S/o Cult fitness classes - which ones are going to last?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an individual barre studio or chain could be a cult but that barre itself is not a cult. My PT actually really encourages barre because the focus on "functional movement" makes it very sustainable for people with injuries or as you age. I use Barre3 and they are really, really good at providing modifications when needed and focusing on movement that builds strength and mobility without pain or overdoing it.

I think where "cult" comes in is when the organization uses the endorphins and mental high of exercise to convince both clients and staff to overcommit their finances, time, or sanity to the enterprise. This, totally. They'll also convince you that you worked harder by jacking up the heat. I've been in rooms where mirrors were fogging up and the temperature is 80+ degrees. It can get dangerous fast. BUT clients walk out sweaty as heck and think they worked extra extra hard, which keeps them coming back. I think CrossFit and some of these other trendy chains can become cult-like because they want you to be coming every day or close to it, and they often push people to exercise in ways that may be bad for them longterm or could injure someone who doesn't have the right form or training. A lot of those places also create competitive hierarchies, which I think is ripe for abuse Absolutely. Some of the "star" trainers are treated like celebrities: they have offices, assistants, and no shame about asking younger staff members to pick up their special Starbucks orders, park their cars, etc. We even had several high-performing staff members that we'd have meetings for before we actually met them. At one, before we were formally introduced to a trainer, we were told not to speak to them unless spoken to. -- you should not have to compete for access to coaching, for instance. But some of these studios will treat high performers differently or given them special treatment, which creates dangerous incentives for people to overtrain or work through pain or injury. 100%, and this is encouraged. Trainers would brag to us about working through horrifying life situations and illnesses, wearing "showing up no matter what" like a badge of honor. A trainer was considered to be "slacking off" and talked about by their peers if they took a day off for something like jet lag.

I also think a lot of these companies exploit their workers, and that has a cult-like effect, too. Many of these companies hire students with the promise of reduced-rate or free classes, then pay them minimum wage and treat them very poorly. They also cultivate the vibe of "we are family" and will imply to employees that if they complain, don't show up for unpaid trainings or social events, etc., that they aren't being team players or don't really belong there. I think often people who are drawn to this environment are drawn in because of the camaraderie and sense of belonging, so treating employees this way feels especially wrong because you are exploiting people's desire for connections and belonging. Which, yes, is what cults do. Also true. This extends beyond staff and to clients as well. Younger people do it for community, like you said, and are drawn in by social media and the posts on there. For older clients, going to the "cult" studio is seen as somewhat of a status symbol. It's not unusual for them to dress to the nines and bring out their most expensive clothes and accessories to show off in the locker room before class. Both groups have a tendency to really buy into the "cult" for a while and try to fit in, befriend the trainers, etc. It wasn't uncommon for certain devoted clients to follow trainers around the city and take their classes at various studios. Unfortunately, more than a few of these people don't find what they're looking for and end up really hurt.

So I'd pay attention to how the studio itself is run. I don't think exercise automatically becomes a cult. But there is something uniquely vulnerable about going to an exercise studio and signing up for a class. There are lots of crappy people in the world who will try to exploit that vulnerability if it makes them money or allows them to exercise power over someone. Some of those crappy people work in the fitness industry. But that doesn't mean all fitness businesses are cults.

+100000, this is a really great summary! I worked at one of the "cults" mentioned in here and the bolded have been completely true in my experience. I expanded on a few of your points in italics.

I'll add 2 more point:

-- Workout "cults" attract people with addictive personalities as regular clients. We had a number of clients who'd do 2-3+ classes/day (highest I heard of was either 4 or 5 classes in a day, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone beat that), and the company was happy to take their money. Whether or not this is healthy, or is a liability and ripe for potential injury due to overtraining, is irrelevant as long as the company has money in its pockets. Front desk staff and trainers are not allowed to say anything to clients directly about it. Many of these clients would also use fitness as a replacement for a former addiction like alcohol or drugs. They told us this openly. For studios like OTF, which have a heavy sales focus, these types of admissions are ripe for exploiting to eke out an additional dollar.

-- Going off of the point above, a lot of "cult" workouts are built around trainers' personalities and encourage being open about personal struggles to seem more relatable to clients. Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that gossip spreads across the company like wildfire, and is used against those very same trainers. The types of things people openly talk about at those places are hair-raising.

