Shady Personal Trainer Uses Apartment's Shared Gym for Sessions, Residents Left Gymless

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 16, 2023 5:00 PM EST

It seems like everyone's an entrepreneur these days. The proliferation of influencer culture has given more folks than ever a chance to be their own boss, whether it's creating content or running a small business. The increasing frustrations of the modern workplace have also driven many away from traditional jobs and towards gigs. It's a blessing and a curse. It can mean the freedom from the constraints of a 9-5 on the one hand, and a pressure to constantly hustle on the other hand. 

But if your grindset starts interfering with innocent bystanders, maybe it's time to take stock. Reddit user u/jenthecactuswren shared a story of some such careless entrepreneur, who was operating his side hustle out of a shared apartment amenity. Members of r/mildlyinfuriating had some words of advice and plans of action for the helpless gym-goer. Sometimes the grind must cease!

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  • 01
    r/mildlyinfuriating u/jenthecactuswren • 18h Neighbor is using our apartment gym to run his personal training business, taking up equipment for long periods of time
    via u/jenthecactuswren
  • 02
    It's a very small gym and this resident is always, always in there instructing a client when I go in- morning, night, afternoon. I actively try to go in at random times so maybe, just maybe once he won't be there and I can work out freely using the bench. But he's always there. Today he and his client were by the weight bench so I wait for them to leave. Once they leave, I go to use the only bench. Not even five minutes later he comes back with another client and starts asking to use the weights
    via u/jenthecactuswren
  • 03
    I let the office know about it because it doesn't seem right that our community amenities should be used to run someone's personal business. It's not like anyone's using the pool to teach swim lessons, or using the grass areas to run their personal yoga studio. The office won't do anything though since there isn't an explicit clause against this in the policy. Guess I'm just gonna have to be a little less nice when I'm working out and he asks to use equipment I'm on
    via u/jenthecactuswren
  • 04
    Heir Of Ravenclaw • 18h Just say no next time. Finish your sets, and let his business crumble. You aren't responsible for his business needs. Work out when you want, use the machines you need, and treat the amenities you are entitled to.
    via u/HeirOfRavenclaw
  • 05
    jenthecactuswren OP • 18h Yup. That's my big lesson for today. Time to be more assertive.
    via u/jenthecactuswren
  • 06
    Sirix_8472 17h ● Tell the office they are not insured to have someone ELSE run a business there. They are insured for having their own business and providing the gym. If someone gets hurt though, his clients may try to sue them instead of the instructor. Money talks, put it in a way they can't ignore, losing money, potential suits...
    via u/Sirix_8472
  • 07
    dbx99 17h ● This is it. The office should not permit the commercial use of a residential common space. If someone got injured, it becomes a liability tangle - which in itself becomes a compounded risk over a simple injury if a resident gets injured in the gym. This is a way to lose the gym altogether due to the liability exposure if the office fails to clearly articulate that commercial use is forbidden there.
    via u/dbx99
  • 08
    masterjabbadad • 15h OP should use the blokes business. Get injured. Sue the bloke and building. Destroy the business, get rid of bloke. Empty gym. Win win
    via u/masterjabbadad
  • 09
    Nice-Debt7680 • 18h Tell the office that anyone using their gym facility for commercial purposes (for example, taking payment for providing personal trainer sessions) is almost certainly not covered by their general liability policy. Weightlifting, to state the obvious, often results in injuries. So they are risking this dumbass tenant of theirs running a business using their property, and if one of the customers gets hurt, they are absolutely, positively going to sue the apartment complex. Bonu
    via u/Nice-Debt7680
  • 10
    98 jenthecactuswren OP • 18h I doubt he's even a certified trainer too. This (insurance) is why many gyms immediately snuff out shady personal trainers using their gym for their business.
    via u/jenthecactuswren
  • 11
    Just-Scallion-6699 16h If I went to a "trainer" and they took me to their apartment gym that would be my last session lol
    via u/Just-Scallion-6699
  • 12
    reddogisdumb. 18h Here's the thing. If you get into an argument with him a few times in front of the clients, he's going to learn his lesson and keep out of your way. Because his clients are paying for a polite and friendly experience with no bad vibes. You tried being nice and it didn't work. You tried asking the manager to police it and it didn't work. So just be rude and ruin the vibe for his clients. Every single time. Block his way, interrupt his coaching, and ruin his clients experience. E
    via u/reddogisdumb
  • 13
    snow_boarder . 17h What apartment lease doesn't prohibit running a business out of the premises? Push the landlord harder.
    via u/snow_boarder
  • 14
    mazda121 18h Invite 2 friends everyday to join you in your gym routine. That way he (and his client) have to wait much longer.
    via u/mazda121
  • 15
    ConfidentFinish3580 17h ● I work in property management, granted I do commercial but one of our properties is mixed and includes residential. This is a massive no-no, and we would put a stop to this immediately. There are many insurance and legal issues with him running his own business out of a community gym that residents pay for via their amenity fees. I'd move up the chain on the management company. Your property manager doesn't know what they're talking about, so see if you can email the co
    via u/ConfidentFinish3580
  • 16
    Unfair-Arachnid-1794 • 18h Yeah, if management isn't doing anything? You don't have to be nice. Finish your stuff and then let him have it. I'm sure he'll be pissy about it, but you aren't about to give up your gains for his pocket book. thaaaaat.
    via u/Unfair-Arachnid-1794
  • 17
    OkeyDokey654 • 18h Is there a clause about non-residents using the gym? Or is he only working with residents? Reply 81 jenthecactuswren OP 18h No clause about non-residents, but technically residents can have up to 2 guests in the gym with them. So he's with 1-2 client "guests" in there most of the day. It's a small gym with maximum capacity of 8 people. He's not breaking any rules, just taking up a limited resident resource for personal gain.
    via u/OkeyDokey654 & u/jenthecactuswren
  • 18
    implodemode • 16h Interrupt him and ask to do your sets. Every time. I don't see why you gave them up.
    via u/implodemode

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reddit stories workplace discussion entrepreneur workplace-stories gym workout side hustle gym memes hustle reddit story grindset mildly infuriating grind Reddit
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