eyes it's almost like a second home.
Exercising is a popular activity for people around the world, but many people exercise indoors when they should be going outdoors for added benefits. Exercising outdoors can make people more committed to a workout program than an indoor workout plan, and their motivation levels increase (Lacharite-Lemieux, Brunelle, & Dionne, 2015). Working out outdoors will improve a person’s overall psychological (mental) health, more so than normally exercising, which already has psychological and physiological benefits (Hug, Hartig, Hansmann, Seeland, & Hornung, 2009). Obesity rates in America are high and getting people to stick to an exercise program would help fight unhealthy obesity (Gladwell, Brown, Wood, Sandercock, & Barton, 2013). Finally, if a