This is SO interesting! I am an exercise physiologist and frequent gym goer and I do a lot of classes. I generally keep my mouth shut and just don't go to classes with instructors who are spreading non-sense. But, I see so many people there, class after class, day after day. I know this is not getting them the benefits they are hoping for (at best, real risk for injuries at worst) and I always wonder why an instructor doesn't tell them. I have never once heard an instructor say "if you did this class right, you should not be able to do it again in 15 minutes" or "rest day".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an individual barre studio or chain could be a cult but that barre itself is not a cult. My PT actually really encourages barre because the focus on "functional movement" makes it very sustainable for people with injuries or as you age. I use Barre3 and they are really, really good at providing modifications when needed and focusing on movement that builds strength and mobility without pain or overdoing it.

I think where "cult" comes in is when the organization uses the endorphins and mental high of exercise to convince both clients and staff to overcommit their finances, time, or sanity to the enterprise. This, totally. They'll also convince you that you worked harder by jacking up the heat. I've been in rooms where mirrors were fogging up and the temperature is 80+ degrees. It can get dangerous fast. BUT clients walk out sweaty as heck and think they worked extra extra hard, which keeps them coming back. I think CrossFit and some of these other trendy chains can become cult-like because they want you to be coming every day or close to it, and they often push people to exercise in ways that may be bad for them longterm or could injure someone who doesn't have the right form or training. A lot of those places also create competitive hierarchies, which I think is ripe for abuse Absolutely. Some of the "star" trainers are treated like celebrities: they have offices, assistants, and no shame about asking younger staff members to pick up their special Starbucks orders, park their cars, etc. We even had several high-performing staff members that we'd have meetings for before we actually met them. At one, before we were formally introduced to a trainer, we were told not to speak to them unless spoken to. -- you should not have to compete for access to coaching, for instance. But some of these studios will treat high performers differently or given them special treatment, which creates dangerous incentives for people to overtrain or work through pain or injury. 100%, and this is encouraged. Trainers would brag to us about working through horrifying life situations and illnesses, wearing "showing up no matter what" like a badge of honor. A trainer was considered to be "slacking off" and talked about by their peers if they took a day off for something like jet lag.

I also think a lot of these companies exploit their workers, and that has a cult-like effect, too. Many of these companies hire students with the promise of reduced-rate or free classes, then pay them minimum wage and treat them very poorly. They also cultivate the vibe of "we are family" and will imply to employees that if they complain, don't show up for unpaid trainings or social events, etc., that they aren't being team players or don't really belong there. I think often people who are drawn to this environment are drawn in because of the camaraderie and sense of belonging, so treating employees this way feels especially wrong because you are exploiting people's desire for connections and belonging. Which, yes, is what cults do. Also true. This extends beyond staff and to clients as well. Younger people do it for community, like you said, and are drawn in by social media and the posts on there. For older clients, going to the "cult" studio is seen as somewhat of a status symbol. It's not unusual for them to dress to the nines and bring out their most expensive clothes and accessories to show off in the locker room before class. Both groups have a tendency to really buy into the "cult" for a while and try to fit in, befriend the trainers, etc. It wasn't uncommon for certain devoted clients to follow trainers around the city and take their classes at various studios. Unfortunately, more than a few of these people don't find what they're looking for and end up really hurt.

So I'd pay attention to how the studio itself is run. I don't think exercise automatically becomes a cult. But there is something uniquely vulnerable about going to an exercise studio and signing up for a class. There are lots of crappy people in the world who will try to exploit that vulnerability if it makes them money or allows them to exercise power over someone. Some of those crappy people work in the fitness industry. But that doesn't mean all fitness businesses are cults.

+100000, this is a really great summary! I worked at one of the "cults" mentioned in here and the bolded have been completely true in my experience. I expanded on a few of your points in italics.

I'll add 2 more point:

-- Workout "cults" attract people with addictive personalities as regular clients. We had a number of clients who'd do 2-3+ classes/day (highest I heard of was either 4 or 5 classes in a day, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone beat that), and the company was happy to take their money. Whether or not this is healthy, or is a liability and ripe for potential injury due to overtraining, is irrelevant as long as the company has money in its pockets. Front desk staff and trainers are not allowed to say anything to clients directly about it. Many of these clients would also use fitness as a replacement for a former addiction like alcohol or drugs. They told us this openly. For studios like OTF, which have a heavy sales focus, these types of admissions are ripe for exploiting to eke out an additional dollar.

