It doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a lady; it’s all about etiquette! Being conscious of how your actions influence other people and not using the equipment like your own personal stairmaster are the only actual requirements for good gym etiquette. In the end, it’s about ensuring everyone’s safety in structures loaded down with heavy machinery. Simple enough, yes?
So you made the decision that it was finally time to join a gym. Great! That may be the most difficult aspect for some, but for others, the thought of going to the gym for the first time might be terrifying.
Being a gym beginner might be frightening enough without having to deal with heaps of equipment and loud noises, but what happens when you have to figure out and abide by a set of unspoken, unwritten gym rules? We recognize that the tension is genuine. The good news is that we can decipher the code for you since we are here.
22 Etiquette Tips To Help You Be The Right Person At The Gym
1. Be nice to newbies
We were all rookies once, learning how to use the cardio equipment and class procedures. Being kind and not frightening can make the gym a friendlier place for everyone, especially if someone appears to be a bit lost or is trying to figure out your favorite equipment when you want to use it.
2. Be polite
Say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” with basic politeness.
On the mat and in front of the mirror, make room for others. During group workouts, be aware of who you could be preventing from reviewing their form and give others room to enter your personal area.
3. Ask for help
If you need assistance, ask for it! If you are having trouble using a machine or want extra assistance, don’t be hesitant to approach a staff member, personal trainer, or other gym patron. And if you need a little more muscle when executing challenging or heavy movements, such as squats, bench presses, or deadlifts, don’t be afraid to ask for a spotter.
For help using the equipment correctly, ask the trainers. Members may also inquire, but only if you are convinced that they would like not to be disturbed. Take advantage of the complimentary equipment tour to learn everything you can.
Avoid attempting to resolve any disputes on your own; instead, ask a trainer or staff member of the gym to mediate in order to diffuse a potentially explosive situation.
4. Leave your phone
While many gyms have severe policies about cell phones, some don’t.
The chances are that you’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you and that you’re probably wasting not only your time but also the time of others. This could be because you’re blabbing on the phone, trying to get the perfect gym selfie to show-off your muscles, or mindlessly scrolling social media in between sets of bench press or while in the squat rack.
Additionally, phones are the worst enemy if you want the greatest training outcomes. They not only make it difficult for you to concentrate, but they also make your workouts less intense. Don’t even start us off on using phones in the locker room; that’s an even bigger no-no.
5. Don’t sit on equipment if not using it
In a sense, using the equipment means claiming it. If you’re merely speaking with a friend, try to avoid sitting down, even if it’s a bench. That bench could be needed by someone, and they might feel awkward asking you to move.
Find a dedicated sitting area, such as a lounge area or a locker room, if you need to sit down.
6. Bring a towel. Use it.
Your sweat towel will become your closest buddy, even if you might not believe us right now. You may avoid the shame of leaving a sweat pool for the next person by placing a towel on a bench or machine before you use it. Make careful to clean your equipment with disinfectant spray and paper towels in case you manage to perspire through the towel (it happens, it’s not a big deal). Nobody likes to sit in another person’s perspiration!
One of the areas that might be the most contaminated is a gym. According to one study, weight training equipment was more likely to have rhinovirus than cardio machines, with 63% of gym equipment displaying its presence.
Viruses particularly enjoy nonporous surfaces like steel weights. So use that towel for your personal benefit as well as the benefit of the other customers.
7. Clean up after yourself
Many women believe they don’t need to clean a certain machine since they didn’t “sweat” while using it, but this is untrue. If everyone thought that way, there would be a lot of dead lying about on cleaned equipment.
Most gyms will have paper towels available so you may dry off equipment even if you don’t have a tiny towel with you. Sitting in someone else’s perspiration is not only uncomfortable, but it’s also unsanitary.
8. Have good hygiene
A loud cough, strong body odor, or stinking farts should not be present when exercising. Please use the restroom if you need to use the restroom. Always take a shower and apply deodorant before working out in public.
Men should use an anti-antiperspirant rather than only a deodorant when exercising. The body must sweat to cool itself off, but the majority of the stench comes from the armpits, and deodorants cannot eliminate body odor.
It is important to wash and dry sweaty gym clothing after each use to avoid unpleasant smells and chaffing.
9. Share equipment
Nothing is more detrimental than a person hoarding or hoarding equipment for oneself. Don’t leave your towel on a machine and go elsewhere thinking it will be there when you get back. Conflict may result from this. Except for a brief water break or a towel down, everyone has the right to use the equipment, therefore trying to preserve it is improper.
Always feel free to inquire whether it’s fine to “work in” when you notice someone going through their set. This simply means that you may squeeze in a set of your own while they give their body a minute to unwind and stretch.
After deciding on your personal weight and seat height, make sure to finish your set promptly. In order to adjust the seat for the other person before they do their next set, make sure to take note of their weight and seat height.
Be mindful of how much time you’re spending on a given machine, especially at times when it’s particularly crowded, if you don’t want to share sets with other players. Spend no more than 30 minutes on the aerobic equipment and no more than 5 minutes on each weight machine.
10. Put weights away
Because gyms are open areas that many people use, it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain them tidy and orderly.
Put your weights back where they belong since it is inconvenient if you can’t locate what you’re searching for and maybe hazardous if you discover it laying around on the gym floor.
While some of your fellow gym-goers might not be able to lift all those weights, you probably can. Leave the weights bar available for the next user, just like when you put items away where you found them.
