Free towels and a ban on selfies: 5 differences between sports clubs in the US and Ukraine - ForumDaily
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Free towels and ban on selfies: 5 differences sports clubs in the US and Ukraine

Insolence in relation to clients, intrusive marketing, high prices and surcharges for additional services - these, in my personal experience, are the common features of most chain sports establishments in Kyiv. Customers receive a barrage of SMS advertising, even if they have just purchased a subscription; they are charged a hefty fine for a lost plastic card, which costs a penny, and they have to pay extra for each additional service.

Фото: Depositphotos

This training microcosm is the quintessence of the attitude of Ukrainian business towards its consumers. Ukrainian “rockers” can buy fashionable equipment, borrow concepts or sports programs from abroad, but the feeling that it is the client who is being provided with a huge service for his money, and not vice versa, does not disappear.

The sports industry in the United States with an annual volume of almost one hundred billion dollars is difficult to compare with Ukrainian sports clubs. However, in order to introduce some of these correct American standards, no additional expenses are needed from the business side, only a desire for change is needed.

Telephone etiquette

Once in the dressing room of a club in Kiev, I noticed an interesting person, who with sponges duck and in negligee did a series of selfies in the mirror. I had time to go to the shower, wash and dry my hair, put on winter clothes, and she was spinning around with the phone and took off her loin pieces this way, then that.

And it doesn’t matter that someone else might get into the frame - after all, the locker room is half full of naked women of different ages and sizes, who - oh, shame! - came to the gym not for the sake of photos for Instagram, but with a banal purpose - to work out.

The sign “no cell phones allowed in the gym, photography or video shooting on phones in the locker room is prohibited” was the first thing I noticed in one of the trendy gyms in downtown Washington, where, by the way, the famous CNN TV presenter Anderson Cooper goes.

However, the rule no photos allowed was created not only for the privacy of the stars, but also for the comfort of all visitors. And indeed, I have not yet met people who would either long or loudly talk in the hall on the phone or take long photographs of themselves instead of actually practicing.

Free towels and water

Fountains with purified running water in the United States are located in parks, shopping centers, and public toilets. The water in them may not be the most delicious, but it is quite safe for consumption. And in gyms, fountains are a mandatory component.

Clean white towels - there are large ones for the shower or pool, and small ones that are convenient for the gym, as well as paper napkins are often available in unlimited quantities. No one monitors whether the client steals a towel, so they are not issued with a card. They are simply stacked on the shelves, and returning them is as simple as throwing them in the general basket.

Almost everywhere in the shower you can find gels, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizer. And in one of the fashionable expensive nets in the dressing room I was struck by the fact that there were also deodorant, hair ties, disposable razors, makeup remover, hygiene products, cotton swabs and discs. Or, for example, in a small yoga studio not far from my house there is even a little makeup for general use.

And I have not had to see someone stealing a towel, squeezing shampoo into his jar, or putting a handful of cotton sticks in his pocket.

Фото: Depositphotos

Hygiene is usually good tone

After classes in American gyms, all the equipment must not only be removed after themselves, but also wiped with alcohol wipes, which stand in large containers in each studio or hall. And almost everyone does this rule.

Also, no one controls whether you come to the gym in spare or street shoes - hello, Kyiv shoe covers! In Kyiv, I welcomed this rule of good manners and I myself always wore them over my boots in the snow and rain, because I hated stepping barefoot into puddles in the locker room.

However, the purity of American streets with Ukrainian does not compare. Therefore, people do not always bring exchangeable shoes for training, but they immediately go there in sportswear, and the floor still remains clean.

The coach always has the qualifications. And tact

If large networks of sports institutions in Ukraine still ensure that their coaches have the appropriate qualifications, then in various circles, in my experience, no one cares that the person who literally makes several hearts beat more often has the basic skills of home health care. It is not even about basic knowledge of anatomy or psychology.

In the USA, any fitness trainers must pass several levels of training and exams. The first is the basics of physical exercise, physiology, and methods of constructing individual or group classes. The second is basic knowledge about the types of exercises (strength, aerobics, interval, aquafitness, with elements of martial arts, dancing, yoga, Pilates) and the basics of proper nutrition and weight control. The third level is the ability to adapt the training program for different people: elderly, pregnant, overweight, as well as the development of business and communication skills.

Only by obtaining this basic knowledge can one become qualified as an individual or group trainer and begin teaching aerobics or weight training.

However, in addition to professional training, American coaches, in my experience, are distinguished from Ukrainian underlined tact.

Once, during a group training session in a Kiev chain gym, the trainer shouted at a girl and even ridiculed her - simply because she was doing squats incorrectly. Instead of teaching her correctly.

I can not imagine such an attitude to customers in the United States. Sometimes tact trainers even excessive. For example, my favorite yoga teacher is so polite and delicate person that he will never make comments during a lesson to a man who is constantly yawning with a loud roaring lion, or a woman wearing a dozen bracelets that ring. Although, when you are in a warrior pose or in a state of nidra, it is very distracting.

And recently, at one of the aerobic workouts, the American instructor decided not to pay attention to the woman who came ... in a shirt, skirt and heels. Obviously, she forgot her sports uniform and did not want to miss classes.

In my opinion, this does not justify the fact that she rolled up her skirt and showed everyone more than we would like to see, and could even break someone's finger with her heel. However, here I am reminded of one of the coaches in Kiev, who did not allow for group strength training ... without a towel.

Фото: Depositphotos

Free classes and the ability to bring guests

Once, a friend had a problem at a Kiev sports club - she accidentally entered the sauna area, realized that she had taken a wrong turn - and left a minute later. And although her electronic key showed how much time she spent there, she was still charged for the sauna day. This is how the lack of obviousness of the corridors cost her money. And justice was not achieved.

You will hardly find such attitude towards consumers in the USA from commercial establishments. Buyers or service users here, with some exceptions, can claim a return or refund even without a specific reason - if they just didn't like it.

I think this happened not only because of high competition. It’s just that for some reason American sales managers are ordinary people who are ready to meet people halfway and look for options. When I bought my subscription, the manager wrote me a message a few days in advance, asking if I was happy with everything. I answered, asked my questions and received answers. And no shower of advertising SMS.

Moreover, gyms are constantly attracting customers with free lessons or even weeks of free admission. Using them, I, for example, tried hot yoga, twisted the pedals on a stationary bike in the atmosphere of a disco, took an interval workout on the roof of the house, climbed the wall of the climbing wall.

My trainer, for example, monthly offers two days of open house, when everyone can come to work for free. And I, as a client, from time to time can bring guests with me. And coaches in general can conduct guests at least for each session. For them, as well as for clients, everything that is available in the gym is available: classes, swimming pool, sauna, solarium, jacuzzi. This, by the way, is most often included in the price of a regular subscription.

In general, concepts like premium cards, separate dressing rooms for the “chosen ones,” which should create a feeling of inferiority for owners of “standard” season tickets, I have never met in America.

And further. Unlike my Kyiv gym, if you lose their card, they don’t charge you a ton of money, but in a second - and with a smile! - They give you a new one at the reception.

The original column is published on the website. Ukrainian service "Voices of America".

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