Figured World: The Gym

The figured world in which I will be observing is a gym. The gym is a place for improvement of
one's health and physique. There are wide arrays of people who attend a gym; however, determined
individuals are in the gym daily. It takes a vast amount of will power to stay consistent to a workout
regimen, which creates this figured world to be very inspirational. There are several different options
within a gym that offer improvement to one's wellness. Aerobics, tread milling and weight lifting are three
core activities that take place within this figured world. The gym tends to be a place of self-focus and hard
work rather communication yet small talk is acceptable. This environment is very loud with music playing
from all angles of the room and grunts from weightlifters shaping their body. All of this is customary and
expected within a gym. Within the gym there are many unwritten rules one should know. Respecting the
amount of time one utilizes equipment is important so that you do not keep people waiting to use it.
Intentionally dropping weights after a set is a big no-no when it comes to working out; this can be
extremely dangerous to oneself and surroundings. Respecting one's concentration during a workout is
very good gym etiquette. It is proper to ask if someone needs a spot if they are struggling on their set or if
they personally ask you. Overall, this is a great environment to observe.
Observation 1
9:30am
- Many athletes are up early for their morning workouts
- The gym is busy with steady amounts of people going in and out
- People are socializing for only small amounts of time
- Most females in the gym are tread milling while most males are lifting weights
- Music is playing throughout the area
- It seems as if the morning is when most serious trainers come to workout
2:00pm
- Cym ls dead (many sLudenLs are ln Lhelr classes)
- very quleL. Cnly nolse LhaL ls noLable ls Lhe muslc playlng ln Lhe background
- very few serlous Lralners presenL.
- ConslsLs of mosLly novlce Lralners
- 1readmllls belng uLlllzed Lhe mosL
3:00pm
- Cym ls packed wlLh sLudenLs
- 1ons of soclallzlng beLween groups of frlends
- CommunlcaLlon ls serlous beLween small-Lalk conversaLlons buL funny beLween frlends
- eople seem Lo be less focused compared Lo mornlng vlslL
- very loud

noLlced LhaL l dld noL see any speclflc (group) of people LhroughouL my vlslLs



desktop support 9/12/13 8:16 AM
Comment [1]: WhaL speclflcally ls a spoL
and a seL when lL comes Lo worklng ouL?
desktop support 9/12/13 8:22 AM
Comment [2]: SeparaLe Llmes wlLh
Lhorough deLall for each Llme perlod (refer Lo
observaLlon noLe example)
desktop support 9/12/13 8:28 AM
Comment [3]: LlaboraLe on serlous
Lralners?
desktop support 9/12/13 8:25 AM
Comment [4]: WhaL ls dead?
desktop support 9/12/13 8:24 AM
Comment [5]: Why ls lL quleL?
desktop support 9/12/13 8:24 AM
Comment [6]: Pow many people on
Lreadmllls?
desktop support 9/12/13 8:29 AM
Comment [7]: 8e word
ArLlfacLs

WelghLs: slgnlflcance Lo sLrengLh Lralners who come Lo Lhe gym for lLs healLh and physlque
beneflLs
1readmlll: lmporLanL for people Lrylng Lo lose welghL or Lone Lhelr bodles.

?oga MaLs: dlrecL relaLlonshlp for someone engaged ln yoga.

lnLervlew: WelghLllfLer (kevln)

1) WhaL goL you lnLeresLed ln worklng ouL?
A: When l was ln hlgh school, l was a blL heavler Lhan Lhe oLher klds. 1hls lnfluenced me Lo geL a
gym membershlp [usL Lo hlL Lhe Lreadmlll. 8efore l knew lL, l was llfLlng welghLs wlLh Lhe blg
boys.
2) uescrlbe Lo me your dally rouLlne ln Lhe gym
A: llrsL, l sLreLch and loosen up my muscles. uependlng on whaL day lL ls, l lsolaLe Lwo muscle
groups and really push myself ln Lhe gym. My cycle conslsLs of back/chesL on Mondays,
arms/abs on 1uesdays, and shoulders/legs on 1hursdays. My resL days are Wednesday, lrlday,
SaLurday and Sunday.
3) 1ell me abouL your favorlLe exerclse and why?
A: Cleans. Cleans are baslcally Lhe besL of Lhe besL, ln my oplnlon, when lL comes Lo an overall
exerclse for Lhe body. ?our forearms, Lrlceps, shoulders, abs, back and legs are all recelvlng an
lnLense workouL aL once.
4) Why ls eaLlng a healLhy dleL key Lo physlcal flLness?
A: LaLlng healLhy ls cruclal for malnLalnlng lean body faL and mass. WelghLllfLers know LhaL lL ls
20 physlcal, 80 dleL. lf you aren'L eaLlng healLhy Lo supporL your gym hablL, you really aren'L
geLLlng far.
3) WhaL keeps you moLlvaLed and drlven Lo aLLend Lhe gym on a dally basls?
A: l acLually keep a plcLure of myself from when l was sLlll ln hlgh school Lo look back on lf l ever
need self-supporL. 1hls was before l worked ouL, obvlously, so Lhls usually does Lhe Lrlck and
geLs my buLL back on Lhe welghL bench!

desktop support 9/12/13 8:33 AM
Comment [8]: Pow else could one uLlllze a
yoga maL.