And maybe this should go without saying, but there are two cases where you absolutely should Never film or photography: On the gym floor if your establishment has posted a rule prohibiting video, and in the locker rooms. Honestly, you should even be careful not to text too much in the locker room, lest people think you’re using your phone to surreptitiously take creepy photos.
5. Don’t show up late for class.
It’s important to arrive on time to a group workout for many reasons: You’ll want to set up your space, gather your equipment, and let the instructor know if you need any changes. Ideally, you will arrive 10-15 minutes early. If you arrive late, not only will you miss out, but you will also disrupt the people who arrived on time. If you to have to enter after things are already underway, be aware that you only have a few minutes of wiggle room, more than five minutes, and the actual class (not just the warm-up) has probably already started. So come up with a B workout plan and ditch the course for the day.
6. Leave your phone in the locker room during class.
Phones can be a huge distraction, to your classmates and to your own concentration, especially during relaxing classes like yoga. Even if the ringtone is not activated, a “silent” vibration is still audible and your screen will continue to light up when you receive notifications. (Just like your smart watch, if you wear one.) Do everyone a favor and just place it in your locker (with sound disabledplease).
7. And never answer calls in the gym.
Even if you have headphones, it’s a big no.
8. Put things… in their place.
Everyone laments gym-goers who leave their free weights on the floor or their plates on the bar, but for me, putting your equipment away in the wrong place isn’t much better. There’s a precision to the gym that soothes many of us: dumbbells neatly arranged from left to right in ascending order, weight plates placed vertically from lightest at the top to heaviest at the bottom. Putting your stuff back anywhere randomly ruins that ambiance And it’s hard for the next person to find what they need.
9. Wipe down everything you used.
Gyms traditionally have disposable wipes, spray cleaners, and paper towels for disinfecting benches and cardio machines, as well as signs reminding you to do so. Since COVID, my gym has upped the ante with them, and I completely agree: take a moment to wipe down All that you touched, including free weights, machine handles and other accessories. Sharing a bench with someone’s sweat is disgusting, but so many diseases are spread from face-to-hand/hand-to-face contact, and we’re all here to exercise to be healthier, right? So when you wipe down your bench, take an extra 10 seconds to touch your touch surfaces as well.
10. Give people space…
If you plan to lift weights in a location that is not fixed (for example, on a movable bench or even just a spot on the floor), make sure you are not directly in front of someone other and that you do not block his view in the mirror. It’s not a question of vanity: it is very important to rely on the mirror to check the shape (especially if you are lift heavy loads or doing a more technical exercise), and preventing this can, at best, destabilize someone and, at worst, leave them exposed to injury. The same space rule applies if you choose a cardio machine. If there are five treadmills open and one in use, leave at least one empty pad between you and the other user. (Trust me: if you go hard, the sweat travels.)
11. …and equipment too.
Yes, dumbbells and kettlebells are heavy. No, that doesn’t mean you should do your exercises with them an inch from their rack. Although it may take some elbow grease to transport them to another location, please take the time to do so. It’s really annoying trying to put your weights back where they belong, only to have to awkwardly hold them for a moment longer while you wait for someone to finish their set of rows, standing on top of the rack. Think of moving your weights to your new location as a warm up-or a bonus set of farmer carries.
12. Repeat after us: the gym is not your personal dating site.
Stop hitting on people who are trying to work out. Even if you think you’re respecting boundaries and “just being friendly,” the gym just isn’t the place for that. So many people go to the gym to unwind and relax, and responding to unwanted offers really hurts. I can tell you this from personal experience: if you act weird once, that interaction is going to weigh heavily on your target every time they work there. The cold vibrations are gone.
13. Don’t be weird around people with larger bodies.
Stop trying to “cheer on” the fat athletes you see working out. Don’t tell them they’re inspirational or brave, and don’t assume they’re newbies. Treat them like you do everyone else in the field: friendly, politely, and that’s it.
14. And act normal around gender non-conforming people, please.
This is a huge problem, especially in the locker room. Assume that everyone uses the right spaces and that no one needs you to stare at them intently or, worse yet, intervene because you don’t think they “belong” where they are. find. So mind your own business and keep moving forward and ultimately be cool, guys.
15. Stop playing with a cage while another person is working.
If someone is doing heavy back squats, bench presses, rows, or the like, wait until they are finished with their set to flip or remove the plates from their cage. Seeing someone out of the corner of your eye when you’re doing a heavy or technical lift can be distracting, and if they unconsciously turn their head to check it, it can throw off their balance or alignment (possibly leading to injury). . It also breaks concentration, which sucks.
16. Don’t hide.
If you are waiting for a machine, open communication will be key and will always be the better choice than creepy hovering. When the person has finished their set, politely ask them how much they have left or if you can “work” with them. This will let them know that you are waiting for this equipment and are not just hiding around them for some other reason.
17. Resign from the police form.
I really don’t recommend approaching a stranger at the gym and telling them what they’re doing wrong. This is true whether you’re a fitness professional (unlikely) or a self-proclaimed “expert” (much more likely). Unless you are this person’s trainer and are paid to teach and observe them, keep your suggestions to yourself. If you truly think they might be seriously injured, of course you can tell someone at reception, but I also urge you to check your intentions first: do you Really do you want to keep them safe, or do you just want to seem like you have the clout to have the last word?
18. Stop hogging equipment.
Common sense – and courtesy – prevails here. If your gym has a squat rack and lots of hopeful squatters, then it’s not cool to set up camp for four different squat variations in a row. The same goes for cardio equipment: if there’s a stair lift, it’s a dick move to monopolize it for an hour. For gyms that have tons of empty equipment, go ahead and use your choice as you wish, but during busy times or in spaces where things are scarce…sorry, but you’re going to have to share.
19. Get proper rest, but don’t overdo it.
The equipment should be used for working and briefly recovering, not for performing a set and then sending back an email, watching a YouTube video, and writing a voice memo to your mother. If, for example, you need to check your texts for a period of time that exceeds your rest period, take a break and leave the floor to do so. (On the other hand, don’t feel like you have to shorten your rest to complete your sets faster if you feel like someone is waiting for you. If so, they will just ask you to work, like above !)
20. Do not “back up” stations, machines, or anything else.
This might be an unpopular opinion, especially for fans of supersets (two consecutive exercises without rest) or circuits (the same, but with more movements), but this creates a backlog at the gym and introduces a lot of unnecessary confusion. If you stack a lat pulldown on the cable machine with a bench press on the flat bench station, you’re taking up two prime pieces of real estate. It’s not fair to expect them to remain open and available when you’re not currently using them and, in my opinion, it’s not a good idea to “claim” them with your bottle of water, your towel or your sweatshirt while you are doing your other work. exercise.
21. Don’t be an asshole.
Good gym etiquette can, at its very essence, be summed up in this simple imperative: Don’t be an asshole. Remember that you are in a public space, so behaviors that would be annoying, attention-grabbing, off-putting or downright disgusting any of them the area where you share close spaces will likely apply here as well.
And a gentler, related plea too: while you definitely shouldn’t be a complete asshole, why not take it a step further and be… a nice human being? A lot of the gym missteps we’ve talked about could be mitigated through communication, and that’s only possible if you’re willing to actually interact with your fellow exercisers. This doesn’t mean you should start random conversations with them (and, again, don’t flirt with them), but simply acknowledge their existence and belonging in this shared space. This means making eye contact, smiling, greeting, giving them the spray bottle if they are next in line, etc. If everyone on the field made themselves a little more accessible, the gym could be a lot more welcoming. room for all of us.
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