An Ethnographic Study of Gym Attendance and Its Peculiar Insights into Bodily Habitus and Emotions - Research Paper Example

Introduction. Gym activities have attracted numerous people interested in taking some body fitness lessons. The activities are instigated by the development in technological equipment that facilitate body exercise. As these activities trigger much interest, it is important to study the ethnological part of it. As such, this research paper seeks to address the ethnological concerns of a gym in London. How are people engaged in the activities behaving? What are some of the things motivating them? Which segment of the society is and cultural activity is most vivid in the area of the research? All these questions are pinned to ethnographic study of the society, and the research seeks to answer each. The study will gather information through observation, examination of ritual differences, evaluation of plausible trends in gym activities such as dressing code, mannerism in speech, among others. Interviews and questionnaires also provided information for this case study. Body of research. The research intended to carry out a critical analysis on the body-builders’ and general fitness cultures at a gym in London. This segment of the gym is prolific in terms of members and different personalities that join the functional group. The need for studying this group develops due to the mannerism that different people develop in the pursuit of a common goal. However, it is also important to note that the interest to study this group is for the ability to determine their motivations, goals, and ways of interacting. As such, using ethnographic study provides an upper hand due to different people with different behavior, coming together for a common gym session. It is therefore important for this research to provide a brief meaning of ethnographic study and how it enables us gather information in the study. Ethnographic study refer to examination of a group, or groups of people in the society in terms of their cultural practices. The groups under investigation form different sub-cultures that have unique characteristics as compared to the others. For instance, Leggo (2013) explains how different sub-cultures express different emotions after going through body exercises. One can therefore refer ethnography as observation of etic (Leggo, 2013). However, ethnography cannot be fully etic or emic according to some researchers like Kalpana. From the look of things, studying the culture of people encompasses the bold use of observation technique. Later, analysis on the mannerism observed provides a platform to make conclusions on the same. The study by Leggo (2013) shows that people undergoing gym sessions portray high levels of flexibility. For instance, when asked on their routine, they simply follow the culture of time management and attend the facility at the right time. He compares this activity to spiritual rituals and religious code of conduct. Here, the people attend the gym for the purposes of getting a certain feeling. The emotions of they develop make them feel happy. However, Leggo (2013) explains that when these people fail to go to the gym, their moods crush and feel cursing the idea of failing to attend the exercise sessions again. Failure of these individuals to conform to the instructor’s stipulation of the diet or avoid alcohol also makes them feel guilty.Therefore, we can compare the activity to some religious beliefs that compel individuals to stick to a certain routine or doctrine. Methodology. The research will identify different groups in the gym.The period of the research will be for six days of the week. Through observation and asking questions to the users of the facility, the study will focus on the mannerism and fashion in clothing, behavior of different people, and observation of how they react to different situation before and after the exercise. The case study will also establish the language use, body-building culture, examine social conflicts in this facility, observe and question the presence of the chain of command or hierarchy, and the motivation behind these body exercises. Therefore, the technique that will prevail to a large extend in this case study will be the use of observation. The gym is located in the City Centre so as to give the users an easy access. The facility is spacious and comprises of two floors. The research focuses on the activities that take place in the lower floor of the facility. Through observation, it was evident that wide mirrors cover the walls and enable the people in exercise to see a reflection on the progress of the exercises. Also, the floor is divided into three segments. The first area contains tools and equipment used categorically for body building. Compound and isolation machines occupied this area. The second area is also filled with elliptical and bikes, treadmills, among other equipment. The third part is an empty are that the users of the facility change it for different functions. Most common activities in this area take a chronology of basketball, tennis, yoga, gymnastics, and dancing lessons respectively in a week. Findings. Body fitness activities are associated with norms that act as a form of culture. In the gym, it was evident that some body-builders have developed a habit of their art and always located within the premises for the six days of the research. For instance, during the analysis, about ten individuals showed complete zealotry of body-building art and had developed exaggerated body fitness. The group had chunks of muscles that made them appear like a thick log. They were unrealistic in appearance as large muscles curved in spirals in almost every part of their phenotype. After asking one of them what instigated this need to go on, he explained that it helps him, if not them, to feel happy and elated in mood. Body-building had formed a large part of their lives and without lifting the weight, they could not lead a normal life. Another observation was in terms of exercise attires. The clothing was slightly fashionable but common to all. Both male and female participants had their own mode of clothing. For a lady, they wore a pair of shorts, and a lighter piece of clothing on top. The same way, the males had shorts and black t-shirts. The type of clothing was standard across the period of the research. It was a norm for one to change from heavy office clothes such as a suit into light training apparels. The mode of clothing can form one’s biggest part of culture. Observation of speech mannerism was in details. Essentially, evaluation of the way body-builders used their language showed a great difference from other groups such as those practicing yoga and aerobics. For instance, when carrying the heavy loads, the body-builders use vulgar language to express their discontent or poor performance. Also, others address their colleagues in the most casual way because of long term relationships