Gym Etiquette... Do's and Don'ts

Hi Everyone,

Today's post is for those who might be new to a gym or for those who are just plain clueless.

There are things that you should and should not do in a gym, and I wanted to share some of those things with you.

1. Clean your workout clothes after each use. No body likes to smell B.O from 2 week old clothes!

2. Bring a towel to wipe the equipment. You are going to sweat in the gym, but no body likes to sit or lay down in your sweat!!

3. Be aware of your surroundings. Gyms today are very "dynamic". Many people are walking around lunging, throwing medicine balls or swinging ropes. Be aware of what people are doing around you as you walk through the gym. I can't tell you how many times people have just about walked into me or my client as we were performing an exercise.

4. Don't drop the weights. If you can't control it down, it is to heavy. I don't care how big or strong you think you are!

5. Share. If you notice people waiting to use a piece of equipment you are using, offer to let them "work in" while performing multiple sets of an exercise, especially if a certain machine or piece of equipment is limited.

6. Un-rack machines and put away dumbbells. Not everyone is as big and manly as you!

7. Cell Phone usage. Don't sit on a machine and talk on the phone, as a matter of fact, unless your wife is 9 months pregnant and ready to pop don't talk on the phone at all on the exercise floor. And Bluetooths! Not only do you look crazy by talking to yourself, but you also tend to talk louder which is even more annoying. As far as i am concerned bluetooth headsets should not leave your car. You don't look important by wearing it around all the time, you look silly!

8. Spotting. When you notice someone struggling, spot them. Nobody likes to crush themselves with a bar......... USC football player ring a bell! And if you don't now how to spot correctly ask somebody!

9. Don't stand in front of the dumbbell rack and exercise. Get your dumbbells and move to an open space or to a bench. Allow others access to the dumbbells.

10. Wear appropriate clothing. Those too tight coaches shorts from the 70's need to stay back in the 70's.

11. Don't smoke cigarette anywhere near the gym. Most of us come to the gym to stay healthy. We don't need to smell your cigarette smoke while walking through the parking lot.

12. Locker room talk. While in the locker room, don't try to hold a conversation with me if your are buck naked! I promise I am not being rude, I just won't talk to you.

13. Grunting. A little grunting is OK, but lets not get crazy here and try to get everyone to look at you. No one likes a screamer in the gym.

14. Staring. Guys, it is OK and normal to sneak a peak at the ladies, but when that peak drags on for a while it becomes a creepy stare. Don't do it! If you are trying to watch somebody to learn an exercise, ask, don't stare.

15. Flip Flops. Now I know most shoes that are worn to the gym do not have steel toes, but with heavy weights rolling around and being dropped by people that want to look cool, do you really want your little piggies exposed. Besides, you are at the gym not the beach! Safety aside, it just looks silly. And without knowing you, I can tell that never work your lower body, or integrate movements. I would actually rather see someone train barefoot, that way they at least will have better stability than training in flip flops.

Ahhhh.... I feel better for getting that off my chest. I am sure I will think of many more.

If you have any good ones that I forgot, leave me a comment below.

Until next time,
Living life with No Excuses.........No Regrets!
Scott