Gym Etiquette 101

Ok everyone, here is my weekly forum contribution :) It is for everyone.

Of course we all know that for some people, joining a gym and actually trying to do resistance training is a big step and can be intimidating. So, first of all, I applaud you all who are at least out there trying :)

One thing that I feel that I should post is a quick forum on gym etiquette. Sometimes, people just don't know what it is and others, unfortunately, are just inconsiderate. I know that in almost ALL gyms there are nice and pretty signs that say these things, but I wanted to let people know just how important these things are.

So here are some quick Gym Etiquette 101 tips so that you don't find yourself in an awkward position at your local gym :)

Please wipe down the benches and equipment. This is for hygenic purposes and is a good practice. Let's face it, you don't want to sit down to a bench that has someone else's sweat on it, so as they say, do unto others...
Re-rack your weights, dumbbells etc. This is one that always surprises me. Jason and I ALWAYS re-rack our weights and sometimes, Jason has 14 plates on some machines. I'll bet Joe Gymgoer would be highly upset if Jason left his plates on the machines. It is good etiquette to put back any dumbbells, plates, bars, steps etc that you use. Just because you use "only one plate" or "just 10 lbs", whatever it is, it is considered bad etiquette to leave your mess for someone else to clean up. Also, please be sure to put things in their proper spot and if they're in pairs, keep them together. It can be frustrating when the 10s are where the 100s are and when you can only find one 20lb dumbbell.
If you're using a bench to rest your weights or your belongings, please reconsider. The chances are, your gym does not have 100 benches so most likely, someone is waiting to use that bench. Usually, they're too nice to say anything, or they are waiting in the wings shooting you the look of death. Regardless, it is considered good practice to use the benches only when necessary. On a parallel note, when looking at the weight rack, if you are using the weights on the far left side, it is polite to use the benches on the left and vice versa. That way, Joe Gymgoer who is using 120lb dumbbells doesn't have to walk all the way to a bench near the 5lb dumbbells.
Time on equipment and machines. Please be considerate and realize that there are lots of other people in the gym. There are so many times I go to use a machine and politely ask someone, "How many sets do you have left?" and they say, "Like 6 or 7". Not to mention that they've already been there 20 minutes. First off, there is really no reason for one person to occupy a machine for that long and second, once again, it's just considered poor etiquette. If, for some reason you are on something for a long time, like during a circuit, and you see that someone is eyeing your machine, graciously offer that they work in with you.
Social hour. For most people, time is very valuable and the gym is time for working out and trying to improve their health. There are many times groups of people will start talking and 1)end up occupying a bench or machine forever and/or 2) end up taking up a lot of space and disrupt the flow of traffic. So if you and some friends want to chat, it is considered good practice to step off to the side or surrender your equipment while you are talking :)

Here are some other minor ones:

Personal Hygiene. I know this is a hard one for folks, and it's equally hard for me to say. But this forum is all about making sure everyone is in the know :) I'll leave it at that
What you wear in your bathroom is not necessarily appropriate for the gym. We all like to be comfortable, but be aware of what you're wearing and be sure it is good gym attire.
Bags. Most gyms ask that you not have bags on the floor as they are a trip hazard. They really are. So please, be careful if you choose to have a bag out on the gym floor.

I hope this helps :) I know that when Jason owned and ran his gyms, gym etiquette was part of maintaining your membership and, to be honest, it made the gym experience great for everyone. Give it a try, you'll be happy you did :)

So if there's anything I got across in this post, it's to BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS :) If you practice this one thing in all of your gym practices, you'll be amazed how much nicer of an experience it will be for everyone!

Tags: etiquette, fitness, gym, gymetiquette, tips, workingout

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Permalink Reply by Matt Reile on February 16, 2010 at 9:34am

Ugh...this is all so true.

My pet peeves are really #4 and #5. They go hand in hand really. I have a tight schedule and my gym time is precious and MY TIME. I hate it when people get in the way by consuming a machine for way too long. Or for instance...just the other day...I needed a machine and as I was walking up to it...this "social butterfly" guy at the gym walks ahead of me and puts his towel on the machine. Yep...cut me off to beat me to the machine. But wait there's more...

He then proceeds to walk 10 steps away to go talk to his buddy for 20 MINUTES. I was able to get another machine, and I was fuming the rest of my workout. The good thing was I had an awesome workout that day because I was so ticked off.

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Permalink Reply by Kai on February 16, 2010 at 9:47am

AAAAmen! lol Like I said, some newbies really don't know. I know we all think it should just be understood, but sometimes it's really not, which is why I posted this. Unfortunately though, for the most part...people are just on their own clock, in their own world and no one else matters. Sad...so sad.

I can't wait to see all of the replies on this. Overall, I hope it helps some people :)

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Permalink Reply by Soolmaz on February 16, 2010 at 11:57am

I use to be very timid when addressing these issues in the gym. Now...let's just say I have no problems asking politely ONCE.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Reile on February 16, 2010 at 3:15pm

LOL...I like the ONCE emphasis. I don't even need to say anything anymore. I have had people move benches, machines, when they see me coming. Those that are regulars I guess we know each other's routines and we can quickly modify or work around each other.

Its those new people that screw everything up!

That being said, I am always happy to see new people trying to get in shape and take charge of their health & fitness. Just follow the rules as Kai has so politely informed you of!

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Chavez on March 17, 2010 at 12:05pm

great read. i totally think gyms should have some sort of orientation focusing on some of these topics for new members. its also a good idea for those of us who practice gym etiquette to reinforce these practices in as polite and nice a way as possible.

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Permalink Reply by Kai on March 18, 2010 at 3:38pm

For SURE!! :) When Jason owned his gyms, it was part of their orientation. Basically, if you didn't follow gym etiquette, you were out. Sometimes it would rub some people the wrong way at first, but then they realized that once everyone did it, it made their facility alot nicer!

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Permalink Reply by John Shumate on March 18, 2010 at 12:56pm

Amen Kai to #2, re-racking weights. Gym management can help send a strong message by racking any weight left lying around for more than a few minutes. Maybe a different category, but this is especially true of those who "take over" the room by setting up multiple stations just for themselves, tieing up equipment and leaving everyone wondering what's really in use and what's been abandoned, it can turn a weight room and a workout session into mayhem.

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Permalink Reply by Kai on March 18, 2010 at 3:39pm

and a big "Amen" to you as well lol So often I'm like, are you on this?..and this?.....AND this?? lol

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Permalink Reply by Fentris Lane on March 20, 2010 at 1:19pm

I would have to say #1 & #5 are my choices here! With #5 being the most annoying! How about the people that like to talk it up on their cell phones while doing cardiovascular? That just pisses me off!

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Permalink Reply by Nelson Gomez Jr on March 22, 2010 at 9:44am

YEP...That's why I carry around my own gym towel. I may look like a nerd with it but I don't care b/c I'm not there for show.

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Permalink Reply by Kai on March 22, 2010 at 9:49am

Amen! Trust me, you don't look like a nerd. On the contrary, we're looking at you like, "THANK YOU!!" :)

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Permalink Reply by Cody Hall on March 25, 2010 at 6:50pm

Great article! To me, the weight room/gym is my second home so I always treat it like so. Racking the weights is like cleaning the dishes or putting my stuff away. Wiping down the equipment is like cleaning a spill or cleaning up after I cook. Not having bags and weights lying all over the place is like making sure I don't have all my stuff just laying all over my place. I guess though if their house/apartment is a pig sty then it might carry over to how they treat the gym.