-- Going off of the point above, a lot of "cult" workouts are built around trainers' personalities and encourage being open about personal struggles to seem more relatable to clients. Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that gossip spreads across the company like wildfire, and is used against those very same trainers. The types of things people openly talk about at those places are hair-raising.

I feel like there's no way to write this without coming off like one of the cultists but c'est la vie.

This post makes the word 'cult' a lot more applicable than I previously thought. I posted earlier about how I thought that was an unbelievably pejorative word for what is essentially a positive activity. I will say that from an end user experience, a lot of this doesn't actually ring that true of peloton. Peloton instructors talk about rest days all the time, almost never talk about intentional weight loss, really emphasize doing your best, taking modifications when you need them, taking rest/low impact days when you need them, taking a 15 minute class if that's all you have time for etc. There is also very little push to invest more money. There is the monthly subscription fee and sure I get emails about the tread and apparel, but the instructors are not selling that stuff in their classes, and everything is available to people who don't have the hardware.

That said, of course they certainly do have the culture of celebrity trainers and I have no idea what the actual physical workplace is like but I would be totally unsurprised if it was catty and gossipy. I feel like I can pick that up from the instructors polished instagram pages! So I'm sure its worse IRL. I guess I'd just say I have actually never felt exploited or coerced by a peloton instructor, I think why it works for me is because they aren't coercive or pushy, my three 'favorite' instructors' catch phrases (yes its weird they all have catch phrases) are 'I make suggestions, you make decisions,' 'movement is a privilege' and 'it's not that deep.'

[Anonymous]

I am the pro peloton PP and did want to acknowledge that while I find the instructors very positive, the app and strong gameification within the app does of course encourage disordered exercise in the wrong hands, personally I think they should do away with the daily exercise streak dot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing Barre for 6 years, not a cult at all. It doesn't have that same cult-like atmosphere or personality types.

Would you recommend it for someone who is looking to get toned? I am not looking to lose weight but my body changed post pregnancy and want to tone up butt primarily. I have never worked out in my life so am lost as to how to go about it.

I tried it. Doing heavy weights instead - more effective.

Heavy weights for toning her butt? Seriously? Please explain routine for this.

Glutes and squats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an individual barre studio or chain could be a cult but that barre itself is not a cult. My PT actually really encourages barre because the focus on "functional movement" makes it very sustainable for people with injuries or as you age. I use Barre3 and they are really, really good at providing modifications when needed and focusing on movement that builds strength and mobility without pain or overdoing it.

I think where "cult" comes in is when the organization uses the endorphins and mental high of exercise to convince both clients and staff to overcommit their finances, time, or sanity to the enterprise. This, totally. They'll also convince you that you worked harder by jacking up the heat. I've been in rooms where mirrors were fogging up and the temperature is 80+ degrees. It can get dangerous fast. BUT clients walk out sweaty as heck and think they worked extra extra hard, which keeps them coming back. I think CrossFit and some of these other trendy chains can become cult-like because they want you to be coming every day or close to it, and they often push people to exercise in ways that may be bad for them longterm or could injure someone who doesn't have the right form or training. A lot of those places also create competitive hierarchies, which I think is ripe for abuse Absolutely. Some of the "star" trainers are treated like celebrities: they have offices, assistants, and no shame about asking younger staff members to pick up their special Starbucks orders, park their cars, etc. We even had several high-performing staff members that we'd have meetings for before we actually met them. At one, before we were formally introduced to a trainer, we were told not to speak to them unless spoken to. -- you should not have to compete for access to coaching, for instance. But some of these studios will treat high performers differently or given them special treatment, which creates dangerous incentives for people to overtrain or work through pain or injury. 100%, and this is encouraged. Trainers would brag to us about working through horrifying life situations and illnesses, wearing "showing up no matter what" like a badge of honor. A trainer was considered to be "slacking off" and talked about by their peers if they took a day off for something like jet lag.

