What would you think/do?

[roo4]

That's terrible! What would I think? I would be angry and embarrassed. What would I do? Well, I hope I would have the courage and confidence to ignore them and get a great workout. If there are evaluations at the end of class, I would comment on the lack of welcoming atmosphere. But knowing me, it is equally likely that I would be discouraged and drop out of the class. If that is your choice, please let the management know why. And then find a better workout.

[rebeccaC]

+1 with roo4

or thinks I sweat too much (and, boy do I ever...).

If I sweated a lot I’d be especially conscience of it in close exercise contact with others and try to minimize/eliminate it's effect on those next to me.

Now...If I heard someone talking to others about it in a clique-y demeaning way I’d ask them about it the first time we had a minute to talk. I like conversations about finding positive ways through a difficulty .…and sometimes there are people you just have to ignore after a few well meaning but failed attempts. If it couldn't be resolved quickly i'd talk to the instructor/owner about how that kind of behavior affects you, new comers and hence business. If they don't see the value in dealing with it then that should make it real easy to leave....

Now bullying is a good opportunity to talk to young girls about how building self-confidence helps in confronting negative pressures in life…......................and how martial arts can help assist both of those .

[lauraelmore1033]

I think you should walk up to the group next time you see them and tell them that they should all be ashamed of themselves for their uncouth behavior. Not, "may I speak with you?" Or any other little things to reduce the impact. Just tell them they were out of line.

(And yes. Use the word 'uncouth.' ).

Also, the suggestions from others were my first thought. But I think you should confront the bullies. It will make them squirm. People like that don't know how to function with honesty.

I'm actually wondering what you meant about here being a bigot. Just curious.

When you say 'barre' class. Do you mean the ballet barre portion of a ballet class only? Or some type of fusion class. (Hence the props, not used in ballet). I understand the anger that built through the class. I've been in situations that made me angry, and that is what always happens.

I use the word bigot because prejudice is prejudice, whether it's towards someone who is fat (and I experience this in many, more extreme ways) or towards someone of a different race,culture,or creed.
The class is a fusion of barre,Pilates and yoga.
I would hesitate to call this bullying because I don't think I was intended to hear the comments. It's just embarrassing that I have apparently been the subject of discussion by this group which has decided to actively avoid me.

[OakLeaf]

As someone who sweats a lot I just had to address this:

If I sweated a lot I’d be especially conscience of it in close exercise contact with others.

It seems to me that in a class setting, we are there to sweat. Now we all have encountered people who freak out at the first droplet, but IMO, in a workout class, they're the ones with the problem, not me. Sweating is partly genetics but mostly a sign of a high level of fitness! Outside of the gym/race/ride it might be another thing - there have definitely been times I felt like I could go into Home Depot but NOT food shopping on my way back from a run - but in the gym or studio, as long as I'm wearing something absorbent enough that I'm not giving everyone else a shower, and as long as I wipe off the floor and/or equipment when I'm done, sweating is why we are all there.

Harrumph.

[salsabike]

+1 with roo4



If I sweated a lot I’d be especially conscience of it in close exercise contact with others and try to minimize/eliminate it's effect on those next to me.

Funny, I used to walk out of every ballet class absolutely soaked in sweat, wet hair, red face, and hand towel that lived on the barre--and that was true of many dancers in class. I never worried about it, ever. That's why we're there, to work our butts off.

Maybe part of that sweat worry is gym culture, where people are expected to dry their sweat off equipment before moving on, etc. It sure doesn't have any place in a barre class, which is hard work and where people have their own spaces to sweat in.

I personally really am not bothered by other people's sweat.

[zoom-zoom]

The stupid thing is that heavy sweating is a sign of exceptional fitness. Fitter people start sweating earlier and harder than non-fit people, because our bodies are better prepared to prevent overheating, acclimated to effort.

