Something's going on at my YMCA

[Hunter]

I've been working out pretty consistently 2 - 3x per week in the mornings (6 - 7am) for the last year, and there have always been a couple other people around lifting, and there has even been 1 or 2 other people doing the occasional deadlift or squat (although rarely a full squat), but something has changed.

First, I don't think people are waiting for the New Year to start working out - it's been noticeably busier since Thanksgiving.

Second, people are doing DLs, RDLs, Step-ups, full squats, planks, chin-ups...in other words, only stuff that I was doing with NROL! I don't mean just a couple people either - today there were literally about 5 or 6 of us doing exercises like this! There was a woman there that I've never seen before do full squats, deads, DB push presses and chin-ups, and everything she did was with impeccable form. I wasn't surprised it was a woman doing these exercises (the great JP members of the fairer sex proved to me long ago that weights are not just for men ), but I've never seen anybody else work out like this at the Y before. It was great!

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? Maybe there has been some collective epiphany, or great awakening. Or maybe it's just a bizarre coincidence and it will pass in the next month .

[PowerManDL]

This thread title had me thinking I was going to have to explain why men love men.

[karky]

Originally Posted by PowerManDL

This thread title had me thinking I was going to have to explain why men love men.

BWAHAHAHAHA

And I've never experienced anything like this before..

[Frank.S]

Its just getting worse at my gym!

this weeks favorite is standing on a bosu ball with one leg, then doing an overhead press with the alternate arm with about a 10lbs weight.

[Lisa~]

Matt--HA!

Hunter, are they college-aged? Some of the colleges are already on break and I've seen some of the athletes coming in to our Y to keep up their workouts while they're on break. Maybe that's what you're seeing? I see some pretty good lifting when the athletes come home!

The New Year's resolution crowd doesn't usually come in as enlightened.

[RedWifey]

I think people are getting ready for Christmas parties. Maybe they too bought strapless dresses and need to fit in them???

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by Lisa~

Matt--HA!

Hunter, are they college-aged? Some of the colleges are already on break and I've seen some of the athletes coming in to our Y to keep up their workouts while they're on break. Maybe that's what you're seeing? I see some pretty good lifting when the athletes come home!

The New Year's resolution crowd doesn't usually come in as enlightened.

Could be (they are younger than me, anyway), but the local colleges are still in session.

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by PowerManDL

This thread title had me thinking I was going to have to explain why men love men.

Do you know the answer to that, 'cuz I don't get it!

[John Izzo]

I think that it is evidence that information about efficient exercise programming is spreading. Most younger folks are learning about exercise techniques through college campus gyms, where they learn through the Internet, and magazines such as Men's Fitness or Men's Health or Shape. Alot of the literature out there is starting to shift towards the exercises you mentioned and less on body part split/isolation crap. I see it at my gym too. Alot of people are "trying" the chins, squats, deadlifts, but I think the form still lags. Although the correct intent is there, the guidance is still needed.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by PowerManDL

This thread title had me thinking I was going to have to explain why men love men.

Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.

Young man, there's a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you've got to know this one thing!

No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the y.m.c.a.
I'm sure they can help you today.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's boring to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's boring to stay at the y-m-c-a.

You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so jive ...

That's when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk up the street.
It's a place there called the y.m.c.a.
They can start you back on your way.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a
Young man, there's no need to feel down
Young man, pick yourself off the ground

It's fun to stay at y-m-c-a
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a
Young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, what do you wanna be?

y-m-c-a
you'll find it at the y-m-c-a
no man, does it all by himself
young man, put your pride on the shelf

Y-m-c-a
then just go to the y-m-c-a
y-m-c-a
young man, i was once in your shoes
y-m-c-a
young man, I said, I was down and out with the blues.
y-m-c-a

[SpacecityPaula]

[karky]

Originally Posted by John Izzo

I think that it is evidence that information about efficient exercise programming is spreading. Most younger folks are learning about exercise techniques through college campus gyms, where they learn through the Internet, and magazines such as Men's Fitness or Men's Health or Shape. Alot of the literature out there is starting to shift towards the exercises you mentioned and less on body part split/isolation crap. I see it at my gym too. Alot of people are "trying" the chins, squats, deadlifts, but I think the form still lags. Although the correct intent is there, the guidance is still needed.

Shit! Our secret is out! Soon other people will be strong and look good nekkid too!

[gobbla]

They seen all the awesome progress you were getting and wanted to imitate you. They even told their friends to come check out the awesome stud that works out in the morning.

