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If youre new youll definitely want to acquaint yourself with the rules of the road first.
Nolan Pelletier
If you dont want to be That Guy (and I know you dont!
), heres all of the modern gym etiquette you should be aware of.
Keep your sneezing, snotty germs at home.
Proper gym etiquette starts before you even walk through the doors.
If youre feeling under the weather, abort mission.
When your bodys fighting off an infection,you probably shouldnt be exercising anyway.
Give yourself a sniff test.
Toss some body wipes in your gym bag along with your deodorant (andcleangym clothes!
), and use both liberally before your workout.
Things that are prohibited in one gym may be just fine in another.
Record video with (extreme) caution.
If youre going to do it, its important to be as unobtrusive and courteous as possible.
And if someone walks through your shot…well, that just means its time for take two.
Definitely do not scold another gym-goer for doing their thing and impeding your frame.
Also: Your video should feature you and you alone.
Dont show up late for class.
Ideally, youll be getting there 10 to 15 minutes early.
So come up with a workout plan B, and scrap the class for that day.
Leave your phone in the locker room during classes.
Phones can be a huge distractionto your classmates and to your own focusespecially during chill classes like yoga.
(As will your smartwatch, if youre wearing one.)
Do everyone a favor and just put it in your locker (with the soundoff, yo).
And never take calls on the gym floor.
Even if you have headphones in, this is a big nope.
Put things back…where they belong.
Wipe down everything youve used.
So when youre wiping down your bench, take the extra 10 seconds to hit your touch surfaces too.
Same space rule applies if youre picking a cardio machine.
(Believe me: If youre going hard, sweat travels.)
…and equipment too.
Yes, dumbbells and kettlebells are heavy.
No, that doesnt mean you should do your exercises with them an inch away from their rack.
Think of moving your weights to your new locale as awarm-upor a bonus set offarmer carries.
Repeat after us: The gym is not your personal dating site.
Stop hitting on people who are trying to work out.
Chill vibes, gone.
Dont be weird to people with larger bodies.
Treat them as you do everyone else on the floor: friendly, politely, and thats it.
And act normal around gender-nonconforming folks too, hey.
This is a huge one, particularly in locker rooms.
So mind your own business and keep it movin and ultimately just…be cool, guys.
Stop futzing with a cage while another person is working.
It also breaks concentration, which sucks.
Resign from the form police.
I really dont recommend approaching a stranger at the gym to tell them what theyre doing wrong.
Common senseand common courtesyprevails here.
Take appropriate rest, but dont overdo it.
If they are, theyll simply ask you to work in, like above!)
Dont save stations, machines, or anything else.
Dont be an asshole.
