No grunting allowed at this gym

Posted on Nov 9th 2006 1:09PM by Brigitte Dale

Filed Under: Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Planet Fitness, a gym with about 120 locations nationwide, is serious about maintaining a non-intimidating atmosphere for its members. In order to make their gym into the kind of place anyone can feel comfortable, they have a very strict set of rules, including rules against wearing bandanas, banging weights down on the ground, and grunting. That's right, no grunting is allowed. And they're serious about it, too. A man in New York was escorted out of a Planet Fitness gym by police after breaking that rule last week.

"When somebody's in there and they grunt and they grunt loud, it's trying to bring attention to themselves to show everyone how strong they are," said Mike Grondahl, CEO of Planet Fitness. The offender, a 40-year-old corrections officer, said that it was an embarrassing situation to be in over a grunt.

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Tags: gym, health club, Planet Fitness, PlanetFitness, rules

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

AnaBell 11-09-2006 @ 2:26PM

I don't get was wrong with bandanas. Anyone cares to explain?

Howie Jacobson, PhD 11-09-2006 @ 3:32PM

I suppose their hearts are in the right place, but these rules seem very silly to me.

If you want to change the culture of a gym to be less threatening, you might want to spy on a typical day at my favorite gym, the Monkey Bar Gymnasium of Madison, Wisconsin. You'll notice a few things right off the bat:

1. No mirrors - allowing people to focus on the essentials, not the superficial
2. No machines - just people using their own bodies, balls, playground equipment, ropes, sandbags, kettlebells, in natural and full-body movements
3. No iPod-heads ignoring everyone else in the place - just members working together, supporting each other and giving feedback to improve form and encourage stamina - even grandmothers and Olympic athletes

It's not about the clothes or the grunts, Planet Fitness, it's about the spirit. Are you working out to impress somebody else, or to have a blast?

kat 11-12-2006 @ 2:10PM

I worked at a Planet Fitness for a few years as a trainer, and actually worked with Carol, the manager who kicked the guy out. The bandanas are because of gang problems they were having with their Bronx gyms. The grunting, weight-dropping etc is to create a non-intimidating. It actually does create a nice environment. It's not like a library, it just doesn't have roidheads everywhere. Sometimes people complained about it and the answer is simple: go work out someplace else.

JZ 11-12-2006 @ 2:15PM

There's no question grunting is a vanity "look at me" thing. I'm totally for banning the grunts. Grunts aren't threatening, but they are really irritating -- I don't go to the gym to listen to people grunting, I go to work out and get out. Bandanas I don't care about, as long as they're grunt-free. And I think most gyms ban slamming or dropping weights. They could also add the people who thud like elephants on the treadmills -- a noise level that seems to be unrelated to the size of the person and like the grunts and the weight-dropping, just breaks the peace for everyone else trying to focus on their own workout.

Roberta Travis 11-12-2006 @ 2:43PM

Rules like that are also intimidating.

Aaron 11-12-2006 @ 2:21PM

This has to be one of the silliest things i've ever heard of. Don't martial arts practioners yell to expel energy?

Chad 11-12-2006 @ 2:23PM

Coming across this article made my day. Here's what I wrote back in 2005:

February 24, 2005 11:54 PM
Comedy at the gym

I don't need to go to The Improv to see a comedy show, I can just go to the gym. I'm gonna point out a few things. First let me say that I don't think that I work-out perfect, but I try. If you see me doing dumb shit, let me know. I appreciate any advice you can give. Alright, now, lets do this. First I'd like to point out those who are clearly overweight. That's cool that you made it to the gym, very nice. Now it's time to focus on your problem areas. Big fat guys: you probably don't need to be doing any chest exercises at this point in the game, or biceps, or tri's, etc. GET ON THE TREADMILL AND RUN ALL DAY, SIT ON A BIKE, PRECOR, STAIRMASTER, OR GO WITH THE CLASSIC APPROACH AND JUMP SOME ROPE! Do something cardio. That's fine to come in the gym and do a little this and that but don't spend the day at the bench-press like you're the shit. Overweight ladies: same thing. And especially for you, half-ass sit-ups aren't gonna cut it. Lifting your head off the ground isn't doing anything more than as if you were sitting on the couch watching tv. Squeeze those ab muscles until your stomach feels like it's gonna fall off. And good for you wearing those spandex things and being overweight, keep that confidence up, it's what's gonna keep you in the gym. Now for you younger girls who come in there with your T&A hanging out, that's fine, we're all watchin', but try and downplay the cockiness a little. Oh yeah, and don't be afraid to work-out in between your shows, you DO have some problem areas. ALL: have you forgotten about form? control? breathing? Pick up a muscle mag or book or something and read a couple pages. That's all you'll need to do before you come across all these things. You gotta keep your form. If you're rocking the shit out of your back and doing "shoulder" bicep-curls your not targeting the muscles. If you let the weight drop down on the negative you're wasting half the work-out. Breathe! If you hold your breath oxygen doesn't get to the blood efficiently (or something like that) and also, when you finally do breathe you have to let out that big AAAAHHHHEE! Nobody wants to hear that. Big deal, half the people in the gym look over. But guess what? They're thinking, "What an idiot, he thinks he's such tuff shit." We're not thinking anything along the lines of what you're feeling or thinking we're thinking. You're not tuff. You're not lifting so much weight that we should be impressed. A little "uh," or "oo," is okay now and then, but keep it down, nobody cares. It is cool though, in a way. The other day I was in the gym and I heard all these guys make different stupid-shit noises at the same time and it sounded like they were doing that Beatbox thing. I think I heard you guys doin' that Papa Roach song "Cut my life into pieces..." Bench pressers: keep your backs flat on the bench and stop arching like you're having a seizure. Don't just sit at the bench press all day, nobody cares how many 45s you can stack. Trainers: put down that clipboard, or at least hold it right. It's doesn't make you look any more like a "real" trainer. Your shirt's too small, better order a bigger one. Lady trainers: grow your hair out, the other day I was checkin one of you out and when I got to your fade I thought you were a guy. I had to question my sexuality for a minute. Anyone thinking about joining a gym: go in there knowing how much you want to spend and what you want to sign up for cause all the employees are scam artists trying to get that commission. Once you're signed up, don't try asking for help with anything, you'll only find a cold sholder. Front desk: smile a little and on your breaks go work-out for 10 minutes, you're borderline being call "big boned"; you're representing the gym by being the first people we see when we walk in, inspire us. I'm not trying to sound to harsh on the people I pointed out, really. You're all on the right track getting your lazy asses down there at all, just make a few adjustments. And if I need to make any, let me know. Oh yeah, GET OFF THE PHONE! You're in the gym, make the call quick if you need to at all. We don't care about you downgrading your employees or about who you're gonna infect with herpes tonight. Everyone: it's just the gym, but deodorant is now mandatory. Don't come in without it. Also, don't walk around all hard n' shit like someone pressed the slow mo button on the remote. Speed up your pimp walk and keep that heart rate up. Stop slammin' the weights together for the dumbbell bench/military-press and when putting them back on the racks, all it does is show that you aren't strong enough to control them. Caught you! --> Ya, we saw you sneak a peak at the mirror when you were walking, flexing your tri's and bi's. Just stop and admire cause you look funny when you try and sneak a peak at yourself. Ladies and fellas: don't look at me like you're trying to catch me lookin' at you. I don't give a shit. If you have something to say, say it. If you think I think I'm tough, let me know. If you think I'm a p*ssy, do something, I'll break your face. If you know me, or if you don't, just say what's up, I like to talk to everyone. For all of you coming to the gym, having a good time, gettin it done, workin-out; keep it up, you'll live longer. Alright. Take what you've read today and apply it to your next work-out. Any other suggestions?

