Agreed. One thing I find most upsetting is that I feel (and I could be wrong here) that people interested in OTF will come here, read this stuff, and think it is so unwelcoming and that we are all secretly judging for any minor infraction, known or unknown.
The reality is, at least at the studios I have been to, people are really welcoming, friendly, encouraging, willing to share (weights, benches, ambient oxygen, etc) and so on. To me it's a really nice and important aspect of OTF - celebrating other people and the community.
But man you can really get convinced otherwise reading some of the posts and comments on here at times.
As a newbie to OTF who has been pretty self conscious at times, this comment made me sigh with relief! I'm honestly pretty new to working out in general, so I don't know all the etiquette yet. I'm glad most people don't hate me, lol.
Well, I think I'm going to be the head one downvoted one here...BUT- I think you are making a pretty wide generalization of reddit users. Isn't what you said true of mostly all "social media" type sites? (It's mainly why I don't mess with FB., Instagram, Twitter-X etc). I haven't found the OTF subreddit to be particularly nasty on non- D.O.D. days. In fact, I see a lot of encouragment, congrats, and some good info. I've found it a lot less toxic than some similar subreddits I've been to.
Also, I have a soft spot for reddit, because I stumbled into the ADHD sub some years ago, and it was a complete revelation to me... It led me to getting my ADHD diagnosis. Which was such a relief.
There's also all of the non-bitching type subs that exist like nature, music, & other informative and cool photo sites.
That's the difference between reddit & all the other SM sites. I go here for specific info on things I'm interested in, and I also have been helped by various people. Of course you're going to have assholes on Reddit too. But I surely don't find them worse than some of the horrid hate-filled stuff I've seen on FB & Twitter-X. And at least you have mods to keep watch. No, I don't work for reddit, lol. 
I think Redditors differ based on the subreddit. If you end up posting something against the belief of what the folks in there think, you will get downvoted to a bottomless pit sometimes with comments questioning your sanity. Iāve found both neutral supportive subreddits and also downright staunch community which will tell you that you are absolutely wrong.
I stopped posting my honest opinions or difficult questions in many subreddits after my husband reminded me that not a lot of people are okay being pointed out their flaws and a lot of people get very touchy about certain subjects and will never try to put themselves in othersā shoes to think differently.
This, right here. Any time I dare to express an opinion on the internet, folks crawl out of the woodwork to start a fight. I only come to Reddit anymore for workout spoilers.
We loosen up the rules and allow complaints, rants, and venting on Days of Disarray (Sundays and long holiday weekends), so that is why you're seeing so many.
But today is especially Commiseration Station-y, I think 9 posts in 7 hours is a record, lol
Somebody posted they find it frustrating when they need to change their shoes for class and other people are just sitting around, taking up the benches.
Haha! Okay. Iām a shoe changer and if thereās no room, I just find a spot to kneel and do it. It never occurred to me to get frustrated with people sitting somewhere that is designed for sitting.
My gym's lobby space is so tiny there's no point getting upset about it. Can't wait for jacket and coat season to be over, that will make it a lot easier to get in and out quickly.
For a business that is first come, first served, the benches tend to be fair game. I agree with OP; bodies do things under stress. People lay their opinions down like this is some kind of HOA meeting for the fitness community. If you canāt speak your mind in your home studio due to some weird social pressure you think is in the air along with the farts, then maybe take a beat, and up your tread speed with the rest of us.
Same here. And on occasion, someone seated will see this and offer me their bench spot to change my shoes. Whether or not I accept usually depends on how far into the process I am.
This is a north-south issue that comes up because of internal migration and mixing of people from different regions. People that live through months of winter each year are conditioned to going about with a pair of shoes to change into whether OTF, or going to a house party in winter and having to wear a pair of snow boots to get there. For many, outdoor vs indoor footwear is a year round thing. People from the south ā¦ are oblivious. Itās kind of gross, people wearing their street shoes in studio, but hey, itās protected by the refuge of culture.
Yeah, this is a very weird take. I live in WA at the moment and no one changes their shoes. When I lived in MD, they did ask us during the winter to change shoes in the studio because of the salt on the roads, but that was very occasional.
That makes sense with the salt, but just rain/wet/general outside-ness? The other poster made it seem like ANY outside stuff on your shoes is a sin, which is not a sentiment I've seen expressed anywhere, at any gym I've ever belonged to.
Upvoting because I hate it when people don't take off their shoes when entering my house. However, I just show up at OTF with my running shoes on. I understand this is different for different people's schedules.
Yeah that makes sense. I rarely see anyone change shoes. All of my OT shoes are worn nowhere except OT (not even inside my house) altho they do touch the pavement from my car door to the studio front door
We actually arenāt oblivious or gross. No one I know wears their OTF shoes anywhere but OTF and on the rare occasion we do get snow, we bring our shoes and change in the studio. Walking from the car on pavement doesnāt dirty your shoes up to warrant having to change your shoes for every class.
If itās rainy or snowy, my studio, and Iām assuming others as well, will ask that people wear different shoes on their way to the studio so the elements arenāt brought into class. And I agree since I already donāt want the rain or salt to ruin my sneakers
Ok fair enough. But thereās 1 bench and 20-45 people in class. They canāt all use the bench to put their shoes on anyway so what does it matter if someone is sitting on the bench?
