Gym Etiquette 101
The gym is like it’s own little world. There is a hierarchy of sorts: everyone from seasoned veterans you see every day to overeager newcomers who burn out in two weeks. The Morning Crowd and the Evening Crowd , who never cross paths. There are loners, friends that come together and gym-buddies who you talk to all the time, but wouldn’t look twice at each other outside of those gym walls. There are some that are there to socialize, and those that want to get in and get out. Everyone has a nemesis: that certain someone that is similar to them in size and shape, that you have silent competitions with every time you see them, even if they have no idea you exist. Everyone sticks to their own fitness kind, like little tribes that set up camp, claiming their territory, draping their towels over benches and machines like flags.
The gym also has a code. It is an unwritten code of conduct that everyone must abide by to not offend or make enemies. Of course all of this silent. Very rarely will anyone call you out on making a mistake, but believe me - they notice. Thankfully, I am here today to keep you from making any major fitness faux pas.
Rule #1: Never talk to someone with an iPod in. These people are not there to chat. I, myself, am one of these people. There is nothing more annoying than trying to work out and having someone mouthing at me. I pull one earbud out of my ear out of common courtesy, in case I’m sitting on their towel, or they want what I’m using when I’m done, but more often than not, it’s a conversation starter like, “wow, its pretty packed in here today.” There are tons of people at the gym that love to chat, so if you want to socialize, look for someone without headphones.
Rule #2: Always Wipe Down Your Machine. This is actually a real gym rule, but if you don’t wipe down your machines when you are done, the odds of an employee approaching you are very low. The odds of getting a reputation for being inconsiderate and just plain nasty? Very high. No one wants to use a sweaty bench, and no one wants to clean up after you. Even wipe down the hand grips on cardio machines when you are finished. Take care of your own bodily functions, thank you very much.
Rule #3: Re-rack Your Weights. If you use anything, put it back where you found it; weights especially. First of all, it’s a sign that you are done using whatever you are using and it’s open for others, and secondly, no one wants to pick up after you. If I want to use the leg press, I don’t want to have to take off 500 pounds of weight plates the big dude left on there before me. Also, leaving weights on bars makes the bars wear out faster. Never leave heavy weight stacked.
Rule #4: If There is Weight on It, Ask. Number 3 leads right into number 4 – if you find something with weight still on it, ask whoever is standing near it if they are done. This is especially true of the weight room where people like to lift maximum loads and then need a few minutes rest in between. Often, these people will go get a drink of water and come back - and aren’t pleased to find upon their return someone has taken off their weight and is now using their machine.
Rule #5: Don’t Wear a Full Face of Makeup. This one just bothers me, personally. Also, don’t dress like a hooker. I don’t want to see your boobs, or your butt, and guys, no one wants to see your pale man-thighs. Keep those man-thighs under wraps.
Rule #6: Watch Your Mouth. Grunting is perfectly ok, swearing is not. You are in mixed company and screaming obscenities when you can’t do another rep is annoying and offensive.
Rule #7: Don’t Offer Advice. People don’t take kindly to unsolicited advice. You don’t know what they are trying to do, you don’t know what their background or knowledge is and quite frankly it’s none of your business. I have to grit my teeth all the time at the gym to keep myself from correcting people’s form, but it’s not my place. I’ve even had a few hot shot guys come up to me in the weight room and offer a little “friendly advice” at which point I inform them that I am a ACE certified personal trainer and the cue they just gave me was dangerous because it makes maintaining neutral cervical spine impossible which promotes injury and strain. They leave me alone after that.
Rule #8: Don’t Steal the Magazines. I don’t want to shell out $5.00 at the grocery store to get my Brangelina fix, so read it and then leave it for the rest of us.
Follow these rules and you’ll be hanging with the gym veterans in no time.
Chime in: did I forget anything?
AMEN! I agree with every one of these rules. From personal experience, #1 is the most important to me. When I’m at the gym, and my music is in, I mean business!!
GREAT TIPS! I agree with each and every one of them – especially #1. As a subpoint, do not hit on a person at the gym. If I am busting my (appropriately covered) butt and sweating like some kind of farm animal, this is not an acceptable time to come up to me, flexing your biceps (that are smaller than my husband’s) and ask if I come to this gym often, or if I need a spotter, or if I’ve tried any of the protein shakes at the juice bar.
Love this post! I’m just like you…I get in the zone when working out.
Confession about #1- sometimes my iPod dies and I leave it in just so i dont have to make small talk. I htink that makes me a horrible person, but Im ok with it
thanks Kat- you reminded me of another one. Rule #9 dont go buy a smoothie right after your workout that has more calories in it than you burned. and then ask for a fat burning suplement to be added to it.
Whoops.. I did that…um..like two weeks ago. Note to self…don’t be a tool
ha- funny you use the term “tool”. My boyfriend and I refer to guys that love thier reflections at the gym way too much as “toolboxes.” Secret code comes in handy.
wow, i think thats another thing that makes me a horrible person
Oh LORD, #3 needs to be engraved in gold and put up all over my gym. By 10 am the 90# weights are in the slot for the 20#.. and heaven only knows where the 20#s are.
maybe #10 If it’s a busy time, do not hog a machine.
It’s nice that you want to do an hour of cardio – but when people are standing in line waiting for the treadmill, be polite and cut your time to the stated 30 minute limit.
Or when the weight room is packed, do not load the leg press machine, do minimum reps with 5 minute rests and tell folks that you have “10 more sets” left.
i am very passionate about #1. i raise my fist in agreement with you, and yes, i totally pretend-listen to my ipod, too, just like people pretend-talk on cell phones.
i want to add one more: people who use treadmills and elliptical in a manner that might break them. i see people ALL THE TIME going full PLUS speed on ellipticals with (obvious) low resistance, and you could HEAR the machine crying. there was another girl who used to put the incline on the treadmill to the maximum while running at the maximum speed too. she was literally hugging the machine and was moments away from falling off.
i mean, gym = stress reliever hallelujah, but there IS a limit.
I take great offense to rule #5. My pale man-thighs need to be enjoyed by all!!!!
Rule #9 Don’t stare. It might be that you can’t take your eyes off someone because they look super-hot or like a car-crash (see rule #5) but staring causes people to become self-conscious and is very disconcerting/creepy for the recipient. At least learn to use the reflections in mirrors if you must check others out.
Rule #10 Be reasonably clean when you get to the gym. If your work during the day has made you a bit ‘fragrant’ then having a shower before you start sweating in a crowded area with lots of other people is appreciated.
I am in such a zone when I work out, that I get SO thrown off when people try to talk to me. I don’t like listening to my iPod when lifting weights (apparently I am incapable of counting to 15 and listening to Britney at the same time) but I will also pretend-listen sometimes.
My other rule is, don’t linger on the equipment if you’re not using it. Taking a rest break is fine, but don’t sit there staring into space for ten minutes. If you do, I have to ask you if you’re still using it, which means I have to TALK to you, and clearly, I don’t want to do that!
Oh, but I totally steal magazines. When there is a magazine I like, I put it in my backpack right away because if I don’t, someone else will! But, I do bring in my old magazines for the rack, so I that justifies it for me.
I love these rules. Though I want to add one-leave your cell phone in the locker room. If you must have it with you-DO NOT sit on a machine while you chat. There are other people who are waiting for you to finish your conversation so they can use that machine.
Oh and another one-leave your kids at home or in day-care. I hate when I’m swimming lanes and get hit in the head with a ball that kids are throwing around in the “Lane Swimming” only area
My personal pet peeve is when ppl were perfume/cologne and I have to keep sucking it in when I breathe. HATE THAT!