I also think a lot of these companies exploit their workers, and that has a cult-like effect, too. Many of these companies hire students with the promise of reduced-rate or free classes, then pay them minimum wage and treat them very poorly. They also cultivate the vibe of "we are family" and will imply to employees that if they complain, don't show up for unpaid trainings or social events, etc., that they aren't being team players or don't really belong there. I think often people who are drawn to this environment are drawn in because of the camaraderie and sense of belonging, so treating employees this way feels especially wrong because you are exploiting people's desire for connections and belonging. Which, yes, is what cults do. Also true. This extends beyond staff and to clients as well. Younger people do it for community, like you said, and are drawn in by social media and the posts on there. For older clients, going to the "cult" studio is seen as somewhat of a status symbol. It's not unusual for them to dress to the nines and bring out their most expensive clothes and accessories to show off in the locker room before class. Both groups have a tendency to really buy into the "cult" for a while and try to fit in, befriend the trainers, etc. It wasn't uncommon for certain devoted clients to follow trainers around the city and take their classes at various studios. Unfortunately, more than a few of these people don't find what they're looking for and end up really hurt.

So I'd pay attention to how the studio itself is run. I don't think exercise automatically becomes a cult. But there is something uniquely vulnerable about going to an exercise studio and signing up for a class. There are lots of crappy people in the world who will try to exploit that vulnerability if it makes them money or allows them to exercise power over someone. Some of those crappy people work in the fitness industry. But that doesn't mean all fitness businesses are cults.

+100000, this is a really great summary! I worked at one of the "cults" mentioned in here and the bolded have been completely true in my experience. I expanded on a few of your points in italics.

I'll add 2 more point:

-- Workout "cults" attract people with addictive personalities as regular clients. We had a number of clients who'd do 2-3+ classes/day (highest I heard of was either 4 or 5 classes in a day, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone beat that), and the company was happy to take their money. Whether or not this is healthy, or is a liability and ripe for potential injury due to overtraining, is irrelevant as long as the company has money in its pockets. Front desk staff and trainers are not allowed to say anything to clients directly about it. Many of these clients would also use fitness as a replacement for a former addiction like alcohol or drugs. They told us this openly. For studios like OTF, which have a heavy sales focus, these types of admissions are ripe for exploiting to eke out an additional dollar.

-- Going off of the point above, a lot of "cult" workouts are built around trainers' personalities and encourage being open about personal struggles to seem more relatable to clients. Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that gossip spreads across the company like wildfire, and is used against those very same trainers. The types of things people openly talk about at those places are hair-raising.

Oh wow, I am the PP and I wish I knew you in real life! I also worked at a company like this, which is why I've put so much thought into it. The thing about personality cults is so true. The place I worked had several coaches who built up very devoted followings in part through blurring the personal/professional line and that would spill over into all aspects of company culture. And yes, these are just the most gossipy places, it's insane.

After I left that line of work I had a therapist who mentioned the cult connection because the way I described my issues in the workplace echoed a lot of things cult survivors say. I wound up reading some "cult memoirs" and the parallels were really interesting. Obviously not as dire because it wasn't like a sex cult or a suicide cult! But the process of indoctrination and the way they manipulate your loyalty to get you to do things that are not in your interest are really similar. And then when you factor in how low the pay is in these companies, you really come to see how exploitative it is of both staff and students. It's a weird business model.

I now mostly workout at home

I'm the PP you're responding to, and likewise! Reading our correspondence back, I have a feeling we worked at the same "cult" and would have a lot of war stories to swap.

The blurred lines were the craziest to me. You're working with, managing, and motivating people who are your friends outside of work/the workout. I'm aware that every workplace will have gossip, that's inevitable, but it tends to revolve around work or be very surface level if it's about someone's personal life in the corporate world; the "cults" are a different story, and it's very specific and cutting commentary. It's a delicate balance and the work friend groups change quarterly. The environment is so personal and simultaneously so cut-throat, especially for the public-facing trainers.

I'm sorry to hear that the "cult" left such a mark on you; it sounds like you were in thick of the worst parts of it, and I hope your new work environment is healthier. I noticed that the pandemic really worsened the indoctrination/exploitation process, even as the "cults" are losing their social currency.

