Everyone knows you need to take a towel, put the weights away after use etc. Yeah, not everyone does it, but they know that they should. Anyhoo, here’s a few you golden rules you may have missed:
- If the headphones are on: don’t talk to me!
It could mean “I’m in the zone man, don’t kill my vibe”, or it could be “I’m anti-social, or just grumpy”. For the first one, it’s just good manners. For the second, it’s for your own safety, so best to let me get on with it.
- Use the equipment in the way it is intended.
It’s called a SQUAT rack because you use it for SQUATS, so why you doin’ curls in there bro? Seriously! If you don’t wanna be the butt of gym meme jokes, makes sure you know how to use the equipment and how to do it properly. A gym trainer or attendant will be more than happy to show you.
- Guys, don’t even remotely look in the direction of a girl doing hip thrusts.
Even if it’s perfectly innocent (and of course, it ALWAYS is, right guys!?) it looks creepy, so just don’t.
- Don’t sit on a machine and scroll thru socials for 15 minutes.
You are a gym hog. Resting between sets is one thing. Scrolling through your Tiktok For You page is a complete other issue. Don’t be that douche, please.
- Don’t stand between someone else and the mirror.
Yes, some of them might just be in love with themselves, but most people are using the mirrors to check their form, and make sure they are performing the exercise correctly, and they can’t do that if your ass is in the way, no matter how defined it is, ‘k?
- Don’t “reserve” equipment.
It’s a gym, not a hotel pool lounge chair in Ibiza.. Laying your towel on it does not make it yours. If you are worried that someone might use the machine before you get to it in your “routine” then tough luck my friend. Find an alternative exercise to do or skip it until tomorrow.
- Don’t Grunt (Yup, I do this, but don’t)
I find it helpful to get that last rep out with a little grunt. Apparently though it’s not cool, clever or attractive. Meh! I save my grunts for my home workouts and just focus on breathing out instead.
- Do your Grooming at Home
I would have thought this was self explanatory, but after finding nail clippings in a changing room apparently not. Also NOONE wants to find your pubic hair in the shower. Save your landscaping/manscaping for home. I beg you!
- Spray away
I learned this one the hard way as well. It’s essential to use deodorant before and after a workout, but if it’s a spray, then stay away from the general public area, and spray away from other patrons. Otherwise you gas the whole yoga class and not in a fun way.
- Get off your damn phone
No-one wants to hear about Aunt Gladys bunions or what you are going to be wearing for Friday night drinks. This also goes for being on the train, in the supermarket or generally in a confined public space. Save your telephone conversations for somewhere more private please.
Do you have any other gym etiquette tips?
Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash
