Memberships at “full service” gyms are down.  With the internet and nitch marketing, many people now find the service they need in other ways.  Yoga studios, for example, can provide a specific service that used to be a part of a larger gym setting.

However, one of the main reasons that big gyms are not thriving is that the social aspect of being in the gym is disappearing.  People now disassociate.

Go to the gym and look around and you’ll see a majority of people wearing headphones and working out in their own little bubble.  Rather than interacting with those around them, they move from machine to machine to treadmill without any interaction at all.  The world of the iPod and iPhone has made the gym less social.

I admit I enjoy a solitary headphone workout on the rare day when my workout partner, John, is not there with me.  But on all other days I don’t wear the headphones because I am talking with John and interacting with those around me.  I love the social aspect of the gym, even if many interactions are just a quick “hello” to the regular faces.  And, of course, I can’t really do a good job of spotting and helping my workout partner have his best workout if I can’t talk or interact with him.  Any pairs of gym members who I see working out together while wearing headphones seem totally ridiculous to me.  A correct spot requires that I not only watch my partner but also listen to him.  Anything else is simply unsafe and ludicrous.

Even on the rare days when I am wearing my headphones, I will remove them if anyone asks for a spot or seems to want to interact or talk.

Granted, I love  my iPod when I’m trudging through 45 minutes of cardio.  This time in my “own world” helps to make the time go faster.  (Hint: I find a typical podcast of a show like “Fresh Air” times out perfectly for a cardio workout and makes the time fly by!)  But even though this makes the time pass, it’s more pleasant to talk to someone or interact a bit while doing this part of the workout also, if possible.

So take some days and don’t disassociate in the gym.  Take off the headphones and say hello to those around you.  This social aspect will keep you returning and add tremendously to your enjoyment and progress in the gym.