The gym can be intimidating your first few times, so knowing gym etiquette and what you should and shouldn’t do when you start going can help with the fear of stepping foot in the gym.
Here are some gym etiquette tips of what you should and shouldn’t do when at the gym.
Gym Etiquette Do’s:
- Wipe down the equipment when you are done using it.
- Put the weights and equipment away when you are finished. I see this so much at the gyms where people leave heavy plates on the squat rack, as the saying goes “Whats one more rep?“.
- Choose good timing when to strike up a conversation. Some people go to the gym and don’t want to be bothered, or they may be short on time. Striking up a conversation is great, the gym is a social place, but watching for other peoples body language is key before you approach them.
Gym Etiquette Don’ts:
- slam the weights on the ground
- use your phone to the point it’s interfering with someone else’s ability to work out. Sitting on a piece of equipment while having a long phone or text conversation is highly frowned upon. There may be others waiting to use the equipment. So, proper etiquette is to step away or outside to use the phone. Free up the equipment and come back when the conversation is over.
- stand right in front of the dumbbell rack, take a few steps back. This way other members can grab the weights instead of standing there waiting for you to be done.
- go over board with the perfume/Cologne, some people are allergic or sensitive to strong smells, so getting a big whiff of perfume can cause someone to feel unpleasant in the gym. This also goes for body odor, Sweat is normal. And most of us stink when we sweat. However, it’s important to be conscious of personal hygiene so it doesn’t get excessive or affect other member’s workouts.
- Be too loud. A little bit of noise is okay. If an individual is working hard, grunting, groans, and even self pep-talks are all very realistic. However, when it’s excessive, it becomes a distraction for other gym members.You don’t need to be silent, just try and watch the profanity, volume, and consistency of the noise you are making. Be respectful of others.
Conclusion
It comes down to being respectful and mindful of others. Most of the time, gym etiquette is just demonstrating common courtesy to others. The gym is a shared space. So, being courteous to others, being respectful of the equipment, and trying to keep it a pleasant space for all those that want to use it is the overall practice of gym etiquette.
