The Gym

I walk into the gym at 4:55pm.  The Body Combat class that I want to go to does not start until 5:30pm and there are already five people in line. I think to myself, I have time to get changed and then get in line.  The gym has been very busy since the New Year and it is like a competition just trying to get a space in a class.

Upon returning, the line is huge.  I cannot believe this has happened.  Have I lost my chance to go to the class now?  I thought coming to the gym 35 minutes early would give me enough time?   This is ridiculous.  There are now 25 people in line.  The line has gotten five times bigger in the 6-7 minutes that I have been gone. 

Really, do I have to line up 35 minutes before the class starts to make sure I get in?  I pay my $44 dollars a month to go to this gym and I have been coming here for five years.  Does that not matter?  Some of these individuals have just made New Year’s resolutions and will only come a few more times and then never be seen again.

How can a gym ask me to pay $576 a year, when they cannot guarantee a service they are offering to me?  The gym does not give me any money back if I do not get into the class.  All they do is say were sorry, but the class is full. 

Now I am forced to leave work earlier than I would like, just to get a space in the class.  This is crazy, but what is even more outrageous is more than 30 other people are doing the same thing.

On this evening at least three other members were turned away because the class was full at 5:05pm, 25 minutes before the class was suppose to start. However, does anything change?  No. Week after week, the same thing happens and every Monday I see people shaking their heads and saying why do we do this?  We do this because we have no alternative. Either you stand in line or do not attend the class. 

Therefore, if you need to find me on Monday's at about 5pm I will be at the gym.  Standing in line with at least 30 other members hoping we arrived early enough to attend the evening Body Combat class.