Washington - Spend enough time at the gym and you’re bound to develop some pet peeves. It’s a communal space, shared by people with idiosyncrasies that can drive others up the wall – humming while running, staring while lifting or talking out loud while doing anything.
Teaching fitness classes at a gym has given me a front-row seat to some colourful behaviour that local trainers and gym managers tell me is pretty common. While there is no way to avoid annoying somebody at some point, there are basic rules of gym etiquette to keep people from throwing you the side-eye.
Focus on your workout, not everyone else’s
Look, I get it. You read fitness mags, have a few exercise apps on your smartphone and are at the gym so much that all the cleaning people know your name. But unless you’re a certified trainer, no one needs your advice on their form.
This kind of gym-splaining happens way too often to women. Some dude will think it’s his duty to explain the fine points of a squat or, worse yet, try to physically correct your posture. It’s intimidating enough to exercise in front of a bunch of chiselled people without a stranger singling you out for a lesson.
If you are genuinely concerned that someone might injure himself, tap a trainer on the shoulder and politely say, “Hey, I think that person over there could use some help”. Most trainers are happy to help, especially if it means a potential new client.
“If someone is in immediate danger, help them out. But otherwise, look for a trainer on the floor,” said personal trainer Devin Maier.
Focusing on your workout also means not staring at people as they are doing theirs. You can learn a lot from checking out someone else’s routine, but don’t ogle.
Keep it clean
If you’re a sweat monster like I am, bring wipes to clean off the machines, mats and weights. Most gyms come equipped with spray bottles and paper towels and some even have disinfecting wipes. Use them.
Slipping and busting your behind on someone’s treadmill sweat trail is no fun. Janitors can be in only so many places at once. They need your co-operation to keep the gym from becoming a petri dish.
If you like to shave or wash your hair in the locker room shower, take a paper towel and scoop up the bits of hair in the drain. Sure, it’s icky, but it’s ickier when somebody else has to step in it. And if you need to freshen your make-up at the sink, clean up the film of foundation or blush around the edges.
Keep grunts to a minimum
Yes, that last set of curls is killing you. So much so that you’re gritting your teeth, breaking into a sweat and grunting like you’re Conan the Barbarian – but you’re not, so keep it down.
It is natural to grunt when exerting effort; some trainers will even tell you that it enhances performance. One study of college tennis players found that their serve and forehand velocity increased when they grunted.
Still, that loud exhalation can be distracting to everyone else. Besides, you can forcefully expel air without making a whole lot of noise. Try it.
“If it sounds like someone is passing a kidney stone and it’s distracting to other people, then you need to tone it down,” Maier said.
And another thing: there is no need to drop the weights after completing that oh-so-difficult set. It’s distracting and dangerous.
Instead, maintain control of weights at all times and safely lower them to a resting position.
Don’t hog several machines or weights at once
Rotating from one machine to the next as part of a circuit can be a great way to break up the monotony of your workout. But be mindful that other people want to use the leg press or Smith machine.
Don’t take long breaks in between each set because someone will swoop in to take one of the machines. And swoopers, ask whether the person is still using the leg press before you start your set. The frustration of having to wait for a machine is no excuse for rudeness.
“I’m all for people doing circuit training, but if you are going to monopolise multiple pieces of equipment, you should probably come in during off-peak hours,” said Maier. “If you’re going to the gym at 6pm at night, don’t do it. You’re going to upset people and everyone has to share.”
All the same advice applies to the use of weights. It’s great that you’re trying to increase the amount of weight you can lift. You know what’s not splendid? People waiting 20 minutes for the pair of 10, 15 and 20-pound dumbbells that you say you’re “almost” done using. Not all gyms come fully stocked with multiple weights of the same size, so keep that in mind when you pick up the last pair of 15-pound dumbbells.
And return all equipment to its proper location after use so that it’s readily available for other members and keeps the gym floor free of clutter.
Confine your stuff to one area
There is no reason for anyone to have their belongings – water bottle, sweatshirt, keys, phone, wallet – strewn about. This goes for the locker room, weight room and class studio. None of these places are your house, so you have no right to throw your stuff everywhere. Not cool.
There is limited space in the gym that has to be shared by everyone, so it does no one any good to have to manoeuvre around all of your things. Get a locker. If you don’t feel safe parting from your wallet or cellphone, then neatly place them somewhere that’s not in the way.
When you’re in the locker room, don’t leave your toiletries in the shower stall. The same goes for your sweaty clothes and worn undies. No one needs to see all that. No one. Ever. – Washington Post