peer workshop draft - assignment 1

8/14/2019 Peer Workshop Draft - Assignment 1

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UNC CharlotteSeptember 2 - September 17, 2013

IMPROVING ONES MIND, BODY, AND HEALTH

An overview of the makeup of a fitness center including the location, the people thatmake it up, and the things that are important to them.

The SAC FitnessCenter


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Table of ContentsThe Figured World of Fitness ...................................... 1

Description of SAC Fitness ...................................... 1Rules & Conventions ............................................... 3

The People that Inhabit SAC ....................................... 4

Meet a UNCC Fitness Member ................................ 4"Sacred" Items & Objects ............................................ 5

Communities in the Fitness Center ............................. 5

My Experience at SAC Fitness .................................... 6Observation Notes....................................................... 7


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1 | S A C F i t n e s s C e n t e r

The Figured World of FitnessFiguredworld: place driven by socialization and made up of

people that behave in a certain way in response to the "culture" ofthat world. In a figured world there can be many different types of"actors" or personalities, and the actors can often be grouped intocategories.

A student fitness center, is a world where UNC Charlotte collegestudents, faculty, and staff, come independently or in groups toimprove their health. Many activities can occur here depending on

the equipment one decides to use. The fitness center is like apainters canvas with all the mediums one could possibly need, itis just up to the student to utilize these "mediums" to create whatthey desire. By "create what they desire" I mean attain their goalswhether they are to lose weight, maintain a healthy lifestyle,strengthen their muscles, ultimately creating the body they want.When you go to the gym, commonly I believe the ratio of men towomen is unequal, men being higher in frequency, however I donot think the gym is common to one type of person, but instead a

gym is filled with many people with common goals. Goalcommonality is what creates the discourse communities in afitness center.

Description of SACFitness

As you walk into theSAC Fitness Center, youimmediately come to acheck-in desk whereone or two employeesare stationed. This iswhere members givetheir student IDs or

membership cards to be"checked-in" to the gym. Figure 1. Front Desk


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Overall, there are threemain divisions in the gymbased on equipment:

cardiovascular equipment,strength machines, andfree weights.

The first section you enteris the Free WeightSection, which is dividedinto left and right

subsections.

The left side includesmostly dumbbells andbenches, while the rightside includes benchpresses, squat racks, anda multipurpose racks.

Along each wall of thegym, except for the veryback wall are mirrors.These aid members inperforming the correctform during exercises.There is one waterfountain in the fitnesscenter, and two vending

machine with drinks.

The second section is thestrength machine section. Thisincludes machines such as theleg press, shoulder presshamstring curl. These machines

work to help members increasetheir muscular strength, andprovide more control to the

Figure 2. Left Side of Free Weight Section

Figure 3. Right Side of Free Weight Section

Figure 4. Strength Machine Section


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performer. They are located in a line after the free weight section.

The third and final

section is theCardiovascularEquipment sectionwhich includestreadmills, ellipticalmachines, bikes, androwing machines. Thissection is located in the

back of the gym, farthestaway from the entrance(front desk).

Rules & ConventionsRules unique to SAC Fitness Center are that you must be amember of UNC Charlotte in order to join. Otherwise you must bea friend or family member of a UNCC member. Also, you mustwear a shirt that has sleeves.

While in many public places, sweating profusely, poor odor, loudmusic, and loud grunting is not allowed, these behaviors areaccepted in a fitness center. Unacceptable actions in a gym would

be disrespecting others, not cleaning equipment after use,wearing inappropriate attire, and improper use of equipment.

In a fitness center, there is a certain type of "work-out etiquette"and "work-out respect." "Work-out etiquette" is being responsibleand respectful of other students in the gym. For example, washingdown equipment after you use it, asking to see if someone isfinished with a piece of equipment before you use it, asking

someone for help if you do not know how to use certainequipment. "Work-out respect" is admiring others in the gym forsomething they perform that you find to be profound. In gyms,there is a certain feeling of wanting others to do well around you.

Figure 5. Cardiovascular Equipment Section


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However, there is also competition present in a gym with thephilosophy of trying to "out do" a peer with the goal of improvingyourself.

Communication in a gym is predominately encouraging ormotivating others, asking for help or guidance in performing anexercise, communicating to staff issues or questions.Socialization would be meeting fellow members, or running intofriends and talking while at the gym.

The People that Inhabit SAC FitnessActors: a person, or member of the figured world, that takes on acertain persona and acts a certain way based on theirsurroundings.

Staff Members: Responsible for verifying that the peoplecoming into the SAC Fitness Center are legitimatemembers. Duties involve assisting members who need

help, cleaning equipment, providing towels and t-shirts forthose who need them, and making sure all members arefollowing the rules.

