Unspoken Gym Etiquette

[ToBeOrNotToBee]

Having never stepped foot in a gym before, I'm worried about doing something unspeakably uncouth.
So, for all the newbies can you gym bunnies tell us all those little secret rules you swear by but to the uninitiated are unknown.

I've noticed it varies a lot from gym to gym (not helpful) but the two key things are to wipe down equipment after use, nobody wants to touch your sweat, and not to hog one piece of machinery if it busy and people are waiting around.

Watch where you're going - it's really easy to accidentally get in someone's way!

Don't sit on your phone for aaaaasages hogging the machines.

Put your weights back

Don't clank your weights. If you do, they're too heavy for you. In fairness, it's nearly always men that do this. It makes me jump out of my skin.

Clean the equipment you've used for the next person.

Put the weights back in the correct slot.

Ask for advice if using a machine for the first time! The employees are normally happy to help out and show you, but just guessing and pushing buttons can end in disastrous results (don't ask me how I know 😂)

Oh and not etiquette but be confident - you belong there as much as anybody. Whether it's your first time and you're using 2kg weights or you live there and you're throwing around 60kg dumbbells. Don't let anyone make you feel you shouldn't be there.

If there's a length of turf for sleds/lunges etc don't set yourself up a glute bridge station directly across it. Don't set up your phone to film yourself directly in front of the kettlebell storage so others can't access the equipment. Don't leave the bar loaded with 200kg.
All of these happen frequently and really annoy me.

I’ll add another one. Don’t call people who are seasoned gym goers ‘gym bunnies’.

Don't hog a machine for 15-20 minutes by spending 30 seconds on each set, and then 5 minutes in between each set looking at your phone.

But as per another poster above, no need to feel like you don't belong. Everybody is just trying to do the same as you and improve themselves.

If it's your first time doing a class then try to arrive a few minutes early so you can let the instructor know. This is especially relevant for any class that uses weights (eg Body Pump) because they'll need to show you what you need and how to set everything up.

Don't set up your phone to film yourself directly in front of the kettlebell storage so others can't access the equipment.

I would go further and say don't set up your phone to film yourself in the gym at all as it's just annoying for other gymgoers who may not want to star in your TikTok or Instagram reel!

Don't hog two pieces of equipment at once for alternating sets by leaving a towel on the one you're not using.

I just move the towel...

It is OK to ask how long someone is going to be using a piece of equipment if you want to use it next, but wait until they have finished their set.
Ask if you want to use a weight off someone else's station.
Only use squat racks for exercises where you are actually using it to rack a bar, not for curls, press-ups etc or just admiring yourself in the mirror.
Put weights away after you've used them.
You should get an induction on how to use the machines the first time you go for H&S reasons, but don't be afraid to ask if you've forgotten.

Good luck with your fitness journey.

I will add one. If you arrive to an exercise class at the last minute and it is busy, take a space where there is one. You may feel more comfortable at the back, but it's rude to squash people who got to the class in good time, so they then have to go at the front.

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 😂

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!

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

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.

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.

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

this is very true.. very offensive

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

Interesting, I did not know this!

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'

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

Filming has been banned in ours now.