I work out at home now, too! I miss the social interaction but nothing beats the convenience, the variety of workouts available, and time saved looking for parking or driving to/from the place. Which home workouts do you like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an individual barre studio or chain could be a cult but that barre itself is not a cult. My PT actually really encourages barre because the focus on "functional movement" makes it very sustainable for people with injuries or as you age. I use Barre3 and they are really, really good at providing modifications when needed and focusing on movement that builds strength and mobility without pain or overdoing it.

I think where "cult" comes in is when the organization uses the endorphins and mental high of exercise to convince both clients and staff to overcommit their finances, time, or sanity to the enterprise. This, totally. They'll also convince you that you worked harder by jacking up the heat. I've been in rooms where mirrors were fogging up and the temperature is 80+ degrees. It can get dangerous fast. BUT clients walk out sweaty as heck and think they worked extra extra hard, which keeps them coming back. I think CrossFit and some of these other trendy chains can become cult-like because they want you to be coming every day or close to it, and they often push people to exercise in ways that may be bad for them longterm or could injure someone who doesn't have the right form or training. A lot of those places also create competitive hierarchies, which I think is ripe for abuse Absolutely. Some of the "star" trainers are treated like celebrities: they have offices, assistants, and no shame about asking younger staff members to pick up their special Starbucks orders, park their cars, etc. We even had several high-performing staff members that we'd have meetings for before we actually met them. At one, before we were formally introduced to a trainer, we were told not to speak to them unless spoken to. -- you should not have to compete for access to coaching, for instance. But some of these studios will treat high performers differently or given them special treatment, which creates dangerous incentives for people to overtrain or work through pain or injury. 100%, and this is encouraged. Trainers would brag to us about working through horrifying life situations and illnesses, wearing "showing up no matter what" like a badge of honor. A trainer was considered to be "slacking off" and talked about by their peers if they took a day off for something like jet lag.

I also think a lot of these companies exploit their workers, and that has a cult-like effect, too. Many of these companies hire students with the promise of reduced-rate or free classes, then pay them minimum wage and treat them very poorly. They also cultivate the vibe of "we are family" and will imply to employees that if they complain, don't show up for unpaid trainings or social events, etc., that they aren't being team players or don't really belong there. I think often people who are drawn to this environment are drawn in because of the camaraderie and sense of belonging, so treating employees this way feels especially wrong because you are exploiting people's desire for connections and belonging. Which, yes, is what cults do. Also true. This extends beyond staff and to clients as well. Younger people do it for community, like you said, and are drawn in by social media and the posts on there. For older clients, going to the "cult" studio is seen as somewhat of a status symbol. It's not unusual for them to dress to the nines and bring out their most expensive clothes and accessories to show off in the locker room before class. Both groups have a tendency to really buy into the "cult" for a while and try to fit in, befriend the trainers, etc. It wasn't uncommon for certain devoted clients to follow trainers around the city and take their classes at various studios. Unfortunately, more than a few of these people don't find what they're looking for and end up really hurt.

So I'd pay attention to how the studio itself is run. I don't think exercise automatically becomes a cult. But there is something uniquely vulnerable about going to an exercise studio and signing up for a class. There are lots of crappy people in the world who will try to exploit that vulnerability if it makes them money or allows them to exercise power over someone. Some of those crappy people work in the fitness industry. But that doesn't mean all fitness businesses are cults.

+100000, this is a really great summary! I worked at one of the "cults" mentioned in here and the bolded have been completely true in my experience. I expanded on a few of your points in italics.

I'll add 2 more point:

-- Workout "cults" attract people with addictive personalities as regular clients. We had a number of clients who'd do 2-3+ classes/day (highest I heard of was either 4 or 5 classes in a day, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone beat that), and the company was happy to take their money. Whether or not this is healthy, or is a liability and ripe for potential injury due to overtraining, is irrelevant as long as the company has money in its pockets. Front desk staff and trainers are not allowed to say anything to clients directly about it. Many of these clients would also use fitness as a replacement for a former addiction like alcohol or drugs. They told us this openly. For studios like OTF, which have a heavy sales focus, these types of admissions are ripe for exploiting to eke out an additional dollar.

-- Going off of the point above, a lot of "cult" workouts are built around trainers' personalities and encourage being open about personal struggles to seem more relatable to clients. Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that gossip spreads across the company like wildfire, and is used against those very same trainers. The types of things people openly talk about at those places are hair-raising.

