I've lost count of the times I've heard trainers saying they do a split program 5-6 days a week. This proves 2 things, firstly they're blissfully unaware of anything but muscle groups. They think that as long as its bi's and tri's (biceps and triceps, not bisexual and trisexual) on Monday, and legs on Tuesday, that its fine because the arms get a rest. Its leaving out the Autonomic Nervous System, (which should be fatigued if you've been doing big bang exercises that challenge the neuro-muscular connection), and the energy systems amongst other things. Secondly it proves they know jack about programming. Anyone who trains properly would need the recovery day.
I've had clients that have got into actual arguments with class instructors who have tried to force them past a level they're comfortable with. One doing yoga-letes was told, despite having an injury, “Your knee is supposed to be off the ground.” Luckily my client understands her own limits and knows what she's working towards, so she wasn't bullied into it despite being told, “There’s no slacking in here.”
When I worked at Virgin I frequently got new clients who had felt trainers “pushing them.” Its that 80's image that a trainer is there to push you past your limits, when in actual fact they are supposed to coach you through a prescribed series of specific exercises and lifestyle changes to help you reach your goal.
Bullying is rife in gyms and members seemingly love the passive-aggressive comments from ego driven trainers that are simply disgusted that you can't bench the same weight as them...shame on you.
It takes a lot for someone to step back and say "I'm not as fit as I once was." To admit that they need to build up slowly. Ego effects us all, however its the ego of those that coach and train us that needs checking in my opinion.