I have been part of the subculture of Planet Fitness gym for two months. I have learned so many things from them since I have been there. We train together from 8:00 to 10:00pm. As a subculture we have some common attitudes, behaviors, and languages. I am part of the Planet Fitness gym, and I have been looking at these subculture patterns for a long period.
Planet Fitness in Taunton, M.A is located in front of the YMCA, close to the City Hall. The logo is purple with a yellow hand and the thumb finger up doing the signal of good. When you come into the gym you will appreciate that the walls are purple or yellow. Right inside you will see in your left hand the counter with the Planet Fitness staff. You go there to give your costumer number or pin number to go in. The counter is black, and at the top is a candy basket, a notebook where your guest’s sign up to come in, and the soft drinks menu. A few steps away you will see the cardiovascular area, where the running machines, bicycles, and other cardiovascular machines are. This area is quiet, and while you are doing your work out you can see the televisions which are hooked in the top in the front of the cardiovascular area. There is a wall which separates the cardiovascular area from the weight machines area which is black with a poster of the logo, and a small poster which says “Proud sponsor of the Biggest Loser”. The light is very bright and the air is heavy because of little ventilation. After finishing in the cardiovascular area you can go to the 30 minutes workout area which is located a few steps in front of it. This area has the walls in black and has a big clock at the end. It also have a traffic light, which indicates to you when you workout is done. When it is green it means you can go forward and when is red it means stop. There are just ten different machines for different muscles, and all them are yellow and black. Walking to the front you will see the last section of the gym, where all the weight machines are, including the free weights. There are two of each type of machine, so the members can be available to use one when the other is unavailable. These machines are purple and yellow and all of them have the logo on it. In the free weight area the floor have a rubber which protects the weights may fall to avoid breaking. This area is hotter than the cardiovascular area because of its excess of people. In the front of where the free weights are you can see mirrors glued to the wall, so the clients can see themselves while they are doing their exercises.
This subculture has specifics behaviors, and other characteristics that separate them from others. As being part of them for two months I have learned the differences between us from others. During doing my workout I have seen that there are some calm, quiet, nice people. Nevertheless, there are some who are scandalous, annoying and disrespectful. While I am in the cardiovascular area I feel comfortable because in this area the people are nice, and calm because they are focused in their workout. This people are always with their IPod on or watching TV, so they are always quiet. Also, most of them don’t talk with one another. The only noise you can hear is the machines or the radio station that the gym plays, but other than that is a very quiet, calm area. In the other hand, the weight machines area and free weight area is very annoying. The people in this area, many of them men, are always talking, laughing laugh, or screaming because of the force that they do to lift the weights. As in many cases most of them are always looking their bodies in the mirror seeing how their muscles are swollen because of the exercise. Not all of them go to the gym to do workout, but also there are some who come to hang out and spend time joking with their friends. Some values objects that you will see in the gym are the protein shake, the towel, Gatorade, or the water. They wear sport clothes, with sneakers. Nike, Rebook, Addida, or other labels are very popular in the gym. One hour before the gym close most of the people leave letting about 50 people inside it. When we are inside we help each other, we counsel ourselves, and we recommend some diets to each other. These people are always teaching the beginner people to do the exercise correctly. This subculture has a strange language that you will become familiar as soon as you start to interact with them. They talked about muscles or GNC products, so you will feel lost because you probably have never heard of these products before. These people are very discipline and responsible. They do their workout every day. They have their routines for all of the seven days of the week. Something that I really appreciate of them is that they are always learning about the human body, so sometimes you will see then reading some health magazines.
It is good to be part of this subculture and see their characteristics by observing them. This subculture values the exercises. They are willing to go to the gym instead of staying at their home doing nothing. This subculture has the great opportunity of have a great health. In conclusion, this subculture has some good qualities that I never notice. However, because of the observations I made I saw their difference from the others and their good qualities.
