Gym Etiquette 101

GYM Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group....AT THE GYM.



General rule of thumb - Do unto others as you would have others do to you. :)

Yes, I know it takes a lot to just even get to the gym some days, BUT we all pay to be there which means everything in it is communal.

                   Here are a few things I've observed since joining the gym a couple

 years ago:

SHARE - This is the #1 complaint I hear about from all my gym going friends and friends who are trainers. It's that time of year when everyone's New Year's resolutions have kicked in and it is always busy at the gym. While we are rooting each other on, it is common courtesy to SHARE the equipment. It's one thing to claim a bench for bench pressing and another to just sit at one machine for 20 minutes while you finish your circuit training. 

Bench pressing requires you to put on your exact weight on the bar and is obviously not very time efficient to trade off with someone who needs a different set of weights. So, not many expect you to rotate (unless you've been hogging it by including circuit training with dumbbells, and when it's busy, that bugs people...and I've seen it happen a lot). Also, these areas are not supposed to be a social hangout while others are waiting around to use the equipment.

Circuit training is just that. You should be circulating to other weight equipment. When it is busy at the gym it is expected for you to do a set of reps and move on. Not only does this allow for you to be time efficient, this allows other gym goers to work their way in and you can switch with them. In the mean time, you can stretch and rest as is suggested by many gym trainers or you can just use different equipment. I'm surprised at how many people don't seem to know this unwritten rule and yet everyone around them is bugged by it.

DUMBBELL AREA- This goes along with sharing, but I thought it needed it's own category because I hear about and see it so often. I've only seen a few girls do this; it's mostly men that hog a lot of dumbbells for their own personal use. This is especially rude when the gym is busy and many people have paid to use them too. There is a reason there are mirrors at the gym. When others are facing the mirror doing an exercise, try to go around them and definitely DO NOT stand in front of them trying to figure out which dumbbells you want. You can see the weight numbers perfectly fine from a side distance; wait til they are done with their reps, then go in to pick up your dumbbells.







PUT IT BACK WHERE YOU FOUND IT - If you use anything at the gym, put it back where you found it so that people know you are done with it and it can be used. And it's just common courtesy to not make others do it for you. 

SWEATING - Have you ever sat on a bench or at a machine and felt a warm wet feeling. I knew it was definitely not mine and I'm pretty sure it was one of the most unpleasant things I've ever experienced (and I'm a very outdoorsy person who has experienced a lot of not so pleasant things). If you are a big sweater, take a towel and wipe your sweat off of equipment.



STRETCHING - This is mostly for us girls, especially if you are not wearing very much clothing. I love to wear my shorts and tank top as much as the next girl going to the gym or out for a run, but there is etiquette in stretching. If you were outside for a run, you wouldn't bend down and stick your butt out for all the cars and pedestrians passing by (unless you like that and/or you are attention hungry). Yes, the gym is somewhat of a meat market and I personally could care less, but think of the rest of the gym goers that do not want to see your pretty pink thong/butt crack/ and/or vag cleavage hanging out or under (yes I've seen this). Go to the back of the gym or somewhere where you are not sticking your butt or cleavage out for all to see.

SOCIAL HANG OUT - I am all for people hooking up at the gym if that's your choice of place for finding a mate, but if you are going to flirt or have a social hang out, DO NOT take up machines/benches for decades at a time even when it's not busy, unless of course you ARE using them at the same time. Go hang out by the wall or in the spa area if you just want to socialize.

SANITIZING - I'm not really big on this, but I know some people are. If there are sanitation stations in the cardio area, they aren't just there for gym decor, you are expected to use them. I've seen people wipe down their equipment for the next person and I've seen people just wipe their hands after using a cardio machine so they don't have sweat all over going to the next exercise area. I've done both and have seen most people NOT wipe down the machine so I've resorted to just wiping my hands off for the next exercise area.



IF YOU HAVE TO FART GO IN THE BATHROOM - enough said.


ClASSES - Yes it sucks when you are late for a class, but don't squeeze in at the front so no one else around you has enough room to enjoy it. If you are late, there is usually room in the back. If you like being at the front, planning ahead helps with everything else in your schedule. Show respect for others who have planned accordingly.

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK - If you think about it, most of the people that go to the gym have families or very busy lives that would be very much disrupted if you go to a public place and cough all over people causing them to get sick (or if you have bad hygiene...but that is a whole new 101 that I'm not sure I care to explain on this blog). Besides that, according to a couple of my friends that are nurses, it is counter productive to work out when you are sick. If you have to, there are plenty of workouts you can do from home. Push ups and jumping jacks are awesome and yet simple exercises you can do from home and keep your germs away from the public. And there are plenty of workout videos (FREE online videos and cheap ones at the store) out there that you can use at home. And I'm pretty sure 1/2 the world owns the "Insanity"  from the "Beach Body" series of workout videos so there's a good chance one of your friends has one you can borrow. :)

CARDIO AREA - I usually zone out with my IPOD music, but others have told me about their pet peeve when others are on their phone and chatting for a long time with someone. I don't know why that's just what they said. The other thing that I've heard about is when a friend comes up to the person next to you to talk with them but stares at you the whole time.


SAUNA - Saunas are for RELAXING. Everyone I know that likes to use the sauna goes in to wind down. #1 most annoying thing is when there are other people in the sauna and someone comes in and turns on the lights. If there is no one in there that's fine; feel free to do your own thing. And the person that comes in after you SHOULD ASK YOU if they can turn the lights off if they want them off.  COMMON COURTESY. 2nd annoyance being those who pump their music full blast and/or still workout in there. I wish I could count on one hand how many times I've just wound down or fell asleep just to be startled by being splashed by the water on the ground from someone doing something like jumping jacks or being splashed by their sweat. True story. A friend of mine works at the gym and talked about how there are those who bring weights into the pool/sauna/steam room area and how not only does it ruin the equipment, but it costs a lot to replace it and if they find out who did it, that person will be subject to a fine and possible suspension from the gym.

STEAM ROOM - There have been times when others turn on the light without asking others already in there AND/OR turn on the hose and spray down steam room. ASK those around you FIRST if they don't mind. 

Most people are only annoyed when others just don't ask before using things when they were there first. ALWAYS ASK FIRST.

HOT TUB - If you are just getting out of the sauna, it is expected of you to rinse off before getting into the hot tub. No one wants to swim in your filth. If someone is in the hot tub already and you want the jets on, ASK THEM FIRST if they don't mind you turning them on...they were there first.

POOL - I'm not a huge fan of swimming, but I've heard when it's so busy you have to share a lane, you stay on the RIGHT side of the lane. I've also heard some people think it's best to just wait until the other one is done with their laps (which sounds way less time efficient than the other way). Any swimmers out there that care to elaborate on that issue??

So, again, general rule of thumb is do unto others as you would want others to do to you.

Have I missed any??

What are some other gym etiquette rules you have thought of?? Please share!