In the pantheon
of resolutions, there is one that dwarfs the rest: hitting the gym. But
starting a gym membership can be intimidating, especially if you’re worried
about fitting into the culture. Luckily this cheat sheet is here to introduce
you to the people you’ll meet if you decide to brave the gym this January.
1. The Ambiguous Personal Trainer
Who he is: we
assumed he worked here, but now we’re thinking he’s just like a dude?
Telltale signs:
his shirt’s slogan is one the gym stopped using 10 years ago; he’s wearing a
nametag, but he’s actually the only one
Often spotted:
correcting your form; handing out towels; watching 2 Broke Girls on the
treadmill
2. The Power Couple
Who they are:
the human equivalent of a selfie, only instead of a camera, they have each
other
Telltale signs:
comfortable saying “babe” in public; may not actually know each other’s names
Often spotted:
“saving” an elliptical for the other one like it’s a movie theater seat
3. The Bodybuilding Fanatic
Who he is: some
sort of goodwill ambassador for society’s muscled class
Telltale signs:
has an origin story about a rough breakup; has an origin story
Often spotted:
giving out whimsically dangerous dietary advice
4. The Hoarder and The Lurker
Who they are:
one guy who acts like he lived through a Great Depression of gym equipment, and
another one who should have left the house five minutes earlier
Telltale signs:
spot the person with the clenched jaw, tapping his foot and folding his arms;
follow the jagged red lines from his eyes to find a man who reigns over a
kingdom of dumbbells
Often spotted:
together, as they have been since the beginning of time, locked in a dance
whose music they will never hear. It is beautiful.
5. The Grunter
Who he is: a
rugged individualist who isn’t going to let decorum get in the way of a good
workout; Serena Williams fan
Telltale signs:
lifting weights, dropping a gym bag, answering a yes or no question... always
with the grunting
Often spotted:
memorizing Tom Hardy’s dialogue from Mad Max: Fury Road
6. Yoga Folks
Who they are:
Delicate creatures, slight of build, who communicate entirely through body
language
Telltale signs:
limitless capacity for awe; impeccable posture; a greeting bow unlike that of
any established human culture
Often spotted:
Googling “what is a dolly llama?”
7. The Resolutionaries
Who they are:
they are legion
Telltale signs:
tags still on running shorts; holding a combination lock they can’t get out of
the clamshell case while muttering it wasn’t meant to be
Often spotted: ironically,
complaining about how crowded the gym is
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