I was doing a set the other day and some jackass proceeded to stand directly in front of me and do some 6 lb. biceps curls. Could you please print some gym etiquette pointers so I won't have to smack the kid the next time he decides to stand in front of me to do his weights?
--Very angry gym patron
With the exercise trend rapidly inundating American pop culture, now more than ever there are those in the gym who are ignorant of common etiquette. It is a facet of the gym experience that is often overlooked, particularly by those who do not go on a regular basis. So, for you people who workout infrequently enough to be ignorant of polite practices in the gym, or for those of you who are new to the iron game, I will print some pointers that should help keep you from getting those dirty looks that are all too common these days.
When someone is working in front of a mirror, DO NOT stand in front of him/her. I don't care how really, really ridiculously good-looking you are. The person working doesn't care. If you must, you may quickly step in front to grab a weight from the rack. Any longer, and you are breaking the etiquette code.
Don't talk to people when they are in the middle of a set. You can wait two minutes for them to finish before you ask how many sets they have left. Asking them in the middle of a set will not only piss them off, it might even inspire them to do three more sets than they intended just to keep your inconsiderate ass from getting the machine.
If you are a sweater (I don't mean the article of clothing, I am referring to a person who sweats profusely), be sure to wipe off the bench after you are finished using it. While sweat is healthy and usually the sign of a good workout, it doesn't do the person after you any good to sit down on a sweat-covered piece of equipment. Utilize the workout-wipes in the gym, or bring a towel. If you neglect this point, you will probably become known as "the sweaty kid," a stigma that no one wants.
Keep the noise level down. Sure, we know you are having the most intense, painful workout of your life. But you don't have to scream like an ape while you are lifting. Some light, masculine (or feminine) grunting is acceptable. Bellowing and whooping like some crazed animal is not.
When you see weights lying on the floor, always assume someone is using them. A great way to incur the wrath of a gym rat is to pick up his/her weights and start using them during a rest period. Ask a person nearby if they are being used. If so, wait until the person using them comes back and ask how much longer he/she has.
Drinking copious amounts of water during a workout is advisable. Using an empty gallon container of Poland Spring as a water bottle is not, especially since you will have people wanting to throttle you as you stand at the fountain for 15 minutes filling it up. If you insist on bringing your own water bottle, make sure it is not sized to hydrate a family of five, and that no one is waiting while you fill it up. If someone is behind you waiting to take a quick drink, let him/her go in front of you. It's the polite thing to do.
Rack your weights. I cannot stress this one enough. Too often I have seen some idiot throw seven plates on the leg press, bang out three sets with awful form, and jump up to do the next poorly-executed exercise without even giving a thought to taking their weights off and racking them. This is inconsiderate for two reasons: first, the students working behind the desk or the next user of the machine will have to take them off; second, what if someone who is physically incapable of taking the weight off wants to use it? It is unfair to leave that much weight on when a seventy-year old arthritic person wants to use the machine. No, Granny Smith cannot pull 630 lbs. of 45-lb. plates off by herself. So rack your weights.
I hope these tips caused more than one of you out there to catch your breath and think embarrassingly, "Oh no! I was that guy!" Next time, keep these pointers in mind and you will drastically cut down on the amount of dirty looks shot your way when you go to the gym.
Send any fitness questions to fitness@tuftsdaily.com.
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