Disclaimer of sorts: Since this is my blog, I am going to share some of my pet peeves regarding gym etiquette. These are my opinions and yours may differ. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but I’ve been working out and working in gyms for a long time, so I have seen a few things that just annoy me. Bear with me as a I vent a little…
When I go to the gym, I try to focus on my workout. I get into my music (sometimes a little too much) and crank through my routine. As a trainer, however, I can’t seem to help people-watching. Watching others, especially watching trainers with their clients, can give me a fresh perspective. It also sheds light on just how poor some people’s etiquette can be. I’ve compiled a list of my pet peeves—can you see yourself in any of these scenarios?
Camping out on equipment
Seriously, folks, if you’re not using a machine or a bench, could you please get up and let someone else use it? If you are doing multiple sets and the gym isn’t busy, it’s fine to sit there between sets (unless your gym has posted rules that say otherwise). At peak hours, you should be prepared to share equipment and let others work in.
Grunting
Opinions on this vary. I get that if you are lifting heavy, grunts happen. Overly loud grunts are just obnoxious, so please try to keep it down.
Not re-racking weights
“A place for everything and everything in its place.” I love that phrase because I’m a bit obsessive about putting things in their proper place, but it’s not all about me. Think of the person who does a leg press with a pair of 25-pound plates and finds that there are 10 45-pound plates on the machine. For some people, it’s just not possible to remove all of those weights. How often have you gone to pick up a pair of dumbbells only to find they’re not on the rack? If they’re being used, that’s one thing, but it’s just not cool to find that they’ve been left on the floor somewhere on the other end of the room. Leaving things on the floor is also a trip hazard. Treat your gym as if your mom is watching you—put your things away.
Not using weight clamps
This one truly is not about me, it’s about the people who do this. When you are using a bar with weight plates, please use the clamps! It may take a few seconds to do, but it is definitely worth it. I will never forget the time I heard a very soft, high-pitched voice saying “help me” and turned around to find a muscular male with a heavy bar across his lap. He was doing chest presses, and a couple of 45-pound plates had slipped, causing the bar to land on him. I’m sure he was very embarrassed and more importantly, he may have really hurt himself. Plates could also slip off and fall on someone’s feet. Take the few extra seconds and put those clamps on!
Bad cell phone manners
Cell phones in the gym are ubiquitous, and they’re not going anywhere soon. We listen to our playlists, watch movies while on the elliptical trainer, work out to online training programs, and the list goes on. My beef is with people who are rude when it comes to using the phone. If you’re going to look at social media, you don’t have to take up space on a machine or bench to do it. Loud conversations on the phone are distracting and rude, especially if your language tends to be a bit salty. And, please, please stop taking those ridiculous selfies! I have actually walked out of the shower area (wrapped in a towel, thankfully) to find that I was visible in the mirror while a woman was taking selfies. You are invading the privacy of those around you and probably violating the regulations of your gym.
A little common courtesy is just as important in the gym as it is anywhere else. If only it was a bit more common!