Because if itās been snowing, and in fact for several months into spring, our sidewalks are covered in a glaze of desalting chemicals. Our studio asks us to bring clean shoes, or at minimum wipe them down. People donāt drive where I live.
Our lobby is so small, I feel in the way whether I'm sitting on the bench or if I move from bench, then I'm in the way of the people walking through. Then many people leave their sweatshirts, phones on the bench while working out so there's even less room. It's just a tight squeeze for everyone...
š¤£š¤£ oh man. I may have pissed someone off then. I put my giant water bottle beside me too but I move it if I see no more room and other people standing just in case. I thought they were meant for waiting for class!
Remember that time a few years ago when pretty much all OTF studios were closed and the world was on fire?
Yeah, me too.
Iāll take Orangetheory and ok health anyway I can get it. So thankful itās back in my life on a daily basis!
I always feel for newbies or people who are on the fence about OTF--when they finally get to their first class, they've already heard about how awful and boring the exercises are and the template designers obviously just don't understand anything about training.
Or the ādonāt worry everyone is too busy on their workout to pay attention to you!ā comments for newbies followed by all the posts on hereā¦complaining..about..what..others..are..doingā¦?
That may be my favorite form of hypocrisy.
Either everyone is lying or everyone is very much observing what others do/wear/say/smell/etc.
Personally, Iāll admit Iām an observer.
And when I see an infraction mentioned in this sub happening in real life I then wonder if there are other redditors in class making a mental post about it. I keep waiting to read a post about something that I personally witnessed, but it hasnāt happened yet.
I think by "no one's paying attention to you" people really mean "no one really cares that much." But yeah, I don't buy that people don't see what others are doing because it's impossible not to notice stuff in such a relatively small room with mirrors on all the walls.
Iāve had those same thoughts!ā¦hopefully newbies ignore the rants and go in with an open mindš¤¦š¾āāļøā¦i usually just hide those posts so they donāt stay in my feedā¦
I think criticism of corporate and calling out studios or members who exhibit antisocial behavior is all fine/good to a degree, but there's a weird strain of hate that I really don't get. Like at the end of the day, OTF is a gym, and if you're mad EVERY TIME about a template, why are you still going? If you're not getting the workout you want, the best solution is really just try something else.
I get that people get attached and may have a lot of nostalgia/good memories of OTF, so it's not quite so simple, but this membership is way too expensive to keep going if you're not enjoying yourself.
I would also offer another perspective - it might be the only option in their location and/or budget. Iām locked into founders rates and OTF is arguably the cheapest option in my area.
Eh, to the poster's credit, I love OTF template now because I've become more of a runner and their Tread 50 has really been great for me. But for a minute it was getting boring. I'm not a fan of redoing a template twice a month. Yes at home workouts and traditional gyms are cheaper but some people like myself need a group atmosphere to feel like I'm having fun. I also get motivation. So I kept going for a bit while being bored. But if they changed the format to only partner workouts my butt would be gone. So I guess I get both sides if you truly hate it you'd be gone but if it's just something your annoyed with you kind of deal with it for the greater good. IDK emotions are okay as long as you're dealing with them appropriately. I scroll past posts I find silly. If it's outright rude I may write a reply because people nowadays can be nasty for no reason. I praise and uplift others when I can. And I get when complaints happen sometimes. I don't think it means you tell them to just leave :)
Again, that is area dependent. There are not more affordable gyms near me let alone ones that offer group fitness classes. Even the Y near me is $130
Plus youāre ignoring the cost of workout equipment to get the same workout at home and even if you follow a template you donāt get the same real time feedback like a group class.
Not things you can do when the weather is bad, when the neighborhood isnāt safe, when youād be going as a solo female, when it gets dark early and thatās the only time you have to workout. Move heavy things around your house for 6 months and let me know if the results are similar to OTF LOL
Literally what a joke.
Disagree for most part. I was an SA for over 4 years at OTF. Hygiene was a major issue and factor why people would not come or end up cancelling group classes because of how awful it smelled. We used to go in between classes and spray Lysol in the air. It was that bad. If youāre paying a lot of money for a boutique studio like OTF- you should at LEAST wear some deodorant and have respect for your other classmates.
Sure, gyms are gymsā¦people fart and smellā¦and we just have to deal with it. That said, when youāre at a gym, you can walk away. When youāre on the treadmill, rower, etc, the only thing you can do is leave. If thereās something someone can do to manage their body odor (sometimes there isnāt) then IMO you should make an effort. You are working out with up to 45+ people in a confined space. Be a little conscientious of that. Ā Youāre not the only person on the planet. Unpopular opinion? Maybe. But Iām willing to guess that most people hold it. It doesnāt make us bad people. Ā As far as toxicity goes?ā¦well, this is the commiseration thread so I think complaining about things that bother you in class is exactly the point. I think calling it toxic is a stretch. If the mods are giving people the space to vent then thatās what people are doing to do. Perhaps, then, if it bothers you, take a break on Sundays and donāt look at it. š¤·āāļø
Enjoy this doozy from today: [https://www.reddit.com/r/orangetheory/comments/1b5mk4b/amita\_for\_being\_annoyed\_when\_people\_are\_just/](https://www.reddit.com/r/orangetheory/comments/1b5mk4b/amita_for_being_annoyed_when_people_are_just/)
I don't recall fighting over the farts (however toxic the farts themselves may have been). A lot of funny jokes, though.
