“It was a typical workout day, and I was fully focused on doing heavy Romanian deadlifts,” he said. “The gym was my zone, a place where I could push my limits in peace. I was using the leg press machine as a support, deeply engrossed in my routine.”
Suddenly, mid-set, Mr. Mustafa felt an unexpected tap on his shoulder. Startled and barely managing to hold onto the weights, he turned to find a woman impatiently wanting to use the leg press.
“She repeatedly said, ‘Hey, listen,’ ignoring the fact I was in the middle of a heavy lift,” he said. “I tried to explain to her that it’s unsafe and rude to interrupt someone mid-set,” but instead of an apology, she erupted into a tirade, calling him rude.
Mr. Mustafa completed the set and walked away.
Etiquette at the Gym–Yes, Please
According to the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association, January consistently welcomes as much as 12 percent of each year’s new gym memberships.With such an influx of new members, now is the perfect time for a refresher on how to interact with both gym members and equipment in a peaceable and respectful manner, so that everyone can start off strong in the new year. Here are six golden rules of gym etiquette that will help you navigate each and every workout without a hitch.
1. Familiarize Yourself With the Equipment
New gym members may find exercising in front of other people to be daunting or embarrassing, especially when experienced exercisers are smoothly moving from one piece of equipment to the next. It can take some time to familiarize yourself with new equipment—even if you’ve been in the game for a while.However, giving yourself some room to learn is one of the best things you can do to make your fitness journey a positive experience for yourself and others.
2. Respect Personal Space
As Mr. Mustafa’s example illustrates, for many, the gym is a place where they come to completely focus on their own experience, often falling into a sort of meditation that athletes call “the zone.” Unless expressly invited to do so, resist the urge to chat with others in the gym, no matter how near they may be. This also applies to the urge to lean over uninvited to compare speed or distance with those on adjacent stationary bikes or treadmills.3. Keep Things Clean
Use a towel to wipe down equipment after use. Wiping sweat off benches or seats needs to be an automatic action. If the towel becomes damp after the workout, get a fresh one for the shower. Leaving seats or other surfaces slippery with sweat is more than unhygienic, thoughtless, and bad form—it could lead to slips and injuries. If the gym provides it, use a disinfectant spray, too.
4. Put Things Back Where They Belong
While the temptation to leave weights out may be more specific to heavy barbell and bodybuilding exercises, there are also etiquette rules to follow when using simple free weights. Free weights are often stacked by size and weight for ease of use. After completing a set, put them back in their correct place for the next person; failing to take a moment to replace or rerack your weights is a fast way to earn a bad reputation at the gym.
5. Don’t Monopolize the Stations
Certain pieces of equipment are more popular than others, which results in people waiting to use them. For example, the bench press and squat rack are staples in many weightlifting regimes. While you don’t need to rush your workout—doing so puts you at risk for injury—it’s courteous to be cognizant of the other gym members and move at a reasonable pace.
For example, lingering to take an inordinate number of selfies while the gym is busy is an exercise etiquette no-no. This especially applies to gym-goers who want to leverage their fitness journeys on social media. Many people see themselves as fledgling filmmakers or influencers. They make videos of themselves to be shared online.
Mr. Richard said, “I’ve noticed many people morphing into directors of their own workout movies, using their phones to video every rep and set.”
He once found the leg press machine occupied by a man who was a “mountain of muscles,” seemingly filming the next big blockbuster with his smartphone. After he completed his set, instead of moving on, the man remained seated, glued to his phone. In an attempt to be polite to his fellow gym-goer, Mr. Richard inquired, “Got many more sets, mate?”
The man replied, “Yeah, I’ve got a load more to do.” Returning about 40 minutes later, Mr. Richard found the machine still occupied while the man edited his video. Deciding his need for leg exercises was outweighed by a desire to avoid an unpleasant encounter, Mr. Richard shrugged it off, deciding instead to search for a new gym with more polite patrons.
That being said, sometimes you have to step away from your station to grab a drink or take a restroom break. At other times, you may want to use two pieces of equipment for alternating sets, such as going back and forth between the leg press and the lat pulldown machine. The proper way to signal that you’re actively using a piece of equipment is to leave a towel on the seat or the weight bar loaded with weights.
If you’re uncertain if a piece of equipment has been reserved, wait 15 minutes to see if anyone approaches it. If not, ask others nearby if they have it reserved. Proper gym manners preclude draping a towel on the seat to reserve equipment in such a way that unfairly keeps others from using it; it’s bad behavior to be actively using only one machine while having another “reserved” for the next exercise in your queue.
This is especially true if it’s a busy day or night at the gym and the equipment is in high demand and short supply.
6. Keep the Noise Level Low
Even if you’re not interested in becoming the next viral sensation, technology is probably a part of your gym experience. It’s common to use headphones or earbuds while exercising. Gym-goers listen to everything from music to audiobooks.
The most obvious gym etiquette practice is to set your device at a volume that can’t be heard by those at nearby exercise stations. However, two other rules apply: One, don’t decide to entertain the others in the gym by singing along—they almost certainly won’t appreciate the performance. Two, don’t take or make calls while in the gym, even while wearing headphones. No one wants to listen to random conversations, and it’s a sure way to break the concentration of those nearby who are trying to stay in the zone.
Both new members and old hands may be tempted to act like an Olympic weightlifter by loudly grunting and dramatically dropping the weights after a lift, but that’s both inconsiderate and potentially dangerous. It’s hard on the equipment, the loud crashing noise will be startling to other people in the gym, and it could result in injury.
Stick to It
In the end, getting fit isn’t easy, but it’s worthwhile. If you’re joining a gym as part of your New Year’s resolutions, remember that it’s a shared space full of others committed to similar goals. Practical considerations and proper etiquette contribute to creating a positive gym experience for everyone, which is important because exercising takes regular time and commitment.Kerri Walsh Jennings, an Olympic beach volleyball athlete, sums it up well: “It’s going to be a journey. It’s not a sprint to get in shape.”
The bottom line is simple: make a plan, stick to it, and do your best to enjoy the company of others on the same journey.
