Some Basic Gym Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts

It's January and it's a new year, if you have been sticking to your resolutions then you may have noticed how busy the gym is right now. That's okay, give it another week or two and statistically speaking, the herd will thin. Until then here are some general housekeeping rules to keep in mind when you hit the gym.

DO:

Wipe down the equipment when you finish.
This one should just be a given but I still see it daily. Even if you don't think you, "really sweated enough" the fact is that sweat contains bacteria, even when it's not a puddle. And bacteria, depending on strain can be either harmful or helpful to humans. Unfortunately, over 70% of the bacteria found on exercise equipment is potentially harmful to us, some that can make us really sick (infections, pneumonia, septicemia, etc.) while others can be resistant to antibiotics making them difficult to treat. One study found that the dumbbells on the rack contain 362 times more bacteria than the average toilet. Gross.

DON'T:

Leave your weights or equipment out.

If you're one of those people that insists that, "there are people who are paid to do that." I already don't like you. But in case being a terrible person and others shaming you isn't enough to put away your exercise equipment after your workout here are some other things you probably didn't consider. 

Safety. Seriously; there are a lot of people who use the gym regularly who may have trouble getting around the obstacle course you left behind or worse yet could get seriously hurt. Senior populations, the differently-abled, or even the average twenty-something glued to their cellphone screen. 

It's also just a courtesy for everyone else who paid for a gym membership too. We don't want to have to spend our time on a scavenger hunt for handles, plates, and other equipment because you forgot where it likes to go home.

DO:

Let others work in on the equipment between sets.
There are a few exceptions to this rule from my professional lens, but very few. As a general rule, after you finish your set you will need to take a break. During your break you're not actually using the equipment, so don't just sit there if someone else needs the equipment too. Break times between sets typically average somewhere between 30 seconds to several minutes depending on the person or training protocol and How long does an average exercise set take? Answer; not that long. And if you're not sure if someone is finished with a piece of equipment? Just ask.

DON'T:

Give out unsolicited advice and pretend you're a personal trainer.

I know that workout you got from that one bodybuilder website really helped you get those gains but real talk, nobody cares. Best case scenario you're just annoying the girl at the gym who made it obvious she has her headphones in or worst case you give someone advice or ideas that get them injured. If you're not a certified personal trainer then don't play pretend, seriously stop. And if you are a personal trainer, at least a good one, you should be getting paid for your expertise not forcing it on the other gym patrons. 

DO:

Respect other's personal space and be mindful of what's happening around you.
Don't let all that testosterone pumping make you territorial. I know you're feeling yourself after that last set but we all paid the same membership to be here. If your bench isn't available because it's busy on a Monday night don't stand six inches away waiting to pounce, workaround and come back.
Also before you start doing those dumbbell kickbacks or other exercises that need more space to execute, just take a look around you so you don't hurt yourself or someone else.

DON'T:

Turn the gym into a social hour. Avoid unnecessary chit-chat.

A gym is a place of solace for many people and while it is a very social setting at times it's usually best practice to keep the gossip to a minimum or better yet if you run into a friend use the lobby, don't sit on equipment or take up space others might need for their workout to catch up.