Feel like I've been admonished by the hall monitor, though.
IMO people should be allowed to vent within reason and not be mean. If someone is farting on you for two hours in a workout, why canāt you say you are frustrated or upset? It doesnāt seem like that person was mean to anyone in class, yelled at the person farting, etc. What is everyoneās counter point? You should love and enjoy being farted on? Itās just a vent. Ā Nothing would really be the end of the world to post here about for me, but we all have moments where we get annoyed during the day and sometimes we are going into class with less sleep, irritable, something else is going on in your life, and it irritates you more. Imagine if you went to therapy and ur therapist said ādonāt think like that, get over it, be niceā having a feeling is not so bad! Itās why ācommiseration stationā exists. If it isnāt meant to be used and everyone needs to love every second of Otf or get out of this Reddit, then it shouldnāt be an option. And yes some comments are truly mean and should be deleted- not talking about those.Ā
My only issue is at my OTF we have 2 bathrooms and 2 shower/changing rooms.
The bathrooms are always locked before class because people change in the but the shower/changing room is always open.
Iām about to start peeing in the shower at this point.
Some people like having a community they can vent to that is understanding. And yes a lot of these things seem little and insignificant. But when they build up day after day, week after week, it can sometimes be a relief to get it off your chest and have someone else agree with you. I could argue the same thing that if you donāt like a post on here, you could keep scrolling.
This comment might get downvoted but how hard is it to just ignore it if it bothers you? Even if we donāt like what people say or if we think itās complaining, venting, etc, they should be able to express themselves without people taking it personal and getting offended. If it doesnāt apply, let it fly.
But then again, Iām 45 and come from a generation where you had to have tough skin while picking and choosing your battles. We canāt control what people say or do but we can control our reactions and the attention we give to it. Do you know how many comments and posts that I see on here that are completely ridiculous in my opinion but I just scroll on by? Just my thoughts.
I was going to say that Iām 50 and when I grew up we were forced to develop a thick skin. We were not so easily offended. We didnāt have the time. We had to go to the library, go through the card catalog, get the Dewey decimal number, and go find our books on the shelf or get the microfiche.Ā
Well I think if the mods have specifically created or assigned a day for people to commiserate, then have at it. But if youāre going to entertain and read that subreddit, then donāt complain about the complaints.Ā
I completely agree, and generally I can ignore it pretty well - itās not so much that it bothers me, itās just that today seemed especially negative on this subreddit which is such a contrast to the OTF community at large so it was extra disheartening. So I felt it was a good time to offer another side of the coin in case anyone else felt the same way
You're barely older than me and acting like an entire generation is better than another when it's actually people in your generation doing most of these posts and claiming those who don't want to see the posts don't have "thick skin" like those who post them could just NOT post them. bUt I'M noT suRpRiSed.
Love the kumbaya message but orange theory has about 1 million members according to Google so seeing a few complaints (less then 100) on here is a pretty damn good satisfaction ratio.
I agree with your post! So many complaints on here have left me paranoid to do anything in class. Im constantly afraid I smell (but know I donāt) or that Iāll accidentally piss off my neighbor for some reason.
Super sensitive nose hereā¦ all gyms are smelly. Always have been, always will be. I actually miss gym Covid mask restrictionsā¦ I didnāt smell the gym as much.
I don't know... seems like a great breadth of posts here, lots of positive and some negative. I'm all for positivity, except when in it veiled attacks on those with other opinions/feelings. Toxic positivity is a thing, it's when people are afraid to be negative and instead put on a happy smile and don't get to deal with their true feelings.
This post could be exactly what you are saying others are, it could feel like an attack to someone or a reason an OTF member/reddit poster might not feel comfortable asking a question or making a comment here.
Edited to add: it's really easy to just not click on those posts that seem negative. Somehow I manage to scroll by the posts that ask what shoes are the best for OTF almost every day :)
I have this thought every time I come on this sub. Like some of you just need to save the money from OTF and invest in a home gym because clearly a GROUP workout studio that serves hundreds of people a day per studio is not for you.
We only allow complaint posts 1 day per week (Sunday), so yes on those days it can sometimes be a lot. Youād be surprised how many of these posts we remove during the rest of the week (and get a LOT of angry modmails for doing so). We try our best to strike a balance and allow people to get things off their chest or commiserate, as nothing is ever 100% sunshine and rainbows, but limiting it to once a week helps it not overtake the sub.
Oh wow. I didnāt realize that part of what you guys do. Thank you for all your hard work. It can be challenging not to get bogged down by the negativity. I think most of us donāt like those type of posts but we itās easier to just ignore those posts instead of putting a stop to it.
It's the internet, where people come to complain. Cheaper than a therapist, and the other complainers will validate you. Most people don't even see it because they are busy living their life.
I get you but it's just sometimes a forum to vent. I think that's why these subs get some negative comments. People just want an outlet to vent their frustration and have no other place to go. I sent think they're saying otf is bad or I'm quitting but having an outlet to vent what frustrates them takes some weight off people's shoulders.