11. Don’t be late, be on time
Use common sense and, if a yoga or spinning class is already in progress, forgo it this time. If you arrive late the following time, be sure to arrive early and work out in the gym area.
Nothing is more distracting than warming up with people opening and closing doors, talking, and setting up next to you when a class is only 10 minutes in. Teachers detest this rude conduct since it’s unfair to everyone.
During busy times, many gyms adhere to strict 30-minute cardio machine time schedules. Avoid arriving late or keeping others waiting by working extra if the gym is busy. Go to the gym when it’s less crowded if you require a lengthy cardio exercise.
12. Gym is not for socializing
Women frequently go up together to exercise and simply socialize, not taking their exercise seriously but instead taking over the equipment.
If you’re going to exercise effectively, go socialize at Starbucks and make sure you and your workout partner are clear on each other’s objectives, both for your own benefit and out of consideration for other people who may be using the equipment.
Additionally, avoid chit-chatting with those operating machinery; instead, let them get on with it so you can catch up afterwards.
13. Dress appropriately
Read the dress code and other rules or inquire – generally, gyms will demand users to:
- wear a shirt
- not to wear jeans (they can ruin the vinyl on the equipment)
- wear closed toe shoes
- if in doubt, err on the side of caution and avoid wearing anything that you believe would offend people.
While exercising, many women wear scantily dressed outfits in the hopes of “finding a man.” If you’re wearing a sports bra top, be sure it covers everything and doesn’t expose cleavage or nipples.
While exercising, your shorts, capris, or pants shouldn’t slip down and reveal your underwear or bottom. In order to avoid being exposed when performing hip adductor/abductor, bending, etc. activities, shorts should be of a decent length. Although using form-fitting materials at the gym is OK, know when to stop.
Wearing jewelry puts you at risk of losing it or being hurt since it is too simple.
14. Using make-up tip
Less is more is the greatest tip while working out while wearing makeup. Makeup and perspiration may easily block skin pores, resulting in ingrown hairs and pimples. Use a light mineral foundation, a little mascara, hydrating lip balm, and eye cream if ladies feel they need to.
15. Wear sweat-wicking apparel
We all perspire, especially while working out hard at the gym, which you should be doing! Even more so for people who perspire excessively, wearing lightweight, sweat-wicking t-shirts and lower body gear may completely shift the game.
We assure you that this is not a play about cotton t-shirts (or, for ladies, a cotton sports bra). Cotton is breathable while it’s dry, but as soon as you start perspiring, it can become heavy and weighted down, sticking to you and perhaps causing chafing. Ouch!
16. Don’t irritate others
Hovering while waiting for someone to finish using equipment is among the top no-nos in the gym. Everyone dislikes being rushed and having someone intrude on their personal space, and hovering does both. Don’t stare at someone and make them feel uncomfortable.
Don’t try to rush someone who is utilizing a piece of equipment. Inform them that you will use the equipment after you, but take care of something else in the interim.
Give no unauthorized advise. For this, there are trainers. Only offer what you know for sure if you’re asked and want to be friendly.
17. Be respectful of music
This rule applies to both wearing headphones and not wearing them. If you see someone wearing headphones, it may be a hint they don’t want to be bothered. If you’re the one wearing headphones, turn down the level so as not to annoy anyone with your upbeat music.
18. Keep the noise down
Don’t bang or drop your weights on the floor, as this might cause a mini-earthquake. Also, try to keep your own workout grunts and noises to a minimal.
No matter how large your muscles are, you should still attempt to limit any grunting, groaning, and self-talk. You don’t need to mumble and tip-toe about like you’re in a library. Keep your weights up and your profanities down.
19. Never make fun of other gym-goers
If there is one item of gym etiquette you observe, this should be it. This guideline ought to go without saying.
No covert Snapchats of the user on the PC next to you. No Instagram stories of the person in front of you on the treadmill. It is just unacceptable to invade their privacy for any purpose.
20. Bathroom & Locker Room Manners
Some individuals are more modest than others; some don’t mind at all when they strip off in public, while others value their privacy. Make a decision in advance so you’ll know if you want to change in a private stall or in the public area.
The same is true while taking a shower. While most shower rooms include a shower curtain for privacy, others do not. Always leave the restroom and changing areas spotless. You should always tidy up after yourself since for some reason these regions can get really dirty.
21. Don’t hog the locker space
Don’t leave your possessions laying about the locker rooms or on the gym floor since it’s crucial to maintain good manners. Especially during busy periods, be in mind that other people may also want to use the showers, mirrors, and hairdryers.
22. Be mindful of your surroundings
If you’re not paying attention, gyms may be deadly places. You must pay close attention to the other customers, especially during busy hours. For example, before beginning dumbbell kickbacks, look behind you.
Additionally, badly designed gyms can include machines with plate-loaded arms swinging out onto a walkway, which could cause headaches if you’re not paying attention to where you’re going.
If you want to be a true champion, watch out for your other gym-goers and assist them if you notice that they are having trouble; you might even volunteer to spot them.
Bottom Line
The ability to respond appropriately to the people and events around you comes with decent manners. It creates a positive atmosphere for your training and elevates the gym into a welcoming space for everyone. Your training is precisely what it’s supposed to be for—great practice for the vast, unpredictably changing world.
The gym’s regulations are essentially the same as life’s rules. Be considerate to others and tidy up after yourself. We share this planet together, just as we do at the gym, so let’s act like it.
