Loss of soul

I'm digressing from my original intent today ... it's about the loss of soul. Not mine, mind you. Mine is intact and functional, I'm referring to when you've been at a really great place (physical location), and you've had the opportunity to watch it degrade into a soulless (as if physical locations have a soul), unhappy mass.

This is my sad tale of woe today.

Last night, I went to the gym with my husband and didn't have as much fun as I have had previously. On the way over in the car, I explained why I don't like going and it boils down to, I don't feel like it's me time. By that, when I'm there, people come up to me, I walk up to people, answer questions, pick up towels ... all that rot.

So back to last night. The place was a mess! Towels all over the place, people talking on cell phones, brat kids clanging weights ... the usual stuff you would expect to find at a less expensive establishment (except for the towels, at the cheaper place you would have to bring your own). By the way - yes, I said less expensive and cheaper. Does that infer anything about the place that I work at? Probably. I know the towels part infers something (if you've ever shopped a health club). Oh and we used to provide cups for water. People have complained about the missing cups.

How else is the soul departing the establishment? Memos with the constant content about selling supplements. I personally don't care if someone chooses to use supplements, just be well educated on what you're taking and be aware of drug interactions. I do care about my clients and strongly recommend they do their own research instead of taking my word on supplements as gospel. I've taken then, I've suggested them to friends (only when asked and with the strong disclaimer: they may not do the same things for you and if you feel funny at all, stop taking them), and I've researched a number of them. Can you say - mostly crap?

One more thing ... applying quotas to a group of individuals whose goal is supposed to be the health and welfare of their clients is anathema to their goal. Alright, let's rephrase that ... trainers should be training their clients on how to be healthier and eventually train themselves out of a job. Applying quotas CAN (or MAY) cause the trainer to look at the client as a number, not a person. When we forget about the person we're working with, we may as well hang it up, since they ultimately make or break our career path. Trainers can get sloppy when they're chasing numbers, when trainers get sloppy, people get hurt.