chris 11-12-2006 @ 2:23PM

that's like telling someone to be totally silent when they're having sex . . . you gotta make some noise!

ram 11-12-2006 @ 2:26PM

no bandanas? idiotic rule.

taulbeecdn 11-12-2006 @ 2:36PM

I don't know about grunts, but screams tense up muscles, making you stronger. Thats why martial artists scream so much.

Titus 11-16-2006 @ 6:44PM

thats a joke

Laurie 11-12-2006 @ 3:31PM

Are we kidding? I'm female and I grunt when I work out...has nothing to do with showing off how "strong" I am...has more to do with giving me the extra edge to lift the weight that last little bit!! Its bad when we have to worry about the noises we make at a gym!!

Jim 11-12-2006 @ 2:49PM

The grunting is annoying! But Howie, your gym seems annoying as well. No machines and music? When I go to the gym, I want to get in and out and the last thing I want to hear is someone giving me feedback. Most people who go to a gym don't use proper form. Who needs to hear those mouths telling me what to do? As far as mirrors, just think for a moment that it may open up a room and help a person feel like they are not in a boxed room. Plus you can see you are using proper form and not showing off in front of yourself. A kettle ball? I didn't realize we were working out in the years of 1940.

G.D. 11-12-2006 @ 2:54PM

Many of the Health clubs seem like pickup joints. Guys strutting around like peacocks trying to impress the gals in heat with their thong starps betwwen ther "Cheeks".
If you want to "Impress", go to a bar or nightclub . Don't stand around or in front of a machine for 30 minutes bullshitting !! Nobody gives a shit how big your biceps are or how firm your butt is , or who you are trying to pick up.
People do actually want to go to the gym to work out in the least amount of time and go, not wait on you to get out of the way !! And no!! I don't give a rat's ass how muck you can bench . Get a friggin life Dufus !!!!

Hal 11-12-2006 @ 2:54PM

What irritates me at the Gym are people who loudly chew and pop gum; also those who chatter endlessly on cell phones while on a machine. I haven't noticed any problem grunters, though.

Richard Price 11-12-2006 @ 2:53PM

Instead of wearing a bandana...I guess they would rather have you drop sweat all over everything....?????

The Animator 11-14-2006 @ 1:36PM

I think it is great what they are doing. I hate those who are so vain that they look at the mirror every second. They look real stupid.

Ellen 11-12-2006 @ 3:21PM

Grunting is not a big deal. People will work out as they need to. People that used to belong to World Gym which is now Planet Fitness are in that mode to challenge themselves lifting heavier weight. The gym will have bodybuilders or even powerlifters working out. People lifting with with the heavier weights need the release somehow.

Douglas Roberts 11-12-2006 @ 3:08PM

Grunting can be some peoples method of exhaling under pressure. It can also be a person's means to clear air passages that are complicated by some gastrointestinal disorder like acid reflex. These things are more common in bigger people.
There are people who bang weights on the floor in a gym. Accidents happen as well but I am sure we are referring to THE RELEASE of dumbells at the peak of exhaustion in a set. Releasing the weights cleanly is important to avoid risk of injury at this point

M 11-12-2006 @ 3:10PM

I couldn't imagine not having my bandanna... my head is shaved, and I work up quite a sweat. Do you really want some guy's sweat dripping on the equipment you're about to use? Even if I'm careful and wipe it up, I'll bet it's something most people would rather not see.