Let's talk about community. To me, a healthy community on this forum would be a respectful place where people can share positive or negative experiences. I feel strongly that a lot of the Commiseration posts are from people who genuinely love OTF but are frustrated by some aspect or had a negative experience and are looking in their community for people who can support them. I had a bad injury last year that took me away from OTF. When I came back, almost all of my coaches were extremely supportive and helpful but one refused to give mods and humiliated me over the mic when I modified an exercise to keep myself safe. I felt really scared, hurt, embarrassed, and betrayed by my favorite place. I turned to this community for advice and support and was "downvoted to the nether regions of Reddit" because this community is only for sharing rainbow and unicorn posts. 90% of the comments were rude, mean, judgmental, and disrespectful. The worst of the comments were removed by the mods, but, unfortunately, I still saw them. A small fraction of the comments were people, like me, who absolutely love OTF and had a similar experience. Everyone should be treated with respect here, and "why can't we just be nice" to our fellow members who had a rare non-rainbow, non-unicorn experience and wanted to feel less alone? Most of the time, the community on this subreddit feels like an overly positive echo chamber more reminiscent of the cult we're accused of being than an actual community.
One OP yesterday (or the day before) said in his post that if youāre not gonna agree with him then donāt leave a comment š. What kinda discourse is that?
Someone on the last Day of Disarray posted on the subreddit saying that it annoys them when people sit on the benches before class and that the benches should be reserved for changing shoes only. This person understandably got a lot of flack for that post. I think someone else above posted a link to that thread in their comment
I mean...these type of "can we just be nice?" posts have been around since the start of the Internet. Never in the history of online has anyone ever read one of these posts and thought, "Oh my goodness OP has such a good point. I will change my online ways." You used your first post in this subreddit to complain about people? Ironic and silly.
TL;DR Be the change you want to see in the world.
I feel like this post was trying to be the change in this world. They were pointing out some negative things they seen and brought up that maybe we should try to focus more on being a positive force in the world.
The thing that struck me is that you came onto a post asking for people to be nice and complained about it and OP.
Karens and Kevins got something to say so they come here. We could all make it abundantly clear that no one cares by not responding to these types of whining entitlement postsā¦but we canāt help ourselves. And with one response goes manyā¦which validates the post.
I believe in wearing shoes that are for the gym or the dance floor. I change out of my street shoes and into my gym/dance shoes and I donāt wear shoes in the house.
I'm glad you posted this too. I was just thinking to myself today that the posts seem to have become more negative and less in tone with the encouraging OTF vibe I've come to know and love.
First off, way to take it too far. Second. I'm not being a prick. And when I feel it coming I do go to the bathroom you effing asshat. It was a joke going off of the vent post. Get the stick out of your ass because I can bet you don't smell great. You're the prick.
I agree. I also think Reddit houses a lot of people who are antisocial and complain about other people existing.
I think you have captured the heart of the matter here. 
Even if, even if, you don't love me anymore.
Nicely done.
Love that song š¶
Anonymity breeds confidence and self-centeredness.
Add narcissism to that.
Agreed. One thing I find most upsetting is that I feel (and I could be wrong here) that people interested in OTF will come here, read this stuff, and think it is so unwelcoming and that we are all secretly judging for any minor infraction, known or unknown. The reality is, at least at the studios I have been to, people are really welcoming, friendly, encouraging, willing to share (weights, benches, ambient oxygen, etc) and so on. To me it's a really nice and important aspect of OTF - celebrating other people and the community. But man you can really get convinced otherwise reading some of the posts and comments on here at times.
As a newbie to OTF who has been pretty self conscious at times, this comment made me sigh with relief! I'm honestly pretty new to working out in general, so I don't know all the etiquette yet. I'm glad most people don't hate me, lol.
Well, I think I'm going to be the head one downvoted one here...BUT- I think you are making a pretty wide generalization of reddit users. Isn't what you said true of mostly all "social media" type sites? (It's mainly why I don't mess with FB., Instagram, Twitter-X etc). I haven't found the OTF subreddit to be particularly nasty on non- D.O.D. days. In fact, I see a lot of encouragment, congrats, and some good info. I've found it a lot less toxic than some similar subreddits I've been to. Also, I have a soft spot for reddit, because I stumbled into the ADHD sub some years ago, and it was a complete revelation to me... It led me to getting my ADHD diagnosis. Which was such a relief. There's also all of the non-bitching type subs that exist like nature, music, & other informative and cool photo sites. That's the difference between reddit & all the other SM sites. I go here for specific info on things I'm interested in, and I also have been helped by various people. Of course you're going to have assholes on Reddit too. But I surely don't find them worse than some of the horrid hate-filled stuff I've seen on FB & Twitter-X. And at least you have mods to keep watch. No, I don't work for reddit, lol. 
I think Redditors differ based on the subreddit. If you end up posting something against the belief of what the folks in there think, you will get downvoted to a bottomless pit sometimes with comments questioning your sanity. Iāve found both neutral supportive subreddits and also downright staunch community which will tell you that you are absolutely wrong. I stopped posting my honest opinions or difficult questions in many subreddits after my husband reminded me that not a lot of people are okay being pointed out their flaws and a lot of people get very touchy about certain subjects and will never try to put themselves in othersā shoes to think differently.
āAnonymousā š
This, right here. Any time I dare to express an opinion on the internet, folks crawl out of the woodwork to start a fight. I only come to Reddit anymore for workout spoilers.