This is SO interesting! I am an exercise physiologist and frequent gym goer and I do a lot of classes. I generally keep my mouth shut and just don't go to classes with instructors who are spreading non-sense. But, I see so many people there, class after class, day after day. I know this is not getting them the benefits they are hoping for (at best, real risk for injuries at worst) and I always wonder why an instructor doesn't tell them. I have never once heard an instructor say "if you did this class right, you should not be able to do it again in 15 minutes" or "rest day".

That's really cool; you're probably more in tune to the unhealthy parts of these workouts compared to other attendees! Which "cults" or regular workouts do you think have the healthiest approach to fitness and which are some of the worst offenders?

You're right, it does tend to be the same group of people doing multiple classes in a day. What's worrying is that many of them are also fitness professionals who are doing their own training (not always), coaching their workouts, and taking multiple "cult" classes, all in a single day, day in, day out. And then spreading the good word of their "dedication" to their clients. BIG yikes.

I've heard instructors publicly mention taking rest days in a veeeeeery general way in class, like "hey guys, listen to your body, and take a break; do your own thing"), but then talk about how "crazy" those multiple workout people are in private (and then complain that people in class are doing their own thing and "not following directions;" that last one really grinds my gears). In my opinion, they have to do the "listen to your body" spiel for liability reasons. If the people who follow them from class to class boost their bottom line, they're happy to look the other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing Barre for 6 years, not a cult at all. It doesn't have that same cult-like atmosphere or personality types.

Would you recommend it for someone who is looking to get toned? I am not looking to lose weight but my body changed post pregnancy and want to tone up butt primarily. I have never worked out in my life so am lost as to how to go about it.

I tried it. Doing heavy weights instead - more effective.

Heavy weights for toning her butt? Seriously? Please explain routine for this.

Is this a real question? To "tone" you need to build and challenge muscles.

For a "Toned" butt...

Deadlifts (conventional, romanian, single leg)
Bulgarian split squats
lunges (forward, backward)
barbell hip thrusters

Weight used for each of the above should be heavy enough that the last 1-2 reps are very challenging while not compromising form.
Rep range 6-10 reps per set. with 2-3 min rest in between sets.

I am under 120 and have never worked out before, what weights should I be using?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing Barre for 6 years, not a cult at all. It doesn't have that same cult-like atmosphere or personality types.

Would you recommend it for someone who is looking to get toned? I am not looking to lose weight but my body changed post pregnancy and want to tone up butt primarily. I have never worked out in my life so am lost as to how to go about it.

I tried it. Doing heavy weights instead - more effective.

Heavy weights for toning her butt? Seriously? Please explain routine for this.

Is this a real question? To "tone" you need to build and challenge muscles.

For a "Toned" butt...

Deadlifts (conventional, romanian, single leg)
Bulgarian split squats
lunges (forward, backward)
barbell hip thrusters

Weight used for each of the above should be heavy enough that the last 1-2 reps are very challenging while not compromising form.
Rep range 6-10 reps per set. with 2-3 min rest in between sets.

I am under 120 and have never worked out before, what weights should I be using?

Weights that are heavy for you. It’s trial and error at first. Pick a weight where the last two reps are hard. If you do say 10 reps and could keep on going then you need to up the weight. If you are trying to get 10 reps and only get 6 then it’s too heavy. It’s good to have a rang for an exercise. Say 6-8 for a dead lift. Pick a weigh where you can do 6 reps once you can do 8 reps with that weight increase the weight so you can only do 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work out at home now, too! I miss the social interaction but nothing beats the convenience, the variety of workouts available, and time saved looking for parking or driving to/from the place. Which home workouts do you like?

Didn’t want to quote the long back and forth again but wanted to answer! As I mentioned upthread, I do Barre3 a lot on my PT’s rec. I started their online classes during the pandemic and it’s really great. I actually love the shorter classes compared to their 1-hour in person classes because it’s easier to fit into my schedule or to customize.

I also do a modified strength training/Pilates workout I designed myself using a home pull up bar and resistance bands. Pull ups are my favorite exercise and I love how working out on one counterbalances a lot of floor-based exercises like planks and push ups. I’m big on looking for ways to balance training by finding reverse movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a trainer and fitness instructor. 33 years. I’ve seen so many come and go. My guesses -

CrossFit won’t last. The instructors are not well trained. There are a lot of injuries. It’s just not a great program for most people.

