If you spend a lot of time in a gym, you probably already know the faux paus and things to avoid doing. You know that just because everyone is sweaty and grunting, you do not get to check your common human courtesy at the door. The 
below article has some good tips, mainly for newbies, about how to act in a gym- after all, if you are going to be spending a lot of time there, you are probably better off not making enemies with your fellow fitness buffs. We agree with some tips and totally disagree with others…but it’s worth reading the perspective from someone else who obviously logs a few hours at a fitness center themselves…
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Exercise can be a sweaty proposition. And with millions of Americans jumping on the exercise bandwagon, all that perspiration can become downright messy.
Bring a towel when you head to the gym. Be courteous and wipe down the equipment when you’re done.
That just adds to the frustration of gym managers and gym-goers, many of whom are stepping into gyms for the first time after resolving to get fit in the New Year.
“It’s gross,” said Kristin McEwen, a vice president at the YMCA in Atlanta, Georgia. She’s become a big advocate of what she calls gym etiquette.
The worst offenders, McEwen says: People who perspire on the workout machines and weights and don’t clean up after themselves.
“We’ll have people who come in, and they will sweat profusely, and they will leave puddles around the equipment,” McEwen said, adding that the solution to poor gym etiquette is easy.
Bring a towel when you head to the gym. Be courteous, and wipe down the equipment when you’re done. And if you want to go one step further, get a bottle of disinfectant from the front desk.
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We agree with this one…
Seriously, keep your bodily fluids to yourself at the gym, no one wants to bathe in your sweat after you use a machine- we’re also willing to bet that you would appreciate the same courtesy from other’s. Many gyms will show you the door if you are a repeat offender of not wiping down your equipment after use. You don’t have to go into a full blown cleaning frenzy but a quick wipe from a towel is all it takes to show respect for the person using the machine after you. Most gyms we’ve been in have a towel and spray station if you forgot to bring your own wipe down cloth.
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The second biggest offense is noise, McEwen says. Gyms are noisy enough, but with patrons talking on cell phones and blaring MP3 players, the noise level can become a distraction — not to mention that fiddling with gadgets can create a safety problem.
“People don’t realize a lot of times when they’re on their cell phones how loud it is, and it distracts you from what you’re doing,” said McEwen, who said she’s even seen people trip on a treadmill while trying to send text messages. She recommends leaving the cell phone in the locker — or, better yet, don’t bring it into the gym at all.
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Do we totally agree with this one? Not really…
We think that a gym is one place where it is appropriate to be a little noisy- within reason of course. It really depends on the atmosphere of your gym- ours is always pumping music over the speakers at nightclub volumes, so it’d be difficult to even notice if someone had their iPod going without ear buds. Maybe we’re just not as uptight as others, and for those people we have advise for, chill out! It’s a laid back environment, if you want a relaxing and quite place to work out, you should probably check out yoga or tai chi classes instead.
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Phones aren’t the only thing to leave behind. McEwen wants gym-goers to save the skimpy outfits for the beach — and that applies to women and men.
Although clients are losing weight and firming up their bodies, she said, “You really want to keep your belly button to yourself. And even if you’re really proud of it, it’s OK to cover it up when you’re working out.”
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Maybe…
This is another one that probably depends on your individual gym. If you have a problem with seeing the human form in motion without full coverage from clothing, you will probably have to find an alternative to the gym. On the other hand, be respectful of your fellow gym goers and leave your itty bitty speedo or bikini at home and stick with real workout gear.
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While on the subject of clothing, McEwen stresses that it’s important to swap out your clothes after every workout.
“Wash them and remember that person next to you doesn’t want to smell the second workout on those gym clothes,” McEwen said with a laugh.
But it’s not just inconsiderate behavior that experts are concerned about. The gym can be a breeding ground for germs, especially if you’re sick. Dr. Drew Werner of the Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, recommends staying home if you’re under the weather.
“High fevers — don’t work out. Shortness of breath enough to impair you exercise ability — don’t work out. And be considerate of those around you so you’re not infecting them,” he suggested.
McEwen agrees, and increasingly, so do some of her clients. Although she has seen her share of bad behavior lately, she’s also heard others telling people to clean up after themselves.
And, she says, she’s heard people insist that fellow patrons not leave their “toys” out for others, telling them, “Could you please put your weights away? I’m not your mother.”
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We 100% agree with this one…
Even though mono is great way to lose weight, nobody wants your illness. If you are sick, stay at home until you aren’t anymore.
Also, make sure to put your weights up, not only is it rude, it’s dangerous! You don’t want to be responsible for someone breaking their leg because you had a moment of laziness.
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Here’s a video on gym etiquette…
Do you agree with these? Or are you kind of 50/50 like us?
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