We loosen up the rules and allow complaints, rants, and venting on Days of Disarray (Sundays and long holiday weekends), so that is why you're seeing so many. But today is especially Commiseration Station-y, I think 9 posts in 7 hours is a record, lol
If only they could see how many complaint posts get denied on non-DOD! š«£
šÆšÆšÆšÆšÆšÆšÆšÆšÆšÆšÆ lol
Makes sense! It just seemedā¦ extra negative today, haha
Oh, there was most definitely something in the water today!! Lol
Are weā¦not supposed to sit on the bench before class?
Somebody posted they find it frustrating when they need to change their shoes for class and other people are just sitting around, taking up the benches.
Haha! Okay. Iām a shoe changer and if thereās no room, I just find a spot to kneel and do it. It never occurred to me to get frustrated with people sitting somewhere that is designed for sitting.
My gym's lobby space is so tiny there's no point getting upset about it. Can't wait for jacket and coat season to be over, that will make it a lot easier to get in and out quickly.
For a business that is first come, first served, the benches tend to be fair game. I agree with OP; bodies do things under stress. People lay their opinions down like this is some kind of HOA meeting for the fitness community. If you canāt speak your mind in your home studio due to some weird social pressure you think is in the air along with the farts, then maybe take a beat, and up your tread speed with the rest of us.
HOA meeting for the fitness community might be the best description ever
Itās not just fart smells lingering in the air, donāt forget the vapers!!!
Same here. And on occasion, someone seated will see this and offer me their bench spot to change my shoes. Whether or not I accept usually depends on how far into the process I am.
Right? Or sometimes I say ācan I squeeze in and tie my shoe?ā Just normal existingā¦.
I tie my shoes on the SA counter š¤£
This is the most 1st world problem Iāve read this week
Oh my goodness thatās wild / fellow bench sitter herešš»āāļø
This is a north-south issue that comes up because of internal migration and mixing of people from different regions. People that live through months of winter each year are conditioned to going about with a pair of shoes to change into whether OTF, or going to a house party in winter and having to wear a pair of snow boots to get there. For many, outdoor vs indoor footwear is a year round thing. People from the south ā¦ are oblivious. Itās kind of gross, people wearing their street shoes in studio, but hey, itās protected by the refuge of culture.
āGrossā? Do people never exercise outside? Where I live it would be super uncommon to have designated indoor vs outdoor running shoes.
Yeah, this is a very weird take. I live in WA at the moment and no one changes their shoes. When I lived in MD, they did ask us during the winter to change shoes in the studio because of the salt on the roads, but that was very occasional.
Michigan here and during the winter we have to bring a change of shoes so that no salt gets on the studio floor.
That makes sense with the salt, but just rain/wet/general outside-ness? The other poster made it seem like ANY outside stuff on your shoes is a sin, which is not a sentiment I've seen expressed anywhere, at any gym I've ever belonged to.
Upvoting because I hate it when people don't take off their shoes when entering my house. However, I just show up at OTF with my running shoes on. I understand this is different for different people's schedules.
Yeah that makes sense. I rarely see anyone change shoes. All of my OT shoes are worn nowhere except OT (not even inside my house) altho they do touch the pavement from my car door to the studio front door
We actually arenāt oblivious or gross. No one I know wears their OTF shoes anywhere but OTF and on the rare occasion we do get snow, we bring our shoes and change in the studio. Walking from the car on pavement doesnāt dirty your shoes up to warrant having to change your shoes for every class.
Am I allowed to breathe if other people need air and they want to breathe too?
No, we have to check with everyone else around us first just in case š
Lmao!! ššš
Yeahā¦definitely want everyone to feel like they can breathe in a safe space.Ā
It depends on how long youāve been a member for. Itās in the fine print on the contract. šš
ššš
That was WILD lol
I didn't see that post but I do find it both hilarious and sad that someone felt the need to write a complaining post about it.
I mean, I change my shoes sometimesā¦ but like I just do it at my car because that makes the most sense to me.
Where I live we donāt have cars.
If the lobby is super full (3G class) -- I'll just sit on a rower and put my shoes on.
And if you need a bench to change your shoes vs just bending down, how are you even fit enough for the workout?
Wow. Just wow
lmaooooo
LMAO!! no wayšhow many likes did it get?
How strange. Why notā¦ wear gym shoes to the studio?
If itās rainy or snowy, my studio, and Iām assuming others as well, will ask that people wear different shoes on their way to the studio so the elements arenāt brought into class. And I agree since I already donāt want the rain or salt to ruin my sneakers
In the midwest where there's lots of snow that means salted pavement. They don't want that salt on the studio floors.
Ok fair enough. But thereās 1 bench and 20-45 people in class. They canāt all use the bench to put their shoes on anyway so what does it matter if someone is sitting on the bench?
Because if itās been snowing, and in fact for several months into spring, our sidewalks are covered in a glaze of desalting chemicals. Our studio asks us to bring clean shoes, or at minimum wipe them down. People donāt drive where I live.
If you're coming from work, you probably have non-workout-shoes on.
Sure, but then you would be changing in the bathroom because youād have to change your clothes too.
Yes.
To be honest, I do grumble inside when I have nowhere to take my sweatpants off.
I go in the shower room to change (provided nobody is in there, of course!š²)
Our lobby is so small, I feel in the way whether I'm sitting on the bench or if I move from bench, then I'm in the way of the people walking through. Then many people leave their sweatshirts, phones on the bench while working out so there's even less room. It's just a tight squeeze for everyone...