[DKing]

Originally Posted by Hunter

I've been working out pretty consistently 2 - 3x per week in the mornings (6 - 7am) for the last year, and there have always been a couple other people around lifting, and there has even been 1 or 2 other people doing the occasional deadlift or squat (although rarely a full squat), but something has changed.

First, I don't think people are waiting for the New Year to start working out - it's been noticeably busier since Thanksgiving.

Second, people are doing DLs, RDLs, Step-ups, full squats, planks, chin-ups...in other words, only stuff that I was doing with NROL! I don't mean just a couple people either - today there were literally about 5 or 6 of us doing exercises like this! There was a woman there that I've never seen before do full squats, deads, DB push presses and chin-ups, and everything she did was with impeccable form. I wasn't surprised it was a woman doing these exercises (the great JP members of the fairer sex proved to me long ago that weights are not just for men ), but I've never seen anybody else work out like this at the Y before. It was great!

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? Maybe there has been some collective epiphany, or great awakening. Or maybe it's just a bizarre coincidence and it will pass in the next month .

Hunter,

Which YMCA do you workout at?

Danny

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by DKing

Hunter,

Which YMCA do you workout at?

Danny

Duluth

Don't plan a trip anytime soon - they don't yet have any tires for flipping or kettlebells.

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by gobbla

They seen all the awesome progress you were getting and wanted to imitate you. They even told their friends to come check out the awesome stud that works out in the morning.

Gee, ya' think...?

And here I thought all those people were looking at me funny 'cuz of the weird exercises I was doing...

[John Izzo]

Its funny how in the video Paula posted, the guys filmed the ENTIRE video outside the YMCA. There is NO WAY, those mo-fo's would have been let in a facility to film this video.

Just FYI...for those that do not know. The Y's mission was to NOT discrimate anyone on any basis and was founded in England to house men in the early 1800s. Through the years, Y's had developed a reputation to "take-in" homeless, troubled, or drug addicts as some older Y's actually had low income housing available at no costs. However, as times changed and dollar signs came into existance in the powers that be, Y's saw the potential to make lots of $$$, so they had to erase this image of "taking in the less fortunate" and be more appealing to families (bigger market). So, most Y's today have massively renovated or developed new facilities from endowments adn Y campaign money to facilitate teh current trends in service and make money. Not a bad idea, but I woudln't call it entrirely 501(c).

[GG300]

I have been noticing that there seems to be a conserted effort on the part of the trainers as well as the patrons to move away from all compound lifts (with the exception of Bench presses of course). I was talking to my trainer (who works out of his own gym now) about this and he said that the new fitness director has alot to do about the direction that the other trainers follow especially the less expierenced ones. Unfortunately these are the same trainers that are assigned the new start ups. So all the new folks will recieve their orientation and first exercise program from a newbie trainer and be doing DB Curls and Side raises on a Bosu trainer till they are blue in the face. On a selfish note at least they won't be pushing me at the squat rack anytime soon.

[DKing]

Originally Posted by Hunter

Duluth

Don't plan a trip anytime soon - they don't yet have any tires for flipping or kettlebells.

Haha, no Duluth trips for me anytime soon. I was actually curious because I am a YMCA employee these days and was wondering if I would ever run into you at a Y.

Danny

[kmwest]

Originally Posted by DKing

Haha, no Duluth trips for me anytime soon. I was actually curious because I am a YMCA employee these days and was wondering if I would ever run into you at a Y.

Danny

You're in St Cloud, right? My g/f's sister goes to St Cloud State or whatever you call it.

[BjsAust]

At this rate commercial gyms will stop banning deadlifts as being too noisy!

I've seen one other person do proper squats (front and back), and the same guy was using bands with his benching. Other than that
the closest I've come to seeing this kind of thing was some guy speeding through some form of deadlift with an ezycurl bar and about 30kg (65lb) with as much backbending as he could manage.

Course, its been a while since I was in a commercial gym.

[maxattack]

Right now, I frequent a commercial gym often but am planning on getting my own equipment to say $ in the long run.

Anyway, one thing that I always notice is that there is a "always" at least one person waiting for the incline leg-press machine, but the squat rack across from it is always open. Not that i'm complaining though....more DL's and squats for me.
And as for the cable stations for lat pulls and rows go, I cringe when I go over there and see people with horrible form, using mostly back to pull.

[MAXX]

I always knew the Village People were "men who loved men," but I guess I never really knew how obvious it was until I watched that video and really listened to the words of the song. I never noticed anything like that when I visited my Y......