We are in an era of more fitness jibes, more health shows, and more gyms per square feet. It’s overwhelming to realise that it’s a world in itself giving birth to a new wave of health and fitness conscious junta. We are privy to an evolution of a new tribe, announcing their arrival into the world of slim silhouettes & six pack abs. And when we talk about the tribe, I cannot help but refer here to the concept of Archetypes.
If we look around closely, in our everyday life, we may end up meeting any or many of these tribes or archetypes. And we may have referred to them with different names or citations. Amongst many such places and captive audiences, Gyms emerge as the simmering hotspots to identify these archetypes. I was amazed at how a little space between four walls can inspire insights based on the famous theory.
What are archetypes? How distinct are they? And more importantly, how relevant are they to our lives?
For An archetype is a collectively-inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., that is universally present, in individual psyches. Renowned Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, who ‘discovered’ Archetypes, believed that there were certain universal, mythical characters that resided within the collective conscious of people around the world. He says that these innate indefinable forms transpire innumerable images, symbols and patterns of behaviour.
I spent a good amount observing, hypothesising and validating my unbiased, non-personal attempt in capturing each character, the uniqueness of these traits. It was tricky but the excitement kept me going. These are observations with no offence meant to anyone, which try to illustrate various natives of the gyms through the lens of Archetypes.
Go, ahead familiarise yourself and see if you can identify any of your friends or family or even yourself amongst them.
The GYM Archetypes through my eyes
THE INNOCENT
GOAL: THRIVING IN IGNORANCE
SKILL: LOST SOULS
CHARACTER: They are overwhelmed by the place, floating along the environment. Non-starters, they are blissfully happy in their own world unmindful of their reason to be there.
THE ORPHAN
GOAL: TO BE LIKE THE EVERY OTHER. TO BELONG
SKILL: SELF DOUBT.
CHARACTER: What works for others, never works for me. They carry a look of deprivation and think the machines are biased. Usually stuck to a corner longing for someone to spot me and intervene.
THE HERO
GOAL: MAXIMUM OTS (OPPORTUNITY TO SEE)
SKILL: COURAGE. SHOWMANSHIP
CHARACTER: Glued to the mirror walls, you will find them seeking eyeballs. Gym is my stage and the rest are my audience. Let the show begin.
CARE GIVER
GOAL: OTHERS ARE MY PRIORITY
SKILL: COMPASSION
CHARACTER: Most of their time is spent in correcting/helping others. These high-priests gain when others sweat. Mostly the seasoned regulars at the gym.
EXPLORER
GOAL: WANT IT ALL. WANT IT NOW.
SKILL: AUTONOMY.
CHARACTER:. A mixed bag. Doesn’t follow a schedule, breaks routine, switches between work-outs. Caught between doing the right thing and doing everything.
THE REBEL
GOAL: CHANGE NORMS. I MAKE THE RULES
SKILL: RUSTIC. FREE -SPIRIT
CHARACTER: My way is the right way. No way, will I go your way. A peculiar case of training the trainer and machining bowing to the thee.
THE LOVER
GOAL: MUSCLES CAN WAIT. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
SKILL: SMOOTH OPERATOR. FRIENDLY
CHARACTER: Believes in conversations more than repetitions. Over enthusiastic, overtly friendly goes out of the way to strike a conversation.
THE CREATOR
GOAL: VISIONARY. THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER WAY TO DO THINGS
SKILL: IMAGINATION
CHARACTER: A new exercise, a new version or a new regime. When you think you have done it the creator presents a new variation to your amazement. Makes the boring interesting. A world within the world.
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THE JESTER
GOAL: WHY SO SERIOUS?
SKILL: HUMOR
CHARACTER: Joker in the pack. Official entertainer of the gym. Known for their antics than their techniques. Good for a hang-out, bad for a work-out.
THE SAGE
GOAL: IN GOOD HEALTH LIES WISDOM
SKILL: INFORMED. INTELLEGENT.
CHARACTER: The pupil and the principal. Particular about what and how to do. By the book. Overbearing at times, coz they has to have a point of view on everything.
THE MAGICIAN
GOAL: NOT JUST PERFORM, TRANSFORM.
SKILL: METHOD AND MIND, KNOWLEDGE
CHARACTER: One of the popular and strict regular to the gym. Goes about the workouts like a pro. Watching their work-out is highly motivating and invigorating.
THE RULER
GOAL: AUTHORITY, DISPLAY OF POWER
SKILL: AGGRESSION
CHARACTER: I am the boss. Th gym is my empire and the world is at my disposal. Usually a rich brat with brut demeanour surrounded by few cronies.
Did you get to meet your type?. I tired to keep it true and simple to the fundamental principle in all honesty. Now go ahead CHOOSE YOUR TRIBE. MEET YOUR ARCHETYPE.