Let’s be honest, for some of you this will be a head-nodding, amen-sister, comical read. For others, a shocking awakening of self-awareness. Let’s do the world a favor and share this post far and wide to spread the message ever-so-tactfully to those who need it.
I brought this up on our Fit Club Instagram account recently, asking for your biggest pet peeves at the gym, and boy did you all have a lot to say! With so many people with so many of the same pet peeves, it kind of baffles me that there still so many offenders! Let’s get right to it. Here are some general rules of gym etiquette, or in other words, things you should do (or avoid doing) so as not to be labeled “that one annoying guy/girl at the gym.” Plus a few funnies to keep the mood light.
I’d like to make it VERY clear that this is a list compiled directly from our thousands of fans on Instagram. I’m not just a grumpy hater. I’m a pretty tolerant person in general, but when when it comes to gyms, it seems like most people have the same gripes, so let’s laugh about it together!
1. Do: Clean up your stuff.
This is probably my #1 personal pet peeve. And sorry boys, but you are usually the worst offenders. I have a very limited time to spend at the gym, and the last thing I want to be doing is wasting my time racking all of YOUR weights so I can use the space. I sometimes wonder if these people grew up with their Mom always picking up after them or if their spouse does it currently because seriously, put your stuff away. I’m not your Mom. If you get something out, put it away when you’re your done. Stack up plates on a machine? Put them back on the rack before you walk away.
2. Do: Wipe down your Machine.
But I was only on it for 10 minutes! But I didn’t break a sweat! Listen very carefully: just wipe it down anyway. Every time. Leaving a machine sweaty is definitely gross, but even if you don’t feel you left your mark, germs are everywhere. Who knows what you’ve got on your fingers that pushed those buttons. Just keep everything sanitized and we all win. PS: wiping down the machine with the same towel you used to wipe your sweaty face doesn’t count.
3. Don’t: Wear cologne or perfume.
Heat, sweat, and increased heart rates accentuate all the smells. Please for the love- skip the perfume and cologne. You don’t need it. You need deodorant, period. You think you’re making yourself more attractive at the gym with the smelly stuff, but really it’s probably making the people around you gag.
4. Don’t: Talk on the phone while working out.
This is what started this whole conversation on Instagram. The girl on the treadmill next to me was yapping on the phone SO loud for a full 30 minutes. Keep in mind the entire gym can hear your conversation when you’re doing this. It’s distracting (and mildly awkward) so maybe have a text convo, or tell them you’ll call back after your workout. Because let’s be honest, if you are carrying on a conversation, you’re probably not working out very hard.
5. Don’t: Be an equipment hog.
What’s an equipment hog? Do you sit on the same piece of equipment waiting 5 minutes playing on your phone between sets? Do you workout with friends and rotate through the same few pieces of equipment for a full 30-60 minutes so no one else can come near it? Do you grab weights and carry them to another part of the gym and then keep them there for your whole workout? Do you plan your entire workout around one piece of equipment? Do you lean on a machine while you visit with people so no one else can use it? If you answered yes to any of these questions then congratulations! You’re an equipment hog! Now stop.
6. Don’t: Offer unsolicited advice.
Unless someone asks you for advice, or is in serious danger of injury, keep your helpful commentary to yourself. Most people, even if they really do have bad form, will be super annoyed by your telling them.
7. Do: Leave a buffer zone.
Guys, it’s just like the urinals. Or so I’ve heard. If there is an entire row of treadmills open and one person is running, don’t hop on the one right next to them. Respect the buffer.
8. Do: Use headphones
It surprises me that people do this, but they do. Don’t play music from your phone speaker. If you want to listen to something, for pete’s sake, bring some headphones.
9. Do: Use your inside voice
I can’t even tell you the kind of personal information I learn about random people at the gym because they practically yell it. Remember that people go to the gym to focus and maybe even relax a bit and both of those are hard to do when you’re talking like you own the place. Socializing is also super fun, heck I love to chat with my friends, and lots of people workout with a partner. Talking and visiting at the gym is great, just be respectful of the people around you and maybe find an empty corner if you want to have chit-chat hour or get extra rowdy.
