As we roll into January, lots of people are making resolutions to get fit. That means a massive influx of new people into gyms. While this is a good thing, there are some gym etiquette rules you must follow if you are thinking of joining a gym. Some of them are written, some unspoken. But all matter. If you’re joining a gym and want to know the do’s and don’t’s, check out our list.
Gym Etiquette
- New? Book a lesson with a trainer. Most of the below points can be avoided simply be getting to know your surroundings with an experienced person.
- People are at the gym to work out. That hot girl over in the corner working out? Yeah, she’s here for a reason. Hint, it’s not to get hit on. Most gym goers are serious about their time there so leave them alone. This is especially true if they have headphones on. Think of those as a Do Not Disturb sign.
- Wipe down your machine after use. Take a towel with you and clean off the machine after you have used it. Nobody wants to lay in a pool of sweat left by somebody else. It’s nasty.
- Return your weights. There is nothing more annoying than having to go scouting around the gym looking for weights. If everybody puts them back where they got them from, life is easier for everybody.
- Use the right equipment. If you’re the person doing bicep curls in the squat rack, know this. Everybody hates you. There are specialist machines dotted around a gym. But they are limited and in use pretty much all of the time. Don’t tie up a machine that you have no business using.
- No reserving equipment. Following on from the previous point, don’t reserve equipment that you are going to use “next”. Other people are here too, so play nice.
- Allow others to work in. This works both ways. If you are resting between sets, allow others use of the equipment. Similarly, if you see someone resting, it’s not considered rude to ask if you can work in.
- Don’t drop weights & scream. You’re not on world’s strongest man. Stop it.
- Doing cardio. Don’t be staring at people’s asses. A nice ass is a nice ass, so a quick glance is fine. Anymore is just creepy. Also, if there are a number of machines, don’t choose the one next to another person. Give people their space to do their thing.
- Wear appropriate clothing. It does not need to be expensive gear but jeans aren’t going to cut. Neither are shorts where people can see your balls every time you squat.
- Changing rooms required respect. Nobody wants to see you flossing your butt with a towel to dry off. While we are on the subject, hair dryers are for drying the hair on your head. Not elsewhere.
- Don’t worry, nobody is focussing on you. Whether you are a brand new gym member or not, anxiety can be tough. But don’t worry. Everyone at the gym is there to meet their fitness goals. They aren’t there to think about you. The huge guy in the corner is wondering why is bench 1 rep max is not increasing. The girl on the treadmill is lost in what she has to do that day. Nobody is worried about you.
- Don’t offer unsolicited advice. Unless you know someone is definitely going to hurt themselves, keep quiet. People generally don’t want to hear it and most likely will be offended. There is also the possibility they are doing something you just don’t know about. A lot of isolation moves look plain wrong.
- Lastly – Phones. Listening to music on your phone – fine. Inputting workout data into it or reading between sets – fine. Selfies – Not fine. Conducting a loud conversation – Not fine. If you need to talk to someone, take it elsewhere.
There’s everything you need to know about following the correct gym etiquette and creating a great experience for you and everyone else. For a little comic relief, check out Dom’s guide to rookie mistakes in the gym.
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