Should gyms be made a phone free environment to protect the privacy of people who just want to work out? 

With so many people keen to change their lives in January, it is the month with the largest number of gym sign ups. 

Some new members find gyms very intimidating and Paul Byrne, owner of BodyByrne, has a number of ideas about how to change this. 

“They should ban mobile phones on gym floors because a lot of people are videoing themselves and some people don’t want to be videoed,” he told Sarah Madden for The Pat Kenny Show. 

“Then they’re showing off, they’re literally practically showing every muscle because they’re living in the gym. 

“It’s very intimidating for people who are starting off.” 

A man working out in a gym. Picture by: Andor Bujdoso / Alamy

Overall, Mr Byrne feels strongly that gyms are places to get fit and work out - not cultivate a following on social media. 

“The monster that is social media has now taken over with influencers coming into gyms,” he said. 

“It’s given a very narcissistic approach to the fitness industry. 

“You’d see some people posting things like looking at a beginner doing a technique wrong and they’re doing a video showing how badly [they’re doing] and calling them out. 

“People see that stuff and then you’ve got other people with tripods and phones, videoing themselves doing workouts - gyms shouldn’t be about that.”

'A health and wellness community'

The global health and fitness industry is worth €85 billion - but a decent proportion of that comes from people who sign up to the gym in January and rarely attend. 

It is something that Mr Byrne blames on the commercialisation of the fitness industry. 

“They just want your money,” he said. 

“[There’s a] 60% drop off from the membership in January/February - they pay for the year and they’ve got the money,” he said. 

“That’s why they have more sales staff in January/February than in the rest of the year and less trainers. 

“Gyms should be a community - a health and wellness community.” 

According to Marketing.ie, one-quarter of the Irish population are gym members.

Main image: Happy female friends taking selfie in the gym. Picture by: Alamy.com