The "women" at this class remind me of the vibe I get from some of the women in my 'hood. Women who are slim from calorie restriction, alone (ie "skinny fat"). They are not fit. They all live in yoga pants and Uggs...like a uniform. A friend of mine has been trying to talk me into joining her at a local boot camp gym, but I have 0 interest in being a gym rat or dealing with potential cliquey nonsense. One thing I love about the Tues. and Thurs. PM rides I do most of the Summer is that frequently I'm the only female in the paceline. Guys don't pull this BS. And then we share beers and crass jokes after our rides without uppity pretense.

[lauraelmore1033]

The stupid thing is that heavy sweating is a sign of exceptional fitness. Fitter people start sweating earlier and harder than non-fit people, because our bodies are better prepared to prevent overheating, acclimated to effort.

Wow, I did not know that! I've always sweated heavily during exercise and taken it as a sign of... well, some sort of deficiency on my part, since nobody else seems to sweat like me.

I think I'm officially giving up on the group exercise experience. I spent many years happily doing exercise videos for strength training and riding the bike for cardio. I just have to keep reminding myself how important the stretch/strength stuff is. I have a very deep groove in the left crank arm of my tricross as evidence of the imbalances caused by neglecting that, and some lingering numbness in my left leg (from the herniated disc) as a reminder of the consequences...

[ny biker]

Well sweating is one of those things you really have no control over, so it's not a deficiency. The only thing you can control is how you manage it, such as using towels and wiping down any equipment you used when you're done. (I have no patience for people who sweat all over the benches, etc in the free weight area and then move on without cleaning up. There are unlimited free towels available at my gym, so people have no excuse not to clean up their a$$ sweat.)

[lauraelmore1033]

Well sweating is one of those things you really have no control over, so it's not a deficiency. The only thing you can control is how you manage it, such as using towels and wiping down any equipment you used when you're done. (I have no patience for people who sweat all over the benches, etc in the free weight area and then move on without cleaning up. There are unlimited free towels available at my gym, so people have no excuse not to clean up their a$$ sweat.)

Definitely a frequent towel user here...

[rebeccaC]

Funny, I used to walk out of every ballet class absolutely soaked in sweat, wet hair, red face, and hand towel that lived on the barre--and that was true of many dancers in class. I never worried about it, ever. That's why we're there, to work our butts off.

Maybe part of that sweat worry is gym culture, where people are expected to dry their sweat off equipment before moving on, etc. It sure doesn't have any place in a barre class, which is hard work and where people have their own spaces to sweat in.

I personally really am not bothered by other people's sweat.

She emphasized that she sweats a LOT and that it might be one of the woman’s objection…..just trying to add something that I would do (as asked for in her title) to reduce the effect of that on others if indeed it even was a problem. I’ve been to a pure barre class with a friend and because of the size of the room we were much closer to each other than other types of exercise classes i've done…..and yes I also think it’s probably more of a gym type of thinking but I can also see how someone might object in close contact... and i have no problem with sweat....mine or others It was in the high 70's low 80's for a fast ride i did this afternoon with a couple of dusty areas kicked up by the wind thrown in.....when we got back to the hotel we were wet from the sweat, dirty from the dust and we still had the smiles of a good ride


and i'm sticking with trying to find a calm and positive solution to problems like Lauraelmore wrote about

[salsabike]

Hey, rebeccaC, my comment was not directed at you personally but at the subject matter only.

[rebeccaC]

Hey, rebeccaC, my comment was not directed at you personally but at the subject matter only.

i was just adding more words to my original thoughts because you quoted me..

[Crankin]

I've had extensive experience working with bullies in middle school and training peer counselors in an anti-bullying program as a teacher. I also work with quite a few adults as a therapist, who are victims of people who most likely have narcissistic personality disorder (and are even crueler than those women at the barre class). There is generally a lack of empathy on the part of people who display this type of behavior. They cannot begin to change this pattern and see the effects of their behavior until they are confronted with it. While Lauraelmore (or any victim) shouldn't have to "cure" these people, saying nothing will just perpetuate the cycle.
The gym owner definitely needs to address this issue, now that she is aware of it.