Gym hit with backlash after it bans customers from joining in January

The New Year is a popular time for gyms the world over as people resolve to a healthier, fitter version of themselves.

However, as anyone who has ever set ambitious resolutions knows, they can quickly fall by the wayside, leaving many gym memberships unused. One person who isn't a fan is funnyman musician Lewis Capaldi:

Now, one gym has made the unusual decision to ban new customers from joining in January, and this has been understandably met with widespread backlash.

After all, even if the customers don't use the membership, more customers is a win-win for any business.

But perhaps this gym doesn't need the money, as it's a luxury establishment called Equinox, and news of its January policy was recently shared to TikTok on 1 January.

The video, which appears to have since been deleted, featured a man working out with the caption: "When it's January 1st, but you remember Equinox is not letting new members join today..."

This was overlaid with the viral sound that goes: "Haha, nice," along with the caption: "Take your resolutions somewhere else."

However, the gym did clarify in a follow-up video exactly why they weren't accepting any new members on 1 January.

They explained in the latter half of the TikTok that they weren't accepting new members on New Year's Day because 'January is a fantasy' and insisted that it's nothing personal.

"It's not you, it's January. January is a fantasy, delivered to your door in a pastel-coloured box. It talks about change. It needs a new outfit before it can begin," the gym declared.

"Short-cutting, giving up just a few weeks later. You are not a New Year's resolution. Your life doesn't start and end at the beginning of the year. And that's not what being a part of the Equinox is about.

"We go beyond what is possible. We defy expectations. We are not moderation. We want it all, every day. And you deserve it all."

But while the gym might have thought they were making a decent point that you can start positive change at any point of the year, their post did not go down well with social media users.

One slammed: "Not a gym gatekeeping the gym."

"Such a terrible attitude. At least they are trying," added a second while a third questioned: "Bro why?? Money is money."

A fourth remarked: "this is pointless since it is specifically only january 1st lmao, why wouldnt you at least do the entire first week of january [sic]."

However, not everyone was against the gym's decision.

One fan remarked: "Regular gym goers are not mad at this. A two-week interruption to your program can be a pain in the ass - because that’s exactly what happens when casuals drop in and hoard the machines for play play."

A second agreed, writing: "questionable move but they're right."

Then there was this user who added: "I somehow hate this but also get it?

"Bc commercial gyms (ahem planet fitness) thrive off of people who they expect will give up on their resolutions. They will continue to charge their account and have no plans to ask when they plan to come in and cancel."

LADbible has reached out to Equinox for comment.