Why would a 12 year old get up at 5.45am so that they can be one of the first to arrive at the gym?
The short answer is free merch. It’s 15 years since the gym opened and they are giving away free hats, water bottles, sweatshirts and mystery bags. One per member. We want to get there early so that we get something good. We make it. Phew. What do we get? More on that later.
The long answer is more complex. It’s not really about hats and mystery bags.
It’s about this gym and about what it offers to my step son.
He started visiting when he was 9 and now goes three times a week. He is getting fitter and stronger. Ridiculously strong actually, but that’s another story.
By coming here, he gets community. He feels part of something. This is ‘his place’. The trainers are friendly and encouraging. His Personal Trainer, Ryan, talks to him about TV shows and video games and other things of mutual interest. He feels seen, and known, and he has a sense that people care about him. It’s not all about the weights and the reps and the machines. Seriously, it’s not.
He is part of something and he encounters many different people. The over-65s in their Friday lunchtime group. The man accompanied by someone who is probably a support worker. The seriously muscly and jacked folk. The young people from the High School who come in after their days in blazers and smart shoes are over. Young, old, queer, conventional, strong, and otherwise. The people who make up this community.
As a home educating family, we find and build connections in lots of places. We create our own communities which are just for home educated young people but it’s also really great to hop in to communities that exist elsewhere, like the one at this gym.
He’s never been to another gym. He’s not old enough, but also, he is loyal to this one. We got lucky. I’ve heard that not all gyms are the same. He might not feel like this in other places.
But this one, with its people and its trainers and its vibe. This is his place. And this is why we get up at 5.45am for free merch.
I got a free sweatshirt. He got a mystery bag with a Just Gym rubber duck. And then we worked out. It’s a good start to the day.
Thanks Just Gym. Happy Anniversary. You rock.