that exist among them. One of them was heard exclaiming using the ‘f**k’ word. He had tried to lift a load but failed to raise it at a height he wanted. On the other hand, those practicing yoga used formal language in a peaceful way. After asking a keen observer on this difference, the analysis showed that yoga exercise encouraged tranquility and peace of mind. As such, the people practicing it were used to peaceful language and meditation. In the gym, it was clear that the participants went for different exercises basing on their gender, just as it is in most cultures. The analysis showed that most men were practicing body-building while most ladies were practicing aerobics. However, the field that had almost equal number of participants was that one of music and dance. Here, an equal number of both genders were practicing, and they danced different kinds of music ranging from, hip hop to soft music. One could hear the dance group speaking in favor and support to certain genre. One thing that the research also established is the attendance of different people at specific times. Norms regarding the specific schedules that individuals attended here portrayed high level of discipline. People were punctual as most of them said if they did not make it in time, they would probably miss the session. That way, it would impact negatively on them as they would not feel normal the following day. It showed that the exercise part of life had formed a part of their lives. Payment of gym services was on monthly basis. Like any other norm like religion, some people in the gym admitted that it occupied a better part of their lives. A question directed to some of the trainees on the time they spend in the gym showed a 4 hours average time weekly. Observation on social conflicts in the gym showed that on rare circumstances, conflicts arise. In the days within which the research was in progress, vivid conflicts arose as one person was not happy with how the friend left the equipment in an unorderly manner. However, the gym instructor calmed the situation immediately. On another level, one could hear a personal conflict from someone who was exclaiming on the difficulties she had gone through to lose weight. It becomes hard for such conflicts to be absent especially when many people come together. Different people with different characters are subject to culture shock and this can lead to a situation of conflicts. During the period of the analysis, one could see the need to maintain body beauty and fitness. As a norm and culture of today, people do not want to gain excess weight and hence the need to remain fit. In terms of beauty, aging women and men came to the gym more frequently so as to take on some exercises. When asked the reason for prolific visits to the gym, they said that exercise enabled them remain younger and energetic. People in the society strive to remain energetic so as to contribute to the growth of the society. Individuals in the age of early forties were the most in the gymnastics area as they tried to do exercises to maintain their body fitness. Through observation, it was clear that the gym had some form of hierarchy in terms of command and instructions. Since the start of the research, one could see the instructor giving directions on the type of exercise and the others who are in the training following them. If the instructor told them to rest or move to the level of training, they heed the command and conform to the directives. It was also clear that the instructor decided on the time a certain activity would start or end. In yoga section, the instructor was the one giving some verbal speech that the rest of the audience mimicked. In the body-building, a different instructor of that section guided the participants in different types of activities so as to enhance body fitness and balance. Most of the people during the research admitted that the gym exercises are like sports in various cultures. Through asking questions, the research identified that people enjoy gym activities and take them as a form of sports. The way sporting activities bring different cultures together, the same way does the gym activities. Through integration and conforming to the rules and regulations of the game, individuals develop a sense belonging as most of the cultures do. For instance, the analysis observed that during body-building, an individual is supposed to hold breath, and distribute the energy across the whole body. Also, when carrying the loads, on is supposed to carry them differently targeting the biceps, chest, shoulders, and thighs, among others. As such, one is forced to play by the rules which enable them conform to this culture. Observation on how cultured people become so as to maintain healthy lives was also made. Just like different communities have their ancient ways of curing diseases, the same could be observed in the gym. The gym has become a health hub for many people. The doctors recommended some of the people in the gym to do exercises for a healthy living. In the case, an individual diagnosed with cardiovascular disease resorted to exercise as an aid to finding a solution for the disease. Physically disadvantaged people were present in the gym trying to flex their body parts so as to easily carry out their duties. The gym is a hub that enables people to get treatment to some disorders such as obesity. As many cultures have a way of providing its people with ways of feeling peaceful, the research identified that the gym provided its users with a tranquil atmosphere. In the gym, it was quiet and calm. Individuals relaxed and meditated on the training especially the yoga. It creates emotions and self-identity as its purpose is to give someone the peace of mindas the instructor said. It acts as therapy for emotional problems that individuals encounter in their daily lives. One respondent explained that gymnastics provided a platform were he could express his emotions. He could do some moves especially when happy. If he felt sad, also the solution was in the gym. Conclusion. One can say that the gym provide acted as a means to shape the feeling and moods of people within this locality. The research identified that the gym had a culture that the users conform to. Things such as rules and regulations, hierarchy, activities that shows gender differences, self-identity, aspects of social conflicts, among others. Some aspects such as the use of language also is part of culture in the society. One can say that the in London showed aspects of a society, comprising different people who have a certain common culture. References. LEGGO, L. (2013, May 30). The Local Gym: An ethnographic study of gym attendance and its peculiar insights into bodily habitus and emotions. [Online]. Available at < https://prezi.com/87wzyieqku3z/the-local-gym-an-ethnographic-study-of-gym- attendance-and-its-peculiar-insights-into-bodily-habitus-and-emotions/> [Accessed December 20, 2014] Read More