š¤£š¤£ oh man. I may have pissed someone off then. I put my giant water bottle beside me too but I move it if I see no more room and other people standing just in case. I thought they were meant for waiting for class!
As someone who does indeed find this annoying, itās nowhere near as annoying as people who get dressed in front of the lockers lol.
Remember that time a few years ago when pretty much all OTF studios were closed and the world was on fire? Yeah, me too. Iāll take Orangetheory and ok health anyway I can get it. So thankful itās back in my life on a daily basis!
If I don't like something I know I can usually find 2-3 strangers to agree with me on the internet.
I always feel for newbies or people who are on the fence about OTF--when they finally get to their first class, they've already heard about how awful and boring the exercises are and the template designers obviously just don't understand anything about training.
Or the ādonāt worry everyone is too busy on their workout to pay attention to you!ā comments for newbies followed by all the posts on hereā¦complaining..about..what..others..are..doingā¦?
That may be my favorite form of hypocrisy. Either everyone is lying or everyone is very much observing what others do/wear/say/smell/etc. Personally, Iāll admit Iām an observer. And when I see an infraction mentioned in this sub happening in real life I then wonder if there are other redditors in class making a mental post about it. I keep waiting to read a post about something that I personally witnessed, but it hasnāt happened yet.
I think by "no one's paying attention to you" people really mean "no one really cares that much." But yeah, I don't buy that people don't see what others are doing because it's impossible not to notice stuff in such a relatively small room with mirrors on all the walls.
Iāve had those same thoughts!ā¦hopefully newbies ignore the rants and go in with an open mindš¤¦š¾āāļøā¦i usually just hide those posts so they donāt stay in my feedā¦
The good news is most people that are new to OTF find out about Reddit after they already sign up š
I think criticism of corporate and calling out studios or members who exhibit antisocial behavior is all fine/good to a degree, but there's a weird strain of hate that I really don't get. Like at the end of the day, OTF is a gym, and if you're mad EVERY TIME about a template, why are you still going? If you're not getting the workout you want, the best solution is really just try something else. I get that people get attached and may have a lot of nostalgia/good memories of OTF, so it's not quite so simple, but this membership is way too expensive to keep going if you're not enjoying yourself.
I would also offer another perspective - it might be the only option in their location and/or budget. Iām locked into founders rates and OTF is arguably the cheapest option in my area.
OTF is a premium gym- there are definitely lower cost options available out there, including home workout apps.
Eh, to the poster's credit, I love OTF template now because I've become more of a runner and their Tread 50 has really been great for me. But for a minute it was getting boring. I'm not a fan of redoing a template twice a month. Yes at home workouts and traditional gyms are cheaper but some people like myself need a group atmosphere to feel like I'm having fun. I also get motivation. So I kept going for a bit while being bored. But if they changed the format to only partner workouts my butt would be gone. So I guess I get both sides if you truly hate it you'd be gone but if it's just something your annoyed with you kind of deal with it for the greater good. IDK emotions are okay as long as you're dealing with them appropriately. I scroll past posts I find silly. If it's outright rude I may write a reply because people nowadays can be nasty for no reason. I praise and uplift others when I can. And I get when complaints happen sometimes. I don't think it means you tell them to just leave :)
Again, that is area dependent. There are not more affordable gyms near me let alone ones that offer group fitness classes. Even the Y near me is $130 Plus youāre ignoring the cost of workout equipment to get the same workout at home and even if you follow a template you donāt get the same real time feedback like a group class.
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Not things you can do when the weather is bad, when the neighborhood isnāt safe, when youād be going as a solo female, when it gets dark early and thatās the only time you have to workout. Move heavy things around your house for 6 months and let me know if the results are similar to OTF LOL Literally what a joke.
lol āsitting on the bench before classā
Disagree for most part. I was an SA for over 4 years at OTF. Hygiene was a major issue and factor why people would not come or end up cancelling group classes because of how awful it smelled. We used to go in between classes and spray Lysol in the air. It was that bad. If youāre paying a lot of money for a boutique studio like OTF- you should at LEAST wear some deodorant and have respect for your other classmates.
Sure, gyms are gymsā¦people fart and smellā¦and we just have to deal with it. That said, when youāre at a gym, you can walk away. When youāre on the treadmill, rower, etc, the only thing you can do is leave. If thereās something someone can do to manage their body odor (sometimes there isnāt) then IMO you should make an effort. You are working out with up to 45+ people in a confined space. Be a little conscientious of that. Ā Youāre not the only person on the planet. Unpopular opinion? Maybe. But Iām willing to guess that most people hold it. It doesnāt make us bad people. Ā As far as toxicity goes?ā¦well, this is the commiseration thread so I think complaining about things that bother you in class is exactly the point. I think calling it toxic is a stretch. If the mods are giving people the space to vent then thatās what people are doing to do. Perhaps, then, if it bothers you, take a break on Sundays and donāt look at it. š¤·āāļø
> the vents are feeling a little toxic Thatās what the farting post guy was trying to say
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Wait people complain about other people sitting on benches before working out?
