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 :)

1. 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...
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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:

1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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!