Barre will stay. It may change, but it’s not going anywhere. Great teachers for the most part. It’s safe. Lots of modifications are offered. It’s fun. And very effective.

Hot Yoga - I really hope this one goes away. And I teach hot yoga several times a week. I don’t think it’s healthy. The heat and sweat trick you into thinking you are working much harder than you are. And the “detox” is bullshi7. You’re not detoxing anything. Your kidneys do that.

Yoga - Not going anywhere. A certified RYT is generally really well trained. Knows anatomy. Will safely guide a class. Offer modifications both up and down. It’s great for your mind, body, and spirit. Yoga is here to stay.

Les Mills is already on its way out, which is a shame. I love Body Pump! Same with the Beachbody programs. P90X and Insanity are great programs, but are losing popularity quickly.

Peloton - Gone fairly soon.

Watch for more dance inspired classes like WERQ. They are quickly gaining popularity. Think 80s style aerobics with newer music.

Crossfit has passed its cult phase. It is just like...a gym brand now? I feel like people were SO INTO CROSSFIT like a decade ago. Same with hot yoga. Why are you putting 'yoga' as a fitness trend, it is like...an ancient practice, of course it isn't going anywhere! It also isn't a branded experience, there are like 15 million yoga studios.

I feel like P90X and Insanity have already faded and Beach Body is going the way they did.

I agree cardio dance is rising but the rest of your post makes it seem like you don't really understand the question.

Personally I doubt peloton will go entirely, too valuable to have such a devoted static customer base, maybe they fail but if so they will be purchased not expunged.

I’ve been a yoga teacher for well over 20 years. Of course yoga is an ancient practice. Of course it will always be around. We are talking about trends. 25 years ago when I started teaching yoga, very few people practiced. I went to India to train. It was hard to even find a studio in much of the US. Now, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a hot yoga studio. My classes are packed with a wait list. If anything, we’ve seen increasing numbers. And yoga isn’t what it was when I started teaching. I started out teaching yoga. Traditional yoga. Less emphasis on asana. Now I teach hot yoga, vinyasa yoga, hot power yoga, HIIT yoga, yin yoga, Bikram Style yoga, restorative yoga, therapeutic yoga, ….. just such a huge variety. And it seems like new trainings are happening constantly. That’s what I meant by yoga not going away. I was speaking specifically to the trendy yoga styles we see practiced here. I don’t see any decrease in interest.

Sorry to hijack this but I would love a yoga style/class recommendation. What kind of yoga would be good for a dancer who wants stretching and strengthening, but not endless warrior or down dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an individual barre studio or chain could be a cult but that barre itself is not a cult. My PT actually really encourages barre because the focus on "functional movement" makes it very sustainable for people with injuries or as you age. I use Barre3 and they are really, really good at providing modifications when needed and focusing on movement that builds strength and mobility without pain or overdoing it.

I think where "cult" comes in is when the organization uses the endorphins and mental high of exercise to convince both clients and staff to overcommit their finances, time, or sanity to the enterprise. This, totally. They'll also convince you that you worked harder by jacking up the heat. I've been in rooms where mirrors were fogging up and the temperature is 80+ degrees. It can get dangerous fast. BUT clients walk out sweaty as heck and think they worked extra extra hard, which keeps them coming back. I think CrossFit and some of these other trendy chains can become cult-like because they want you to be coming every day or close to it, and they often push people to exercise in ways that may be bad for them longterm or could injure someone who doesn't have the right form or training. A lot of those places also create competitive hierarchies, which I think is ripe for abuse Absolutely. Some of the "star" trainers are treated like celebrities: they have offices, assistants, and no shame about asking younger staff members to pick up their special Starbucks orders, park their cars, etc. We even had several high-performing staff members that we'd have meetings for before we actually met them. At one, before we were formally introduced to a trainer, we were told not to speak to them unless spoken to. -- you should not have to compete for access to coaching, for instance. But some of these studios will treat high performers differently or given them special treatment, which creates dangerous incentives for people to overtrain or work through pain or injury. 100%, and this is encouraged. Trainers would brag to us about working through horrifying life situations and illnesses, wearing "showing up no matter what" like a badge of honor. A trainer was considered to be "slacking off" and talked about by their peers if they took a day off for something like jet lag.

