Michigan Personal Trainer Chooses to Work Exclusively with Women After Unsettling Client Experience

Erika Lynn, a personal trainer based in Michigan and founder of Wellness with Erika, recently shared a troubling encounter with a male client that led her to make a significant professional decision: she will no longer accept male clients. Her story, which she posted on TikTok, has resonated with many, highlighting the challenges female trainers can face in maintaining professional boundaries.

Initial Engagement and Growing Discomfort

The client initially contacted Lynn through Facebook, seeking personal training sessions. At the outset, everything seemed routine, but as their meetings progressed, the client began to overstep professional limits by asking increasingly personal questions. These inquiries included probing into her romantic relationships, such as details about past partners, her current dating status, and even whether she had plans later in the day. The situation escalated to the point where he sent messages during late-night hours, disrupting her personal time.

In response, Lynn firmly communicated her boundaries, requesting that he refrain from contacting her during inappropriate hours and avoid personal questions unrelated to training. The client reacted negatively, blocking her on social media for a week before reaching out again to resume sessions.

Persistent Boundary Violations and Unwanted Contact

Despite Lynn’s clear limits, the client continued to book sessions from January through February, frequently sending unsolicited messages throughout the day. He even attempted to connect with one of her friends on Facebook, disregarding Lynn’s expressed discomfort. The trainer found herself repeatedly shutting down his advances while managing early morning training sessions scheduled at 3:00 a.m., which added to her stress.

Eventually, Lynn stopped scheduling appointments for March, assuming the client had accepted the end of their professional relationship. However, six days into the month, the client unexpectedly approached her at the gym at 4:30 a.m., questioning why she hadn’t shown up for sessions that month.

Unexpected Confrontation at the Gym

While exercising with a friend, Lynn was approached by the client, who insisted they had an appointment on a recent Tuesday. Surprised, she clarified that no such arrangement had been made. The client mentioned sending an email through her website’s contact form, which she had not yet seen. She apologized briefly and attempted to resume her workout.

Upon reflection, Lynn realized the client’s early work schedule explained their unusual training times. She also connected the timing of his email-sent just minutes before his gym visit-to his unexpected confrontation. Notably, the client had deactivated his Facebook account, limiting her ability to communicate with him through social media.

“He could have simply reactivated his Facebook or waited for my email response,” Lynn noted, “but instead, he chose to come to the gym to confront me.”

Decision to Specialize in Women’s Fitness

Following this unsettling experience, Lynn decided to focus exclusively on training female clients. When the client messaged her again early one morning to inquire about rescheduling, she responded professionally, explaining her new career direction as a women’s fitness specialist and that she would no longer be able to train him.

The client replied, questioning why she hadn’t communicated this change earlier, then quickly sent an apology acknowledging his inappropriate behavior. He expressed gratitude for her guidance and regret if he had caused any discomfort.

Lynn found his apology suspicious, suggesting, “Why would you say that unless you knew deep down you crossed a line?” He later reactivated his Facebook to thank her once more, leaving Lynn feeling that the entire ordeal bordered on harassment simply because she enforced her boundaries.

Widespread Issue of Harassment in Fitness Environments

Lynn’s experience is not isolated. Many personal trainers, including Lori Calloway, have reported facing sexual harassment from clients, a factor contributing to some professionals leaving the industry. According to a recent study by the UK-based organization Origym, over 61% of women have experienced sexual harassment in gym settings, underscoring the prevalence of this issue.

Such statistics help explain why trainers like Lynn choose to specialize in women’s fitness, creating safer and more comfortable environments for themselves and their clients.

Community Response and Support

Viewers of Lynn’s TikTok video largely supported her decision, recognizing the client’s behavior as inappropriate and potentially predatory. Many commented that his intentions seemed to extend beyond a professional trainer-client relationship, describing his conduct as unsettling.

AllHipHop reached out to Lynn for further comments and will provide updates if she responds.

@erikarolston85 I don’t train men. I build strong women. 💪🏽💕 #creep #boundaries #storytime ♬ original sound – Erika Lynn