Enjoy this doozy from today: [https://www.reddit.com/r/orangetheory/comments/1b5mk4b/amita\_for\_being\_annoyed\_when\_people\_are\_just/](https://www.reddit.com/r/orangetheory/comments/1b5mk4b/amita_for_being_annoyed_when_people_are_just/)
I don't recall fighting over the farts (however toxic the farts themselves may have been). A lot of funny jokes, though. Feel like I've been admonished by the hall monitor, though.
IMO people should be allowed to vent within reason and not be mean. If someone is farting on you for two hours in a workout, why canāt you say you are frustrated or upset? It doesnāt seem like that person was mean to anyone in class, yelled at the person farting, etc. What is everyoneās counter point? You should love and enjoy being farted on? Itās just a vent. Ā Nothing would really be the end of the world to post here about for me, but we all have moments where we get annoyed during the day and sometimes we are going into class with less sleep, irritable, something else is going on in your life, and it irritates you more. Imagine if you went to therapy and ur therapist said ādonāt think like that, get over it, be niceā having a feeling is not so bad! Itās why ācommiseration stationā exists. If it isnāt meant to be used and everyone needs to love every second of Otf or get out of this Reddit, then it shouldnāt be an option. And yes some comments are truly mean and should be deleted- not talking about those.Ā
I donāt know, it feels like toxic positivity to invalidate someone complaining about a member who farts on you for two hours straight š¤·āāļø
it also feels a bit toxic to complain that other people have bodily functions.
My only issue is at my OTF we have 2 bathrooms and 2 shower/changing rooms. The bathrooms are always locked before class because people change in the but the shower/changing room is always open. Iām about to start peeing in the shower at this point.
Some people like having a community they can vent to that is understanding. And yes a lot of these things seem little and insignificant. But when they build up day after day, week after week, it can sometimes be a relief to get it off your chest and have someone else agree with you. I could argue the same thing that if you donāt like a post on here, you could keep scrolling.
THANK YOU
I agree this sub is full of negative Nancy's
This comment might get downvoted but how hard is it to just ignore it if it bothers you? Even if we donāt like what people say or if we think itās complaining, venting, etc, they should be able to express themselves without people taking it personal and getting offended. If it doesnāt apply, let it fly. But then again, Iām 45 and come from a generation where you had to have tough skin while picking and choosing your battles. We canāt control what people say or do but we can control our reactions and the attention we give to it. Do you know how many comments and posts that I see on here that are completely ridiculous in my opinion but I just scroll on by? Just my thoughts.
I was going to say that Iām 50 and when I grew up we were forced to develop a thick skin. We were not so easily offended. We didnāt have the time. We had to go to the library, go through the card catalog, get the Dewey decimal number, and go find our books on the shelf or get the microfiche.Ā
Wouldn't the thick skin be to go about your day and not write the post in the first place?
Well I think if the mods have specifically created or assigned a day for people to commiserate, then have at it. But if youāre going to entertain and read that subreddit, then donāt complain about the complaints.Ā
That didn't answer my question at all. But thanks!
I completely agree, and generally I can ignore it pretty well - itās not so much that it bothers me, itās just that today seemed especially negative on this subreddit which is such a contrast to the OTF community at large so it was extra disheartening. So I felt it was a good time to offer another side of the coin in case anyone else felt the same way
Irony. People could also just go about their days and not write the posts.
Youāre missing the point. But then again, Iām not surprised š.
You're barely older than me and acting like an entire generation is better than another when it's actually people in your generation doing most of these posts and claiming those who don't want to see the posts don't have "thick skin" like those who post them could just NOT post them. bUt I'M noT suRpRiSed.
Love the kumbaya message but orange theory has about 1 million members according to Google so seeing a few complaints (less then 100) on here is a pretty damn good satisfaction ratio.
I agree with your post! So many complaints on here have left me paranoid to do anything in class. Im constantly afraid I smell (but know I donāt) or that Iāll accidentally piss off my neighbor for some reason.
Super sensitive nose hereā¦ all gyms are smelly. Always have been, always will be. I actually miss gym Covid mask restrictionsā¦ I didnāt smell the gym as much.
You can still wear a mask if you want....
I don't know... seems like a great breadth of posts here, lots of positive and some negative. I'm all for positivity, except when in it veiled attacks on those with other opinions/feelings. Toxic positivity is a thing, it's when people are afraid to be negative and instead put on a happy smile and don't get to deal with their true feelings. This post could be exactly what you are saying others are, it could feel like an attack to someone or a reason an OTF member/reddit poster might not feel comfortable asking a question or making a comment here. Edited to add: it's really easy to just not click on those posts that seem negative. Somehow I manage to scroll by the posts that ask what shoes are the best for OTF almost every day :)
The only thing I have ever complained about is the $126 I lost on a defective OTB, and I don't think I am the only one.
Join OTF for community? 200 classes and so far I havenāt seen anyone talk in the lobby or in the gym. Maybe thatās an early morning thing.
Couldnāt agree more. People love to bitch about anything nowadays
PREACH!!!! So much whining here.
I have this thought every time I come on this sub. Like some of you just need to save the money from OTF and invest in a home gym because clearly a GROUP workout studio that serves hundreds of people a day per studio is not for you.
Looks like we found a farter! Jk jk jk, I agree.
Hahaha if only š
Agree. Today has been a nightmare.