10. Don’t: Bare it all (or at least be mindful about it.)
Several people mentioned this on the Instagram thread so it’s worth a mention here. Be mindful that just because you’re comfortable with yourself in your birthday suit, it doesn’t mean other people are. Obviously locker rooms are for changing and showering, but cover up when you can to be respectful of the people around you. I will say I still have VERY vivid memories from the shower room of our community swimming pool when I was only 4-5 years old. That goes to show you that those images are burned into your eyeballs and you can’t un-see them!
What are your pet peeves? Any general etiquette rules we missed??
Questions & Reviews
So I actually had a question. Sometimes when I am at the gym, I have headphones on and I find a song that just gets me really into the rythum and I start dancing on the treadmill, is that considered rude? I don’t go all out of anything its mostly just moving my body and walking to a pace of the rythm and mouthing the music. I’ve had personal trainers tell me they enjoy seeing it as it pumps them up, but I just wanna make sure its not rude as it helps me with cardio.
There are 2 ladies in my gym that chat non stop and very loudly. It is very disturbing and extremely annoying. Even with the music on in the gym plus i was wearing my headphone watching a movie, I can still hear them loud and clear. After many times I decided to tell them off and both of them were so angry that they shouted at me instead. This are 2 adults that has no common sense and etiquette. They are very selfish people.
Love these towels – they are just large enough to work perfectly as a gym towel. Wish there were better color options. Recently ordered another set for my son who used mine while visiting. He sweats a lot when working out at the gym and made several comments about how well the microfiber towels work. They do not hold odor either!
Best,
Ramona Tralork
Oh man, where do i start. I have “gym friends” who come up to you while you are going for it on the cardio machines and think that it’s a great idea to start a deep and meaningful conversation. You don’t want to be rude, you drop a hint about wanting to finish your run but they just stand there talking to you even when you have headphones on. They have been allowed to finish there work outs in peace and so now out of sheer boredom, they want to ruin yours. People, please just leave the the talk for an appropriate time, when we ave all finished our individual work outs.
I had a douche recently violate two at the same time. Pardon my words but the dude was talking loudly from his ear piece (everyone nearby could hear) AND said yes, he was using those weights when two guys asked him. Pssssh HOG and a DOUCHE.
You should get a home gym if you’re so concerned about people and germs. Hopefully you’ll post my comment this time.
Good things to remember! 🙂
We moved from Utah to the Midwest a few years ago. We’d never had gym memberships (not in the budget) but the local YMCA offers scholarships, and we recently got a membership for our entire family. I love that place! I honestly can say I haven’t been bothered by anything on that list. The Y (that’s short for YMCA here, not BYU) is really an important part of our community. There are all sorts of people who come in, from the young adults who are obviously there all the time and like to socialize in their clique, to the pickleball teams, to the people who meander in with sodas in hands and talk to their friend next to them while they walk on the treadmill, to the senior citizens who barely make it in on their own two feet for their physical therapy. Families with young kids come in for preschool, karate, and swim lessons. Dads teach their 13 year old sons how to use the equipment. That’s why I love it there. I never feel intimidated or like I’m not doing it right. I can workout as intensely as I want, or let myself take it slower on the elliptical and enjoy the people watching. The place is always clean, members and staff are always friendly, and the community takes pride in it. Is it just my city, or do others who use the YMCA have the same experience?
Our YMCA is really nice, too. At church, I’ve heard people testify that they feel the Spirit at the YMCA. Everybody isn’t perfect, but, you know, it’s the same at church!
Great list. I cannot STAND the hogs and the unwanted advice. Also, bare bums on benches must stop. I can’t even come close to figuring out why a person would do that. Another one is that some people are completely incapable of putting things away in their right places. I detest mixed up hand weights and bars all out of order so I have to search for the one I want because I accidentally grabbed the wrong one. (sigh) Why can’t all the gym goers be perfect like us? 😀
I’m not going to worry about “7. Do: Leave a buffer zone.” I’ve chosen machines because of placement of the TV to the machine – two in my last gym would give me a headache because of how I had to turn my head. I’ve chosen some because I preferred one machine over another – sometimes even when they are the same machine they work differently. I’ve chosen them because of their placement – I have balance issues and stepping off the end the treadmill in my current gym is not always easy so I try to always get the one next to the wall.
If someone else gets next to me then I don’t really care. There may be any number of reasons for it even if it is only because they are a creature of habit. No big deal.