How to Act Right in the Gym

Having proper gym etiquette is long gone. It’s nonexistent, a nonissue, a lost art relegated to the dusty bin of behaviors of yore. Old gym codgers are the ones to always point out the ills of the modern gym atmosphere, right? Gyms are for the young influencers trying to brand themselves while attempting daily maxes and circus acts of absurd lifting theatrics.

I’m currently in my forties. I first stepped into the gym before the cell phone was ever a term. TVs weren’t in gyms yet and cardio equipment was few and far between. If you want to do cardio, go outside.

I have seen first-hand the degradation and decline of gym etiquette. I feel as though I woke up one morning and smartphones, cameras, and selfies became a thing. All of a sudden I felt like one of those old codgers telling kids to get off my (gym) lawn!

Sign of the times

I’ll begin with the end. Etiquette will not improve. As social media, indecency, and the general lack of socializing continue to increase in intensity People will do what they will do.

In my opinion, gyms won’t lay down any new laws. Their bottom lines are more important no matter who comes in the door. They need “butts in the seats” and if that means that their members come in looking to get the perfect shot or need daily updates to their feeds then so be it.

All others will need to tolerate, maneuver around, and come in the door with a boatload of patience.

It wouldn’t surprise me if some gyms will start to actually use their members’ social accounts for marketing and promotion. They may even start to encourage it.

What can we do?

Here’s how I see things. We are all roommates in a house (the gym). We all pay rent (membership). And we all need to get along with one another. Take care of the furniture (gym equipment) because we all use it. We all want to have nice things to workout on. Clean up after yourselves (wipe down pads) and be kind to each other.

Additionally, here are a few terms and practices that have been lost over the years:

1. Work in: The act of allowing another member to perform a set on the same piece of equipment during your rest period.
2. Dumbbell rack space: Do not perform dumbbell exercises directly in front of the dumbbell rack preventing others from obtaining the other dumbbells. Step back far enough for everyone to have space.
3. Unrack weights: Placing dumbbells, plates, and bars back in their original storage area. And no, this doesn’t mean keeping a couple of 45-pound plates on Olympic bars. Strip down all plates.
4. No loitering: If you’re going to rest for a length of time so you can get the “perfect song” or text 20 friends in hopes someone will text you back, get up! Stop hanging out on equipment.
5. Stop monopolizing: Just because you want to do a circuit and take up five or more pieces of equipment at 5:00pm rush hour doesn’t mean you have the right to do so. C’mon, use your head. Be courteous as others want to workout too.

Be the example

Lastly, be social, be vocal, and don’t be afraid to greet people. If you’re the big guy on campus at your gym others may see you as intimidating. Open up to others, especially new members. Offer to help, lend a hand, and be a positive example. Make it a small mission of yours to squash the stereotype of the mean meathead and offer a kind word.

Now, let’s get together, pay our rent, and work to become more studious roommates–together.

Rant over.