The Lady at the Gym

I went to a new gym today, not new-new, but one I don’t usually go to because it’s further from my apartment. I was not familiar with the machines. The elliptical machine was similar enough to the ones I used before. Checked. Leg extensions, done. I moved to the other areas for arm, back and upper torso work. It was here that I was stumped.

A lady with a waist-bag walked into the area. I sat at the torso twister and observed her stealthily, all the while trying to swing myself around. She was using the bicep curls machine effortlessly, one I had no clue how to use earlier. When she finished, she moved on to the next machine. I walked over and tried to remember what she had done. I thought I knew, but sitting at the machine now, I couldn’t operate it. As I saw her counting her repetitions and breathing deeply, I almost felt bad to interrupt her, but realized there was no one else near the machines I could ask to demonstrate their use. The only fitness staff member was stationed at the reception desk, out of sight around the corner. The gym was empty except for me and another male member lifting weights on a bench.

“Yin, you have to ask her.” I finally decided to interrupt this elderly lady.

“Hi, could you show me how to use this machine?”

She came over unhesitatingly and started showing me how to operate the machine. I thanked her and began working out on the equipment. She sat at the torso twister, a machine I used earlier but didn’t know how to set in the reverse direction. Yes, I didn’t get to complete the torso twist in both directions. I was too embarrassed (?) (or shy?) to ask before. She turned around and asked, “Do you know how to use this?” Without waiting, she began showing me how to use that too, and another and another, …

“How did you learn how to use all these machines so well?” I asked.

“I would ask people. I would walk around, observe and talk to people.” Simple as that.

She told me she had been coming to this gym for about 3 years. She would try to come often, at least 3 times a week. Before that, she said she was really heavy, but after coming to the gym, she had lost a fair bit of weight. She gesticulated to indicate how many inches she had lost around her waist. She walked around and pointed out machines she would not use. “They give me pain, so I don’t use them.”

“Yes, I don’t push myself excessively,” I agreed.

I soon left, earlier than her because it was lunchtime and I was famished. She cheerily wished me a good day and continued working out. She said she would stay for about 3 hours each time.

I blog about this now because it is a memory I want to remember today. I met a kind lady. She didn’t hesitate to help me. She was willing to share her knowledge and to tell me stories of her fitness and health journey. I had almost let my fear of interrupting her workout stop me from connecting with her.

I smiled when I thought about my stealth observations of her. I thought I could lurk and learn, as in online learning, but it didn’t work at this context. The goal at a gym is not conceptual knowledge, it is procedural learning. I have to use the machines and know the process. I’m really awkward at gyms. It’s not a world/domain I’m comfortable in.

But I shouldn’t be afraid to ask. It’s half the battle won, or lost.