I hope you do hurt yourself.

I think you SHOULD take his advice. The way you've been doing the exercises you obviously haven't helped yourself.

In any case, if this was at Bally's, they can't charge you to show you how to use the equipment properly. It's part of their rules. You aren't supposed to use the equipment UNTIL being shown how to use it properly.

If you ask and they don't do it and you hurt yourself ---> Lawsuit.