Anonymous wrote:LOl - I’ve done years of group ex classes and there are always the aggressive spot stealers and space hogs, of all ages, races, genders, etc. Only you can weight how important it is to be aggressive in response. Sometimes it might be worth it to you and other times not.

I find the people that get there 20 min early, throw of pile of stuff down to claim “their spot” then leave and come back just as class starts. The floor doesn’t belong to you bc you sent a water bottle there, sorry

Get there early if you want, but do not “wander.” You want the spot? Plant yo’self.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t matter. Arrive, stand wherever you want to be. Stay there. Or don’t and move around and when classs starts just find space. All this “my spot” business makes you sound old and crotchety

NP: If you had taken the time to read OP's post you would know that OP acknowledged that it wasn't "her spot" other than the fact that she placed her belongings AT/ON the spot - which in a normal and polite society = HER SPOT. You know as well as everyone else that the person taking over her spot is an a$$hole. You're just trying to be contrarian for sport at this point.

She starts with saying she knows it isn’t her spot, then proceeds to write a long paragraph about someone “stealing” her spot. It doesn’t matter. You can’t “hold” floor space. If you aren’t physically in “your spot” then it isn’t your spot. It is floor space. Get over yourself. I bet you all are the same people that claim resort beach chairs then come down 3 hrs later

LOl - I’ve done years of group ex classes and there are always the aggressive spot stealers and space hogs, of all ages, races, genders, etc. Only you can weight how important it is to be aggressive in response. Sometimes it might be worth it to you and other times not.

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t matter. Arrive, stand wherever you want to be. Stay there. Or don’t and move around and when classs starts just find space. All this “my spot” business makes you sound old and crotchety

NP: If you had taken the time to read OP's post you would know that OP acknowledged that it wasn't "her spot" other than the fact that she placed her belongings AT/ON the spot - which in a normal and polite society = HER SPOT. You know as well as everyone else that the person taking over her spot is an a$$hole. You're just trying to be contrarian for sport at this point.

This doesn’t matter. Arrive, stand wherever you want to be. Stay there. Or don’t and move around and when classs starts just find space. All this “my spot” business makes you sound old and crotchety

I feel you, but this is also why "my spot" evolved to be behind a pole. It was the only space that protected me from old lady creep. I have my beautiful dedicated space and no one else creeps in.

I used to teach group fitness (for about a decade) at a high end gym and taught a popular dance class (so no equipment). Spots were saved by placing bottles, towels, even phones, etc. on the spot. Often times, it was people coming in from work who would save their spot and then go to the locker room to get changed. Sometimes, someone would save a spot or two for friends but if that person comes after class has started, that spot is no longer saved for them. But I actually have never had to resolve a conflict about spots. The common sense etiquette would be not to move anyone from their spot. But I do recall noticing people staying put on "prized spots" occasionally but often times, I imagine people weren't that petty or just resolved it on their own (i.e., told the offending person to stop, etc.).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just take a new spot each time!

How does this solve anything?

Op will learn to live and let live and maybe find a new spot that they like.

Anonymous wrote:Just take a new spot each time!

How does this solve anything?

If there are no spot reservations, then you are following the proper etiquette. Want a particular spot? Get there early, put your stuff down.

Sounds like this lady doesn’t get it. I’d get there early and STAY at that spot for the next few times— stretch, drink water, whatever.

If she wants the spot so badly, she can get there earlier than you do.

Just take a new spot each time!

I have found that older people can be really nasty about "their" spots. And no, I'm not particularly young. I've been on the receiving end of this as well but our gym uses an app to reserve spots so my spot is mine, no matter what. That doesn't stop the stink eye though. If there's lateral movement in the class I would come dangerously close to her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting next time, just stay in your spot. Sit and stretch. Take up space; no need to wonder around.

This is the answer.

+1. Not sure why you need to wander around, seems to create conflict unnecessarily. Maybe the older woman is new to the class and doesn't know the etiquette, and she thinks you just put your stuff down wherever while you were chit chatting.

This happened to me once OP. I got to class early so that I could grab the spot I wanted. Someone came in and decided they wanted my spot and moved my stuff to the next available spot. I,like you, was 2 feet away and with my back turned. The instructor saw the whole thing go down, she took that late-comers things and moved them to the back of the room.

What this person is doing in rude and passive aggressive. The only issue I have with what you wrote is that you mentioned that she's older. That has nothing to do with what's going on. She's wrong, you're right. You can either talk to her and reminder her it's first come, first serve - or you can continue to do this ridiculous dance with her.