Unspoken Gym Etiquette

They are designed for it and the floor should be designed for it too. They should still be under control though, you don't just let go.

Get an induction but also book a session with one of the personal trainers. They might offer a free or discounted session the first time, & they’ll be able to give you a good idea of what you should be doing to reach your goals.

’Don’t clang the weights’ does really depend on what you’re doing though. If you’re doing deadlifts, or some Olympic lifts you are going to be making some noise when the weights hit the floor, even if you try and be as controlled as possible. On the other hand, I did once watch someone throw a 10kg dumbbell onto their phone because they weren’t taking care, so there’s that.

My biggest bit of advice is to always use clips to stop weights sliding about, and to be careful about loading/ unloading bars unevenly. If they slip off you could easily have a 20kg pies of metal flying at your face.

Dropping weights is an interesting one. If you are powerlifting heavy, you cannot just place the weight down. They are going to bounce.

Never walk across someone's yoga / pilate mat.

However, do not feel intimidated to reduce properly programmed rest periods because some other user is glaring at you. Since OP is a new gym user I am guessing it will take some time to reach the stage at which a rest period of longer than 60s is necessary.

1. have a full induction
2. wipe all machines you use
3. put things back in the right place
4. rest away from equipment so people don’t think you’re still using it
5. Try not to be noisy with equipment or grunting
6. try not to stare too much if your trying to copy someone elses form

If you book a class and can't make it cancel the class so someone else can take the space. If you go to dance classes stand towards the back until you know the routine.

I have a high bun. I've got a long enough plait that it goes down my back and I end up leaning on it and restricting my head movement when sitting back on the resistance machines.

I don't know how swishy long-haired women manage with loose hair!

I would add:

• Be reasonably clean / Wear deodorant

• Wipe down equipment with spray rather than just a dry paper towel
• Refrain from moaning / loud puffing and constant sniffing

Oh - basically if you so squats with a barbell, you need to learn to "abandon" the bar for safety, even more so if there are no safety bars (these are metal bars that sit horizontally either side of you squatting and should be just below your squat height so if you fail a weight lift, the bars catch the weight and it doesn't land on you. Even with safety bars, if you had to drop your bar behind you, there are some that have suffered with a ponytail as the barbell catches it on its way down and drags you with it. No idea of statistics but I like a high or low bun or to clip my hair up. ☺️

It doesn't 'just happen', it happens when a user doesn't take care that it doesn't happen. If it's too heavy for you then use a lighter one.

I'm talking about the repetitive clanking, not a one off. It's really irritating and unnecessary.

This is a very useful thread thank you OP for starting it and to all for the advice.

from PP above, what does this mean please?
“don't wear a pony for squats”

Easy checklist:

• take a little towel if you're a sweater
• remember your water bottle
• don't wear a pony for squats
• put your weights back after use and un-rack your barbell once done
• leave your keys/little towel/water bottle on or next to a bench if you'd like to use it or expect it to be taken while you go off to get weights.
• have rest periods between sets if you need to (no idea why people are saying not to, enjoy your injuries!) but if you're new and might take a while, perhaps go to the gym when it's quieter if you're trying new routines
• get a gym induction and make sure you tell them if you've never used any cable/weight machines before or cardio etc and they'll show you all of them. That's what they're there for!
• start low with weights and engage the muscle you're focusing on both lifting up and back down. Going heavy will lead to injuries - using 2KG is fine!

I can't think of any others.

And to add to the "gym bunny" debate - as a woman that dresses like Adam sandler/Miss trunchbull to the gym and goes for both health & fitness (I lift more than almost all men on legs at my small private weights gym and many on upper...) and aesthetics in a bikini - most people wouldn't care about being called a gym bunny. Unless you were trying to patronise a young girl who was training wearing a gym set trying to passive aggressively call her basic - which doesn't appear to be the case with the protesters above...!

I don't want to have to pick up their manky towel.

Filming has been banned in ours now.

The term "gym bunny" can be sometimes disparaging. It's an informal term for someone who spends a lot of time exercising at the gym, especially to improve their appearance rather than for health or fitness reasons.

i go to the gym to improve my health and fitness and to help my body with mobility and weight problems its got nothing to do with how i look! So yes, i personally would take offence at being called a 'gym bunny'

Interesting, I did not know this!

our gym has a 3 strike rule... drop your weights 3 times and you are out!

this is very true.. very offensive

it really does depend on the type of gym you go too. i use a more elite gym (i am not elite) where the focus is more on lifting.

the rules are; wipe down your equipment, don't drop your weights! there is a lot of sitting around at our gym resting between sets, but you are allowed an encouraged to ask 'how many sets left' or even 'can i jump in'. they are big beefy guys and gals, but they are all lovely and supportive.

i would be aware of your surroundings, lots of people now record their sessions, and there is no obligation to tell you they are recording, but be mindful that you might inadvertantly end up on the tictok of whatever platform (i speak from personal experience, although the feed back i got about my arm was great 😊 )

i would also say, smile, and if in doubt ask! either ask a staff member or another gym user.. you will soon feel part of the family

Wipe the equipment down after you use it. There's generally spray and paper towels, or a wipes dispenser, around for you to do so.

Don't hog or obstruct equipment. If you're taking long breaks between sets, get off the equipment. Don't block other people's access to kit. Basically, be spatially aware and reasonably considerate.

Don't film or photograph yourself constantly, it's a dick move.

That's about it honestly. Enjoy.

Ignore this about clunking your weights. Sometimes it happens, and if it does, don’t sweat it.

Just don’t clunk them on purpose every time.

If someone says "do you want to work in?" on weights machines/ free weights it means do you want to do your reps during my rest periods?"

Whether this is expected varies between gyms- in mine it's normal to offer if the gym is busy and someone is waiting, but the person who accepts the offer is expected to match the schedule of the original equipment user (so if someone is doing sets of 8-10 reps with 2 mins in between, you don't start doing sets of 3 with 4 mins in between so they cant stick to their schedule). Also, person using heaviest weights changes them if the difference is significant

If you go to classes - do not chat during the pre-amble when the instructor is speaking, nor during the cool-down and stretch.

So many women do this in the classes I go to. It’s RUDE!

Don’t wear scrunch bum leggings.

Only joking, but they are revolting!

Nothing to add to all of the very good points made above, really, this one is not so much etiquette but might save you public embarrassment and pain:

If you are using a treadmill [at any speed] do attach the quick-stop tether thing that makes it stop immediately if you fall over.
My friend didn't. She attempted to take off her hoodie without stopping the machine whilst jogging, stumbled and fell, and it threw her off backwards, halfway across the gym.

She wasn't badly hurt but the mortification was severe 😂