Confessions of a Gym Instructor

“When women wear low-cut tees, we try to ensure there are no bending or stretching exercises. Such women keep finding excuses to touch the instructor.”

Women in low-cut tees should not be allowed in gyms. It’s very difficult not to look down someone’s blouse when she is bending. Most women come to the gym for some ‘extra’ fun—they are bored with their lives and think a personal gym instructor will be game for an affair. It is so evident. Male instructors have their own code and constantly tell each other when we see a woman making a pass at us. Then at least our colleagues know we’re not doing anything wrong.

Middle-aged women are more dangerous. Ek baar ek aurat haath dhoke peeche lagi thi. I had a hard time getting out. Trainers are always blamed because the gym management does not like to antagonise clients. Trainers can be easily replaced. When women wear low-cut tees, we try to ensure there are no bending or stretching exercises. Such women keep finding excuses to touch the instructor.

Some men too, are obscenely dressed. Their shorts are too high and look terrible. We can’t make them do exercises where they have to lift the legs when there are women around.

Every body presents a huge challenge. When I look at a fat person, I’m mentally working out exercises for that body. It’s difficult to have a girlfriend because I’m constantly working out exercise routines for them. I am forever watching what they are eating. I’m always looking for a girl with the perfect body. But the ones with the perfect bodies do not give me a second glance!

Men follow instructions but few women do. Food is an important part. You can’t eat huge amounts of calorific food after exercising for 30 minutes and say the instructor is bad because you’re not losing weight.

Gyms work out fantastic packages knowing very well that very few people complete them. At least 90 per cent people pay for them and never turn up after a week of exercise.

Gyms don’t have any orientation courses for instructors. We learn on the job. Gym owners are scared that we may quit if we learn too much. Most instructors are not well educated.

Instructors must have a good physique. It opens doors because people like to see a good body, be it a man or woman.

(He has been an instructor in a major gymnasium chain for four years)

As told to Haima Deshpande

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