I also think a lot of these companies exploit their workers, and that has a cult-like effect, too. Many of these companies hire students with the promise of reduced-rate or free classes, then pay them minimum wage and treat them very poorly. They also cultivate the vibe of "we are family" and will imply to employees that if they complain, don't show up for unpaid trainings or social events, etc., that they aren't being team players or don't really belong there. I think often people who are drawn to this environment are drawn in because of the camaraderie and sense of belonging, so treating employees this way feels especially wrong because you are exploiting people's desire for connections and belonging. Which, yes, is what cults do. Also true. This extends beyond staff and to clients as well. Younger people do it for community, like you said, and are drawn in by social media and the posts on there. For older clients, going to the "cult" studio is seen as somewhat of a status symbol. It's not unusual for them to dress to the nines and bring out their most expensive clothes and accessories to show off in the locker room before class. Both groups have a tendency to really buy into the "cult" for a while and try to fit in, befriend the trainers, etc. It wasn't uncommon for certain devoted clients to follow trainers around the city and take their classes at various studios. Unfortunately, more than a few of these people don't find what they're looking for and end up really hurt.

So I'd pay attention to how the studio itself is run. I don't think exercise automatically becomes a cult. But there is something uniquely vulnerable about going to an exercise studio and signing up for a class. There are lots of crappy people in the world who will try to exploit that vulnerability if it makes them money or allows them to exercise power over someone. Some of those crappy people work in the fitness industry. But that doesn't mean all fitness businesses are cults.

+100000, this is a really great summary! I worked at one of the "cults" mentioned in here and the bolded have been completely true in my experience. I expanded on a few of your points in italics.

I'll add 2 more point:

-- Workout "cults" attract people with addictive personalities as regular clients. We had a number of clients who'd do 2-3+ classes/day (highest I heard of was either 4 or 5 classes in a day, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone beat that), and the company was happy to take their money. Whether or not this is healthy, or is a liability and ripe for potential injury due to overtraining, is irrelevant as long as the company has money in its pockets. Front desk staff and trainers are not allowed to say anything to clients directly about it. Many of these clients would also use fitness as a replacement for a former addiction like alcohol or drugs. They told us this openly. For studios like OTF, which have a heavy sales focus, these types of admissions are ripe for exploiting to eke out an additional dollar.

-- Going off of the point above, a lot of "cult" workouts are built around trainers' personalities and encourage being open about personal struggles to seem more relatable to clients. Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that gossip spreads across the company like wildfire, and is used against those very same trainers. The types of things people openly talk about at those places are hair-raising.

I feel like there's no way to write this without coming off like one of the cultists but c'est la vie.

This post makes the word 'cult' a lot more applicable than I previously thought. I posted earlier about how I thought that was an unbelievably pejorative word for what is essentially a positive activity. I will say that from an end user experience, a lot of this doesn't actually ring that true of peloton. Peloton instructors talk about rest days all the time, almost never talk about intentional weight loss, really emphasize doing your best, taking modifications when you need them, taking rest/low impact days when you need them, taking a 15 minute class if that's all you have time for etc. There is also very little push to invest more money. There is the monthly subscription fee and sure I get emails about the tread and apparel, but the instructors are not selling that stuff in their classes, and everything is available to people who don't have the hardware.

That said, of course they certainly do have the culture of celebrity trainers and I have no idea what the actual physical workplace is like but I would be totally unsurprised if it was catty and gossipy. I feel like I can pick that up from the instructors polished instagram pages! So I'm sure its worse IRL. I guess I'd just say I have actually never felt exploited or coerced by a peloton instructor, I think why it works for me is because they aren't coercive or pushy, my three 'favorite' instructors' catch phrases (yes its weird they all have catch phrases) are 'I make suggestions, you make decisions,' 'movement is a privilege' and 'it's not that deep.'

I interviewed with Peloton and wasn't impressed by their corporate culture. They were very full of themselves, particularly in the early days of the pandemic -- they kept talking about needing to return to their (expensive) office ASAP, and their salaries were really low. I think they were trying emulate Goldman's model, where they underpay you because of the name. They also promoted people every 6 months - 1 year, so very junior people were managing others and leading teams. They also had a lot of stealth layoffs recently.