Conflict of Interest

IT'll be a quick one today friends- as I scarf down my lunch and prep my plan for kickboxing tonight.

I've had an interesting week. Some new adventures coming my way; some spazzing about budgeting for Feb; some clashes. I will explain in generalities what happened (generalities so no one flies up my ass and accuses me of defamation or any other such bullshit. I am all full up of bullshit this week).

As a group instructor, I often miss the opportunity to attend classes myself. I really also LOVE the gym and my alone lifting time, so I rarely make time for these things. We have two places in town I wanted to take a class- for my own fitness. Reread that- FOR MY OWN FITNESS. At one, I was ambushed and accused of spying, among other things- like publically saying the trainers weren't qualified... which I didn't. Now that I know the "qualifications" of the trainers though I will say it. And it's my fucking blog and I am pissed so I will say it. Because of this horrendous experience, I emailed the second place letting them know up front who I was and what I did before I arranged child care for my appointment the following week. I was informed that I was not welcome as I might learn from them and take the cool stuff I had learned to my own classes.

Sigh.

I told both parties they were more than welcome in any of my classes. I am confident enough in my abilities that if someone loves what I do and wants to share it- go hard. We aren't reinventing the wheel here people. It's fitness. Some amazing world renowned trainers are known for their innovative program ideas (LBC and the no cardio; Abel MET training etc) but come the fuck on. It's not an industry where anything is a secret. Knowledge is power but it shouldn't be a commodity. The REAL trainers, the really great ones, give info away every day all day. Like one on fb and see how many tips you get in one day. They want to SHARE the information, not horde it.
 Maybe my amazing ex trainers should have refused to train me in case I take what I learn and apply certain exercises to my clients? Maybe I should refuse to train people because they might tell my 'secrets'?!?!?

It's such bullshit. We all do a variation of the same shit. We put it in different order- which is extremely important of course- but a lot of it comes down to individual personality and individual knowledge. As a yoga instructor, I welcome other instructors to my class. I welcome their feedback on my teaching and on my sequence. I attend other classes regularly and have never had a teacher kick me out because I might steal her seated sequence. Seriously. The things I learn from my students is also amazing. In yoga and in classes- better ways to structure classes; better ways to organize exercise; different modifications.... Isn't life about learning from each other? Perhaps I should go patent the burpee. Then no one else can use it without my express permission. Oh no wait I can't- because I didn't invent it. And neither did any other trainer/ gym owner in town invent what they're doing.

Rest assured, other trainers/ business owners/ circuit runners- I won't take your ideas. I have enough of my own. Oh and also, I can google it all.
I will kick my own ass in the gym- probably better than you would anyway.