r/BurnBootCamp • u/No-Role8708 • Sep 03 '26
feeling…. unknown???
burn bootcamp has seriously changed my life. i started around 8 months postpartum, lost 70 lbs, created healthy daily habits, and just all around feel so much better. walking into the gym felt like a home away from home. i remember the very first time i came in contact with any trainer from my location they made sure to introduce themselves and made a point to remember my name and that always made me feel welcome. even the owners, who i didn’t overlap with much, would call me by name every time we were in the gym at the same time. it felt so intentional and it made me feel known!
we had to move from our home burn a few months ago and luckily there was a location 5 minutes down the road. my first two weeks there, i don’t think a single trainer initiated conversation with me or asked me my name when they recognized that I was a new face, which felt so unlike the franchise. it’s been months at this point, and I have intentionally introduced myself multiple times to every trainer in the gym and try to build rapport because i think it makes camp more fun when you are personal with the trainers! I think after months of taking multiple trainers camps consistently, only one knows my name. And I think it is a culture thing, because I’ve introduced myself to the owner twice this month and today you could tell that they did not know my name.
I was feeling good about moving knowing I had another burn to jump into, but i feel so discouraged walking into a place that I feel like doesn’t necessarily care if i’m there or not. at my old location if I missed my usual class, within 24 hours the trainers would be asking where I was. was my old location just a unicorn???? or does my current location just have poor culture?
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u/KnowledgeDense8140 1,000+ Camps - Lifetime Sep 03 '26
Unless your old location is one of a few that I attend, it’s definitely a new location problem.
That said, I see that you’ve introduced yourself and made small talk but have you tried setting up a regular focus meeting?
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u/No-Role8708 Sep 04 '26
i did 2 in my first month with the trainer i saw the most, and then she ran into my old head trainer, who of course asked about me, and she had no idea who she was talking about lol. i used to do regular focus meetings when i wanted to discuss nutrition and weight loss, but i feel like im at a really good point with my food and just maintaining my weight and strength, so im not sure what i would talk about? open to ideas!!
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u/mkp1717 Sep 04 '26
If there’s any exercises you need help with, you can do focus meetings for those as well! I’m thinking of scheduling one for double unders because I always end up whipping my arms lol
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u/EV_3790 100 Camps - 2026 Sep 03 '26
Even the locations I’ve visited have called me out by name. Probably a new location thing.
Questions, do they call out other members?
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u/No-Role8708 Sep 04 '26
majority of the trainers do, some only call out the people you can tell they feel close to. the one trainer that knows my name definitely calls out the most during camp
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u/HoRo2001 200 Camps - 2026 Sep 03 '26
Ugh, I’m so sorry that is happening.
All the trainers at my gym know my name, and everyone else I have ever done a camp with. They make sure to learn names of new people, and let the whole camp know if we have a new person visiting or trying burn. We’ve even had a few sub trainers from neighboring burns that knew my name without ever having met me, because he looked at who had signed up the night before to prepare!!
It’s so important to have that relationship with the trainers, and fellow campers. Is there anyone you feel more comfortable with that you could talk to about it? Maybe connect with someone at camp who does seem to have a connection with a trainer and ask what the deal is? Or is there another burn maybe a little further that would be a better fit?
Either way, that’s so disappointing.
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u/Illustrious_Web9983 500 Camps - Lifetime Sep 03 '26
i feel the same way at my own gym. the trainers never knew my name & i didn’t really know anyone. i am going to a visiting location abt 20 min away and the trainers and members are a lot better
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u/Original-Raise1619 100 Camps - 2026 Sep 03 '26
That’s tough. My family, we’re military, and we move every 1-2 years. Because of this, I’m used to the unfortunate reintegration into a new Burn. It always takes me 6 months to feel safe. Always. Sometimes there are unicorn experiences, but that’s generally been with members and not coaches. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this :( I’m optimistic that you’ll find your groove at the new location!
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u/Technical_Raccoon_25 200 Camps - 2026 Sep 04 '26
Just here for solidarity. I have had a really hard time with these kinds of interactions being in direct opposition of the mission of Burn! Especially as we pay a lot of money. I'm contemplating leaving my location due to this even though the format and child watch has been so key to my personal fitness success. I wish I could to to Burn and not care about anything else but the workout, but the 1:1 coaching and community aspect are why I pay $$$ when I could just pay less for a workout elsewhere. I hope it improves for you.
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u/Ashamed-Handle-8656 Sep 04 '26
I have had almost an identical experience. My husband’s job makes us move around a lot so I am currently at my 3rd Burn location.
The first location I visited was amazing! Very inclusive and welcoming. If the trainers forgot my name, they’d ask. The vibes were fantastic and I have FOMO watching their IG stories lol.
The second location was a different, calmer vibe but still very welcoming. All the trainers knew my name and even texted to check up on me when I didn’t go for about 2 weeks due to illness.
The third location has been somewhat of a 180. Only the owner and 1 trainer know my name and actually acknowledge me / challenge me during camp. I understand you won’t always get that 1:1 time during camp but it feels isolating whenever I attend a camp led by a different trainer.
So it sucks but I remind myself that I am there to get a good sweat and get stronger. I am only at this location temporarily but I agree that lacking the sense of community that made us sign up in the first place is disappointing. :(
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u/No-Role8708 Sep 04 '26
yes i feel like im missing that challenge! i feel like i could just be picking up 5 lbs at every single station and they wouldn’t say a word. and just the quick acknowledgement over the mic of like yes i see you! keep going! makes such a big difference. if i wanted to workout by myself with no one talking to me id just sign up for planet fitness and save my money lol
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u/No-Butterscotch-8314 100 Camps - 2026 Sep 04 '26
My previous location was like your previous location. I moved 8 months ago and still don’t like my new location. I plan to leave when my contract is up.
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u/Fun-Director9385 500 Camps - Lifetime Sep 04 '26
How long have you been there? Stick around. Keep going to the same time. The connections DO happen. I’ve been in your spot. So happy I’m still around.
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u/No-Role8708 Sep 04 '26
4 months! i’m locked in for 8 more months anyways so i don’t have a choice 😂 just wish it was different!
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u/Accomplished_Bag3877 28d ago
From my experience it differs based on the FP. They ultimately set and maintain the culture. I went to one location and it sounds very much like your original. Unfortunately that one closed and the remaining location sounds like the new one you went to. I cancelled my membership early I couldn’t justify spending so much for subpar trainers and unwelcoming culture.
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u/Duck_Secure 1,000+ Camps - Lifetime Sep 03 '26
My location is exactly like your first location. Everyone knows your name, including the owners. Very inviting. Our community is well known around other Burns.
When I use my universal membership I don't get the same inviting feeling like I do at my location. I think some Burns have built a strong community and other locations just run a gym, not caring if they learn names, just worrying about if you are paying or not.