Gym etiquette 101
Making sure your workout isn't bothering everyone else's
SHANE RAY
Nobody wants to work out next to the sweaty meathead who smells worse than week-old gym socks. So make sure you’re not the one who’s turning heads for all the wrong reasons by following 10 simple, unwritten rules of gym etiquette.
1. Always wipe the equipment after use.
No one wants to sit in a puddle of
your sweat, and they shouldn’t have to.
Most gyms provide paper towels and
spray bottles to clean equipment after
use. Not only is this more hygienic,
but it shows consideration for others.
2. Never rest on the equipment between sets.
When waiting between sets, do not sit
on the equipment; let other members
work in. Not only are you not using
the equipment, but neither is anyone
else. Get up and stretch between sets
to give others a chance to work out
while you recover.
3. Don’t dress like you’re on a beach.
Although this usually applies to
women who wear short-shorts and
tiny, cropped tops, guys are equally
guilty with their mesh or stretched-out
tank tops. Dressing in this fashion is
not only distracting, but could make
those who are just starting to work out
feel awkward or intimidated. Whatever you do, make sure you wear clothing
that covers all valuables. Also remember
to wear proper footwear. Sandals not
only put you at risk of a toe-crushing
injury, they’re inconsiderate if you’re
plagued by smelly foot syndrome.
4. If you smell, do something about it.
We all sweat, especially when we work
out. However, some people sweat and
smell a little worse than others. If
you’re one of those unfortunate souls,
invest in an extra-strength deodorant
for the sake of those who have to work
out near you.
5. Don’t work out in packs.
It’s great to have friends. They can
help push you to a higher level when
working out, spot for you, and keep
you motivated. However, surrounding
yourself with too many friends when
you train will only annoy others.
6. Let people work in with you.
Some people like to circuit-train or do
giant sets in quick succession. This is
fine if the gym is basically deserted.
But during the peak periods (before
and after classes and at lunch), it is
just a pain. Why should one person
monopolize all that equipment,
especially when there are people
waiting? Be considerate. Let people
work in with you.
7. Always return your weights to the stacks.
Always return free weights or plates
to the stacks when you’re done using
them. Leaving weights on the floor is
a safety hazard — they’re the perfect
height for people to trip over. Leaving
weights loaded is not fair to other
members who either have to spend
effort and time unloading the bars,
or possibly even skip the apparatus
because they can’t manage the heavier
weights.
8. Obey time restrictions for cardio machines.
Everyone’s concept of time is different.
When you ride the exercise bike, it
might seem like you’ve only been
pedalling for five minutes, when in
reality it’s been over 30. In the gyms
on campus, people have to sign up
for the cardio machines, especially the
popular equipment, such as treadmills
and elliptical riders. It’s damn annoying
when people blatantly ignore their
time restrictions, reset the timer, or
place their towel over the control panel
to feign ignorance if questioned.
9. Don’t create a scene.
We all make noise when we work out,
whether it’s breathing hard during
a cardio workout, or the occasional
gasp when lifting weights. However,
loud grunts, groans, and obscenities are not welcome. Emitting these types
of noises only makes you look like an
idiot, or a show-off just begging for an
audience. If you find yourself grunting
like you’re passing a stone, then maybe
you’re lifting too much.
10. The gym is not Wise Guys or the OC.
Though there are many attractive gym
members, chatting them up during
their exercise routine is poor timing
at best. They don’t have time to be
distracted by lonely singles looking for
dates.
Following these 10 rules will make your workout much better. Imagine a world where you can work out without drowning in other people’s pools of sweat, where boneheads don’t think they own the joint and the equipment is accessible any time. Well, the good news is that this utopia is actually easy to achieve. All that is required is for people to think of others, or at the least, follow this easy list.
Shane Ray is the marketing coordinator for Recreation Services at the University of Manitoba.