Student Members: These are active students at UNCCthat come to the gym to be physically active. Their level offocus and level of experience varies per student.

Faculty and Staff Members: These are professors andother staff on UNCC Campus that come to the fitness

center to work out. Guest Members: These are people that are friend or

family to a UNCC Fitness Member. They have a desire toaccompany their friend/family member to the gym. Theymust pay $5 to get a guest pass that will last them 1 day.

Meet a UNCC Fitness MemberClick on link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolz


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"Sacred" Items & ObjectsArt i facts:an item or idea that

"actors" value with highimportance that drive theirbehavior, knowledge, confidence,and emotions

Water bottles: Water isan imperative to one'sability to workout. Many

members of the fitnesscenter either bring water bottles, water jugs, plastic waterbottles to fill at the water station, or use the waterfountain. They use the water to stay hydrated

Headphones and music playing device: Membersseem to listen to music as they workout for variouspurposes. Music helps fitness center members to becomemore motivated, to get pumped up in order to achieve abetter workout. Others use the music to make their

workout more enjoyable. Examples of these deviceswould be an iPod or a cell phone.

Towel- Members seem to use these towels as a tool toget rid of sweat from their face, eyes, and other parts ofthe body. This is important to equipment use to makesure hands do not slip, and also is a convenient serviceoffered by SAC Fitness Center.

Communities in the Fitness CenterDiscourse communi t ies:

(1) Employees and Staff of SAC Fitness Center: Thiscommunity is made up of students that work at SAC Fitness. Theyshare the responsibilities of serving gym members as well askeeping the gym clean and safe. They know eachother andconstantly interact with eachother because they are co-workers.Furthermore, they share a great knowledge of fitness.


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(2) Adult Members: These are older members who have adifferent level of fitness than most student members. One wouldsay they have a fitness level lower than most student

members.

(3) Student Members: This community makes of the majority ofall members at the Fitness Center. Most of them are younger andhave a high potential level of fitness.Many of them are friendsoutside of the gym and respect their peers inside of the gym.

(4) Members going to fitness center to maintain fitness &

health: Of all members, these members are at a fitness level theyare happy with. They go to the gym to continue maintaining thislevel of fitness.

(5) Members going to fitness center to get into better shape:These members are at a fitness level they are not necessarilyhappy with.They are going to the gym to improve themselves.Fitness levels vary at this point. Some members may be very fit

and are striving to reach higher goals, while others may be unfitbut are trying to work hard to improve themselves. Either way, thisgroup is characterized by determination.

(6) Members going to fitness center as a social event: Somemembers go to the gym to talk and interact with others. Whileworking out is important to them, they treat their time at the gymas an opportunity to socialize with others.

My Experience at SACAs a fitness member at UNCC SAC Fitness Center, I have had avery enjoyable experience. I usually always go to the gym withone of my friends (girl or guy) and use them as a work outpartner. I find this helps motivate me to go and to work out harderwhen I am at the Fitness Center. I occasionally run into friends at

the SAC Fitness Center, but I wouldn't call my trips to the gym a"social event." I would put myself in the discourse community ofworking out to lose weight and get into shape. Sacred items to meare definitely a water bottle and sometimes a headphone.


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Observation NotesOBSERVATION 1 - EVENING

Wednesday, September 4, 20137:20pm - 7:50pm

7:20 - The fitness center is not packed. One male employee sitsat check-in desk and scans people in. He is talking to one of thefitness class instructors (blonde woman). He seems to be an olderstudent with tan skin and darker hair. Uniform- green polo shirt.

When a visitor walks in, thereis a white board (see image indescription) that gives the gymhours and says "If you're notsleevin, you're leavin!!!'" tryingto communicate the rule thateveryone that works out in thegym must be wearing a

sleeved shirt. Several groupsof 2+ boys lifting together. Afew boys are liftingindependently. 2 boys workingout independently are sharingthe same rack. Every girl is ona cardio machine or doingexercises on the floor.

7:23 - Two girls go to the squatrack and begin a series of squats. These are the only girls doingfree weights. Seem to be taking their workout seriously.

7:31 - Social interactions between a boy and group of boys.Appear to be friends that just noticed each other at the gym.Second employee arrives and sits at check-in desk with male

employee. Appears to be a female student with blonde hair.

7:35 - Gym becomes more packed to the point that every cardiomachine is being used. Sex ratio: All females on cardio machines


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except for 1 male. Cardio machines include: treadmills, elliptical,row machines, stair climbers, stair steppers, and stationary bikes.Within a 5 minute period, several males weigh themselves on the

scale which is located in the corner of gym.

