I was never a gym person who would go to the gym regularly. I went to the city campus gym once in my freshmen year just out of fascination. Last semester I started going to the main campus gym on regular bases but the enthusiasm only lasted for one semester. This gym experience unfortunately became the reason for this short stint of gym enthusiasm.
There are two gym facilities at IBA, one is at the city campus and the other is at the main campus. The city campus gym is good with proper equipment and instructor. It is the main campus gym facility that I first want to focus on.
The Main Campus Gym
Availability of Space
The girls’ gym is located on the first floor of the student center inside the girls’ restroom. Most people I have met have the assumption that the main campus gym is big and well-equipped but the reality is quite the opposite.
This gym is really small, the exercise machines cover most of the space. It is hard to even exercise in front of the mirror. If any of the girls decide to use yoga mats for the workout then one can not move without bumping into each other. In addition to this, there is no A/C -only bracket fans- in the gym. As a result, it becomes suffocating when there are a lot of people working out at the same time.
Gym instructor and Equipment at IBA
There are no proper gym instructors at the main campus gym. The gym instructors are supposed to guide about the exercises, and the proper use of the gym machines so that individuals can reach their fitness goals. There is nothing like this in the main campus gym, one time I asked the instructor about the butterfly machine she said “deklo inhe main se koi hogi”. Then I asked her what can be the substitute for the butterfly machine as there was no butterfly machine in the gym, she told me to use any of the machines that are available in the gym.
Apart from this, there is a very limited range of exercise machines in the gym. There are no pull-up bars, no kettlebells, and the already existing machines are also not in good condition. The stepper machine is rickety, and the complete barbell weight plates set and dumbbell set range are not available. The yoga mats are in the worst condition. It seems like they have never been replaced since the opening of the gym.
The condition of the main campus gym is not a recent development. According to many of the regular gym goers, they will be graduating this year seeing no changes in the deteriorating condition of the main campus gym.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the gym experience at the main campus of IBA for girls is not satisfactory. The gym is small, poorly equipped, and lacks proper guidance from the instructors. The absence of essential exercise machines and equipment makes it difficult for individuals to achieve their fitness goals. The gym’s deteriorating condition is not a recent development, and there seems to be no effort to improve the facility. Overall, the main campus gym fails to provide a pleasant workout experience for its users.
