Gyms to influencers: Please stop filming your workout
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Please don't film that squat — your hot yoga instructor is begging.
Why it matters: In this era of social media, even the most routine moments have become content to share on TikTok or Instagram.
But people are over influencers and others who record themselves in gyms and group fitness studios.
- Some companies have banned filming or phones to curb privacy concerns and distractions.
The big picture: Big chains like Life Time, Equinox and Crunch Fitness prohibit filming clients without their permission.
- Rules elsewhere can vary by location or instructor.
What they're saying: "It's great to see members sharing their workouts, but we also recognize that not everyone wants to be in the background of a viral video," Brookelyn Suddell, a director at Crunch, tells Axios.
Zoom in: Post-class selfies can be fair game.
- Barry's, known for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) nationwide and beyond, encourages clients "to capture their progress outside of the workout itself," Vicky Land, a senior vice president, tells us.
Meanwhile, phones are a no-go at BOHO Studios in Richmond, Virginia, to promote unplugging and "dedicating time for yourself and what you need that day," owner AnnMarie Grohs tells Axios.
What we're hearing: Many attendees vent online about influencers filming during group classes, calling it rude and urging them to book private sessions.
- Some say they now sit up front to avoid the cameras.
- "Can you just zoom in on yourself and crop everyone out? It's not that hard to do," actress Claire Holt recently said in a TikTok video.
Content creators say they try not to record others mid-workout. (A common fix is to cover people's faces with emojis.)
- "It's our responsibility that others feel comfortable," New York City influencer Liv Schreiber told the Wall Street Journal.
The other side: Social media buzz can be good exposure for a growing business.
- Tripods are available to use at Denver-area Transform Gym and War House Gyms in San Antonio and San Diego.
- Popular companies like solidcore and Alo Yoga have invited influencers and celebrities to dedicated, camera-friendly sessions.
Between the lines: Influencers aren't the only ones with cameras rolling these days.
- While some people post for fun, many aspire to content creation as a full-time job.
- More than half (57%) of Gen Zers say they want to be influencers, according to Morning Consult research.
The bottom line: Those worried about appearing in someone's "day in my life" (#diml) video should ask about fitness clubs' rules before signing up.
Axios Richmond's Karri Peifer contributed reporting.