7:40 - Girls enter they fitness center in group of 2 and head tocardio area. A male then enters the center independently. Putshis belongings down in a cubicle and begins to do leg exerciseson weight machine.

7:45 - One female works out with several males in the free weight

section. Seems to be a group of friends and they are socializingwith each other as they work out. Males are teaching femalesdifferent exercises using the weights.

7:50 - Gym is still consistently packed. No UNCC faculty andstaff are working out; only people exercising appear to bestudents.

Observation 1 Summary: Patterns that I seemed to notice werethat females dominantly occupied cardio machines while malesdominated free weight and weight machines. I also noticed thatwhen a student exercised independently it was typically a male.Females seemed to come in pairs or groups of 3. Males tended towork together when they were bench pressing. When I observedpeople weighing themselves, I saw no females use the scale, onlymales. Males tended to workout with males and females tended

to workout with females. The employees seemed pretty stagnantand just checked people in. Didn't notice them going to helppeople, or asking if others needed assistance.


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OBSERVATION 2 - LATE NIGHTSaturday, September 7, 2013

10:20pm - 10:50pm

10:20 - The fitness center is "deserted" in a sense as only 10-15people are working out. Only one male employee is on duty andhe sits at check-in desk and scans people in.

10:22 - Only 2 girls are in the gym at the time. Both are workingout with a male partner. In the first pair, the male is instructing thefemale how to do different exercises. Seems to be a social event

in a sense. The second pair seems to be working outindependently while "spotting" each other. Both are located in thefree weight section.

10:29 - Two males are working out together. Seem to be takingturns on different strength machines. All others except for "male-female duos" are working out independently. All seem to befocused. Several are listening to music on iPods.

10:35 - Older student male walks in with what seems to be hisyounger brother (middle/high school). Walk over to bench pressand the older brother begins to teach the little brother how to liftproperly and takes him through a set.

10:37 - One male member approaches front desk and asks for a

towel. Employee hands him a small gray towel and fitnessmember uses the towel to white sweat from his face and neck.

10:41 - One male using the squat rack looks in mirror as if he isanalyzing his form. As he goes to squat for a second time, hereadjusts his back sticking his hips out farther. Seems to be tryingto perfect his form.

10:50 - Gym is very empty. Only about 7 members remain.


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Observation 2 Summary: Overall, gym seems to be much lesspacked on a Saturday night. Maybe this is due to social eventsgoing on and commuting students not having to be on campus.

With less people there seems to be less communication betweenfitness center members. Those who are at the gym seem veryfocused and were in either very good shape or working outdiligently in an effort to get into shape. The free weight section ofthe gym was most frequently used. There was only one staffmember on duty.


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OBSERVATION 3 - MORNING OBSERVATIONTuesday, September 9, 2013

6:10am - 6:40pm

6:10 - Not very many people in the gym yet. 10-15 people. Someadults are working out. Could possibly be UNCC faculty or staff orfamily members of staff. Most people are using machines. Onestaff member is on duty and is walking around being sure thateverything is set up for the day.

6:12 - Staff member returns back to front desk and stays on duty

to check fitness members in.

6:20 - Gym seems to be filled right now with mostly womenstudents and 2 adults. Focus is still on cardio machines, andstrength machines. Rarely anyone in the free weight section ofthe gym. Everyone working out independently.

6:30: More members are in the gym now. Not as packed as the"Observation 1: Evening", but getting there. More males havearrived now. Ratio of males to females is pretty equivalent now.

6:33 -A line builds up at the water fountain as several students fillup water and take sips at the fountain. Most people are stillworking out independently except for a pair of girls who are nextto each other on an elliptical.

6:37 - Several fitness members grab a mat which is hanging onthe left most wall and begin doing abdominal exercises on thegym floor. They do this independently. After they finish with theirmats they take a sanitation wipe and wipe down their mats beforehanging them back up. This sanitation routine seems common forall equipment fitness members use.

6:40 - Gym is getting more packed as time goes on. Still oneemployee. More pairs of fitness members walk in. While cardiomachines seem to be dominated, several people use the freeweight section.


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Observation 3 Summary: It seems that in the early mornings,some adults work out at the SAC fitness center. Maybe this isbecause they come before the classes they have to teach in or

before their work shift begins. Oddly, more females seemed to bein the fitness center, and cardio machines seemed to be the mostpopular machine used. I noticed the etiquette of cleaning theequipment you used when you are done with it. There was verylittle communication or socialization. Most members seemed to beworking out independently and were focused


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peer workshop draft - assignment 1

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