A “gym influencer” named Joey Swoll follows one important philosophy: the gym should be a warm, welcoming, and safe space for everyone to enjoy. That’s why he often posts videos online on his various social media accounts talking about how other people behave at the gym and how they are part of the problem plaguing the minds of people who want to exercise but are afraid.
Joey Swoll criticized men who mocked an elderly man who was working out at the gym.
In a short clip uploaded to Instagram reels, a man with the handle @money_ovafame posted a video recorded by his friend in which he mocks an elderly man who is just going about his business in front of the dumbbell racks and performing a goblet squat. He has since deleted the video, but not before everyone’s favorite gymnastics hero, Joey Swoll, got hold of it and talked about it during a TikTok.
In the original video, the man who posted it complains about how the elderly man stood right in front of him to do squats and included some laughing emojis mocking the way he was exercising.
So in your caption you say you’re upset because that man is right in front of you, comments Joey Swoll. Are we watching the same video? Because no, he isn’t. He is literally on your left and actually standing in the middle of you and that man using the bench on your left.
According to the video, it appears that the man recording went out of his way to film the elderly man who was working out. The man on whose account the video was posted was working several meters to his right, completely unfazed.
Even if the elderly man stood in front of the man working out, there is no excuse for taking out his cell phone and recording a video of someone working out at the gym without his consent, a controversy that Joey Swoll also frequently addresses in his videos. It would be rude, but he clearly understands personal boundaries and doesn’t upset anyone.
And yes, it is in front of the dumbbell rack. Why? Joey Swoll continues. Because 115 pounds is hard for anyone to carry in the gym, let alone a man his age. And he needs it to regain weight after a set.
If you’ve ever lifted weights and have a good understanding of their weight, 115 pounds is no joke for a man his age, or anyone for that matter. So why mock him? The gym is supposed to be a safe place for people to work out, and that’s part of the reason people don’t go.
No one is born going to the gym. Anxiety at the gym shouldn’t stop anyone from joining.
Some people are afraid of not knowing what they are doing or of doing something wrong, and some people are afraid of the way they will be perceived by those around them. This is known as gym anxiety. Gym anxiety actually stops many people from stepping foot in the gym, and videos like this one are part of the problem. This elderly man was minding his own business, just working out and was ridiculed for it.
Approximately 90% of people are worried about how other people perceive them at the gym, according to a MyProtein survey conducted in 2021. When that 90% of people see videos like the one @money_ovafame posted, their fears are validated.
Despite these numbers, 3 in 4 respondents admitted that they rarely or never judge others in the gym. Most people are just minding their own business and like minding their own business. In fact, I would say that because of this very real fear that most people seem to have, people go to great lengths to make the gym a safe and welcoming place. They will force themselves to stop judging others because it is a reflection of themselves.
How impressive is it that a man your age is not only in the gym but also doing a 115-pound goblet squat? Joey Swoll said. Fantastic. It’s a shame that you weren’t impressed by this and showed support for him, but you’d rather record a video to post on social media to make fun of him for likes and attention.
Everyone who is working out at the gym should be supported and encouraged to continue doing so. No one should be ridiculed for prioritizing their health. Everyone should feel welcome to exercise and take care of themselves.
Isaac Serna-Diez is an assistant editor at YourTango focusing on entertainment and news, social justice and politics.
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