Gym Etiquette

Accessing a gym to achieve your personal health goals may bring you one step closer to being satisfied with your personal appearance. While everyone working out in a gym has similar goals, some may not know how to properly conduct themselves in a serious fitness environment. To become a part of this community and be a welcomed member of your local gym, follow these guidelines for gym etiquette.

Equipment

First and foremost, respect your gym equipment. Most facilities have signs posted about re-racking weights or wiping machine off after use, but you also want to be conscious of what and how you are using the equipment. Respect gym equipment by returning weights to their designated areas. If the gym is crowded don’t hoard several sets of free weights or spend 60 minutes on the elliptical. Rotate with your fellow members and be courteous of other people’s needs and space. This is not your personal gym that will be cleared of nuisance when you enter.

Clothing

While some gyms have strict rules on what you can and cannot wear, you should be aware of how you look in certain get-ups. Men and women should be conscious of how far the sides of their cut off tshirts come down on their torso, and be aware that something resembling a full shirt should be worn. While the gym is no place to body shame or judge someone’s clothing, having discretion about what you wear is just polite. Also, if your gym has a locker room, refrain from any excessive nudity. The human body is a beautiful thing but flaunting it in the locker room where people are simply trying to change is not the place to do it.

Space

Gyms can get crowded, especially at peak hours. Even when it seems like there isn’t enough room for everyone’s activities, give you and your fellow members enough space to perform their exercises. Leave enough of a radius so that there is no chance of injury if someone may drop their equipment. Steer clear of hassling other members who are using equipment you want to use. Simply ask them in between their sets how many more they are going to do and occupy yourself with another activity close by until they are done.

Learn how to be a helpful spotter, but only agree to help if someone asks and you know what you’re doing. This type of close-quarter assistance could mean breaching someone else’s workout zone, but you’re helping a fellow member and potential gym buddy!