Gym-goers and instructors are fed up with the wave of people filming themselves in the gym, with many implementing filming bans amid a rise in social media influence.
As people increasingly carry their phones everywhere, from movie theaters to concerts, recording every inch of their existence, gyms become another casualty of social media. More people than ever are filming their gym experiences, which has led many gyms and instructors to ban filming in their establishments and classes, including chains like 24 Hour Fitness, New York Sports Club and LifeTime, which prohibit filming others. people without their consent.
Other companies, like CorePower Yoga, often leave it up to their instructors to enforce social media policies in their classes. A company spokesperson toldWall Street Journal: “In this era of social media, we want to ensure consistency across all of our studies and are evaluating our policies on cell phone use before, during and after class.”
In March, New York-based yoga instructor Emily Holtzman posted a note on the door of her class at CorePower Yoga: “Please no phones! Especially not filming you working out.” She told the outlet that she posted the note after her students complained that they were in the background of someone's video or that it was distracting to see someone else's screen during a class. Many would prefer not to be filmed because they wear tight workout clothes and exert themselves.
A video she posted of the memo garnered more than 780,000 views, with many commenters praising her for enforcing the no-smartphone rule. Meanwhile, others defended the filming.
“It's a little daunting to go to those exercise classes where everyone is super fit,” designer Corinne Keogh told the outlet., and added that he found it “disgusting.” “The last thing I would want is to appear in someone's viral video.”
However, some said they were motivated by others trying a new class or showing off their routine, and online communities thrived by supporting each other in shared gym experiences. However, many content creators have noted that it is their responsibility to be mindful of others who do not want to be filmed.
“It's our responsibility to make others feel comfortable,” said content creator and event company founder Liv Schreiber. WSJ. She told the outlet that she often partners with studios and gyms to receive paid or free classes for filming her workout videos, and noted that she strategically tries not to film others during her workouts. If she ends up filming others by accident, she will ask their permission to use the footage they appear in.
Concerns about phone use in the gym don't end with filming, however, as instructors have revealed they often find their students browsing apps and checking email. They told the outlet that they are concerned that these digital distractions will lead to more injuries in the gym.
“Honestly, there probably isn't a month that goes by that I don't have to deal with someone like that,” yoga instructor Jacob Reynolds admitted. “I can't tell you how many times I meet people on Instagram.”
The influx of people filming their routines and workouts has made many feel like they can't go to the gym in peace, according to the outlet. But it looks like the popularity of documenting our lives isn't going away anytime soon, if the current prevalence of TikTok is anything to go by.
