Cursing in Class
Cursing is something that can be heard in any moment of any day in NYC. Take last week for example, I spotted the 2nd Avenue express bus a block away so I sprinted a block to catch up with it. Winded, I reached the stop inserted my metro card into the prepay machine, pulled out my bus ticket only to have the bus driver shut the door in my face and drive away.
I loudly threw down an F-boom, while the woman beside me yelled explicit names at the driver.
Surprisingly. the bus driver did not turn around to pick us up.
When I arrived at my destination, a boutique workout facility, I was greeted with cursing in the form of motivation from the class instructor.
I’m a conservative. I grew up conservative. I work in conservative environments. I blush when I accidentally play the explicit version of a Nikki Minaj song during spin class. {it’s actually a rule where I work, instructors are not allowed to have explicit lyrics in the songs they play} Yet, in my non-professional life I definitely curse and am much less conservative.
Cursing doesn’t motivate me to run harder, spin faster or do more push-ups but that’s just me. Motivation comes in many different forms. I know plenty of people who do get motivated by yelling and cursing, I’m just not one of those people.
We don’t all need the same type of encouragement to get pumped up to work harder while working out, but we should try to figure out exactly what it is that motivates us to work harder so we can take it to the next level in fitness classes.
I’m curious, what style of instructor do you find most motivational? Does cursing set fire beneath your feet?
The bus thing is the WORST. Commuting is in NYC is one of my biggest sources of stress and anxiety.
The only instance I can think of an instructor cursing during class wasn’t done with an intention to motivate, it was more along the lines of it being the way he speaks and it worked because it just seemed natural. If an instructor cursed as a means of motivation, however, I think I would be a bit taken aback and I don’t think I would find it motivating. But I’m not really sure!
I have a potty mouth (which I didn’t even realize until I was told this at work!) so I would never be offended, but I think I would be surprised.
I curse all of the time (mostly at myself), but it definitely doesn’t get me going in fitness classes. I like to be called out when I am slacking off or told when I’m doing something well. Just yesterday I dropped to my knees during push-ups and started going girl ones. The instructor said “come back, Amber” and you bet I got back on my toes! I don’t think I’d go back to an instructor who cursed at me.
it certainly would not! I cannot stand instructors of any kind that feel the need to curse or yell to get you motivated. I do not like that kind of behavior! You want to motivate me than tell me how well I am doing and to keep up the good work!
I curse and am not offended by others cursing, usually. But I would not want to be cursed AT by anyone, especially a trainer. I think I just realized why I’m not crazy about Bob Harper on Biggest Loser, he cusses at the people a lot when he’s training them.
That just sucks about the bus driver! Is that a common thing there?
I can have the mouth of a truck driver, but when it comes to someone instructing me — I don’t think it’s ok to drop bombs. You never know how someone will react. I can’t believe the music I use to listen to, glad my ears didn’t fall off.
Interesting ask!
I defintly curse, but it doesn’t get me motivated to workout harder. I do like loud instructors who yell motivating phrases, but in the positive sense, not cursing.
happy friday!
I am a potty mouth!
LOVE those 2 little girls from Ellen. Did you see them go to the Grammys for her?? 
I wish I could say I didn’t, but I do. I use curse words as adjectives, nouns, verbs…but more often when I am happy or enthusiastic and less often when I am pissed. Except when it comes to commuting, in which case you can guarantee I am cursing at some aspect of the trip. But I try not to curse at people if I can help it.
I don’t swear…I just never really picked up on it ever. I don’t really mind if other people do, but I don’t like when people swear AT me, so I’d probably be upset if an instructor did it, even if it was as a means of motivation. That being said, explicit lyrics don’t bother me.