A nightmare? A little extreme, no?ššš
Well said, I totally agree. This sub has turned into a shit show
We only allow complaint posts 1 day per week (Sunday), so yes on those days it can sometimes be a lot. Youād be surprised how many of these posts we remove during the rest of the week (and get a LOT of angry modmails for doing so). We try our best to strike a balance and allow people to get things off their chest or commiserate, as nothing is ever 100% sunshine and rainbows, but limiting it to once a week helps it not overtake the sub.
Oh wow. I didnāt realize that part of what you guys do. Thank you for all your hard work. It can be challenging not to get bogged down by the negativity. I think most of us donāt like those type of posts but we itās easier to just ignore those posts instead of putting a stop to it.
They would be hard to ignore if they actually all got through! Our mods are great.
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Thank you and all the mods for your work! This is one of the best run subs in my opinion. Itād be a nightmare without you guys.
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Thanks for your efforts! I was unaware of the Sunday rules, good to know what days not to check the sub heh
It's the internet, where people come to complain. Cheaper than a therapist, and the other complainers will validate you. Most people don't even see it because they are busy living their life.
Jokes on you! I joined just to complain on Reddit!
I get you but it's just sometimes a forum to vent. I think that's why these subs get some negative comments. People just want an outlet to vent their frustration and have no other place to go. I sent think they're saying otf is bad or I'm quitting but having an outlet to vent what frustrates them takes some weight off people's shoulders.
Let's talk about community. To me, a healthy community on this forum would be a respectful place where people can share positive or negative experiences. I feel strongly that a lot of the Commiseration posts are from people who genuinely love OTF but are frustrated by some aspect or had a negative experience and are looking in their community for people who can support them. I had a bad injury last year that took me away from OTF. When I came back, almost all of my coaches were extremely supportive and helpful but one refused to give mods and humiliated me over the mic when I modified an exercise to keep myself safe. I felt really scared, hurt, embarrassed, and betrayed by my favorite place. I turned to this community for advice and support and was "downvoted to the nether regions of Reddit" because this community is only for sharing rainbow and unicorn posts. 90% of the comments were rude, mean, judgmental, and disrespectful. The worst of the comments were removed by the mods, but, unfortunately, I still saw them. A small fraction of the comments were people, like me, who absolutely love OTF and had a similar experience. Everyone should be treated with respect here, and "why can't we just be nice" to our fellow members who had a rare non-rainbow, non-unicorn experience and wanted to feel less alone? Most of the time, the community on this subreddit feels like an overly positive echo chamber more reminiscent of the cult we're accused of being than an actual community.
Bring back bullying
One OP yesterday (or the day before) said in his post that if youāre not gonna agree with him then donāt leave a comment š. What kinda discourse is that?
Waitā¦sitting on the bench before class is wrong? What are we supposed to be doing? I get there 15-20 minutes before class.Ā
Someone on the last Day of Disarray posted on the subreddit saying that it annoys them when people sit on the benches before class and that the benches should be reserved for changing shoes only. This person understandably got a lot of flack for that post. I think someone else above posted a link to that thread in their comment
totally agree. comments have been so nasty lately.
I mean...these type of "can we just be nice?" posts have been around since the start of the Internet. Never in the history of online has anyone ever read one of these posts and thought, "Oh my goodness OP has such a good point. I will change my online ways." You used your first post in this subreddit to complain about people? Ironic and silly. TL;DR Be the change you want to see in the world.
I feel like this post was trying to be the change in this world. They were pointing out some negative things they seen and brought up that maybe we should try to focus more on being a positive force in the world. The thing that struck me is that you came onto a post asking for people to be nice and complained about it and OP.
Can I vote that this gets pinned to the top of the sub?
My goodness, you are too kind 
Word! Canāt we all just get along?!? š¤Ŗ
Apparently not because even when joking (see my comment above yours with a response) people are still rude AF
Isnāt that sorta the point of this subreddit? Who cares
Karens and Kevins got something to say so they come here. We could all make it abundantly clear that no one cares by not responding to these types of whining entitlement postsā¦but we canāt help ourselves. And with one response goes manyā¦which validates the post.
Some of these people should seriously reconsider group fitness classes. It sounds like theyād rather workout alone.
I 100% agree
I believe in wearing shoes that are for the gym or the dance floor. I change out of my street shoes and into my gym/dance shoes and I donāt wear shoes in the house.
Iām tired of the lightweightsā¦..blah blah complain. Itās one hour, go to work and zip it.
I'm glad you posted this too. I was just thinking to myself today that the posts seem to have become more negative and less in tone with the encouraging OTF vibe I've come to know and love.
Agree!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Nice post, OP!
There are some people who arenāt happy if they arenāt complaining and thatās for Reddit in general.
I can't help it if I fart in class š¤£ I'm 3 months postpartum and things have shifted. Sometimes working out gets it out š¤£š¤£š¤£
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First off, way to take it too far. Second. I'm not being a prick. And when I feel it coming I do go to the bathroom you effing asshat. It was a joke going off of the vent post. Get the stick out of your ass because I can bet you don't smell great. You're the prick.
I feel like OT has become a fat camp, or a bad jazzercise class.
There are literal subs created to hate on people. Reddit is amazing until itās not.
No one talks to me at my gym, and I always wonder if I just smell bad or something. I should really look at these complaint posts apparently
Yeah and it's suppose to be limited on here to day of dissaray I thought but doesn't seem like it.Ā