Atmosphere

[Kyle Aaron]

Not sure what else to call this thread.

A lot of people think there's some One True Perfect Routine or diet, or that if they just had the perfect coach or training partner, everything would go really well.

But I think one of the most important things is the atmosphere of the place where you work out. That's something I've seen on my visits to various gyms, both mainstream ones and garage gyms. Some are kind of wishy-washy, others are hardcore but nasty and arrogant, some are friendly but in a cuddly unproductive way, others are solid and friendly and supportive and push you along.

A gym is like a workplace, you can have the same 20 or 50 people there, one or two people leave and another one or two come, not necessarily managers - and the whole mood of the place changes. Check out this documentary on a private garage gym. It's in three parts, each will link you to the next.



As a trainer a lot of it falls to me to set the right mood, but just a regular gym-goer can do it, too. You can be the person on their iPod shutting the rest of the gym out, or staring fixed ahead at the tvs, or you can be part of a little community. It's hard to do, we don't always feel like it - but the results are worth it.

[big_swede]

Good post kyle, im with you on the atmosphere thing, its important. Been to a couple o gyms thats so fancy you have people staring at you if u grunt while maxing out r even breaking a sweat, all white interior and mirrors an dimmed light n sh*t. Vid is cool, thats my kinda atmosphere right there.

[BendtheBar]

Good video. Thumbs up!

[IronManlet]

My gym is a commercial gym; but luckily they aren't strict with any rules or anything. People grunt, throw weights on the floor, clang on the pins, Deadlift, use chalk, etc. But it does follow pretty much the same idea as commercial gyms: mirrors all over, sucky music, doesn't look that hardcore and all...

But it's got all the equipment I need.

Nice vids and post, OP.

[bas781]

Man, I love old iron clanging around. That vid rules.