MEMBERS FILMING THEMSELVES HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HANDS!…read more
I'm writing this because I'm really concerned about some issues I've been having at the YMCA related to aggressive behavior and people filming on their cell phones. On September 13th, I had a horrible experience with another gym member.
I was walking to the turf area to do walking lunges when I accidentally walked past a member's phone that was on the floor, he was filming his set and had his phone angled towards the walkway. I didn't see the phone on the floor near the squat racks, and I didn't realize I was in the way. After reaching the turf, I noticed another member filming there, so I walked back towards the smith machine. As I walked past the squat racks again, the guy recording, who looked to be in his early twenties, turned around and confronted me aggressively. He said, "Are you happy now?" Confused, I replied, "Excuse me?" He then repeated, "Are you happy now?" and continued, "I know you did it on purpose for attention!" He was pointing to his phone, and his tone was very intimidating. All I could manage to say at that moment was, "I'm sorry, I didn't see it." He then grabbed his phone and stormed off.
Thinking he was gone, I decided to finish my last exercise. However, about five minutes later, I saw him back at the squat rack, glaring at me in the mirror, which made me feel unsafe. I decided to leave the gym floor rather than risk further issues. I considered going to the front desk but chose not to because I had a similar issue months ago, and the staff didn't address it properly.
This is the second time in a year that I've felt unsafe due to aggressive behavior from members filming their workouts. I joined the YMCA because I believed it would be a welcoming place for all ages and fitness levels. While I'm comfortable working out in a male-dominated space, these filming incidents have been problematic.The gym is not a filming studio, I'm just trying to work out, all I did was walk by. The YMCA needs to address this issue. Considering that my previous complaint was ignored, I'm posting this review to warn potential members and will also be reaching out to corporate as well. The YMCA is supposed to be a family environment, and it's important for the gym to be a safe and respectful place for everyone.