7 Gym Etiquette Tips: How to be a Considerate Gym-Goer.

Visiting the gym is an excellent way to maintain good health, de-stress, and meet new people. However, like any public space, it is important to be mindful of others and observe proper etiquette to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

Whether you are a frequent gym-goer or new to the scene, it is important to know how to be a good gym member by respecting others, keeping the space clean, and adhering to common best practices. Like many unique environments, the etiquette in a gym is not always obvious to newcomers. 

At Fitness 19, we pride ourselves on being A Gym Built for You, so in this blog, we will discuss seven essential tips to keep in mind to be a responsible and respectful gym member.

1. Show kindness and respect to others. 

Practicing kindness at the gym is important for creating a positive and welcoming environment for all members. For many people, the gym is a space for stress relief, and everyone at the gym is trying to improve themselves. Do not exclude others based on their fitness level, age, or appearance. Everyone is at the gym to work towards their own goals. Encouraging others can go a long way in motivating someone to push through their workout. Kindness is contagious, and by practicing it at the gym, you can help create a positive and supportive community where everyone feels welcome and valued.

2.  Be Mindful 

Being aware of your surroundings and how your actions may affect others at the gym is a vital piece of gym etiquette. This includes avoiding excessive noise, respecting personal space, and not monopolizing equipment.

While you may be working out with your friends, enjoying an afternoon, there might be another person who only has 45 minutes to train. By being mindful of the equipment you're using, other people’s needs, and space in the gym you can improve the quality of everyone’s experience! 

3.  Limit Phone Use

While it’s tempting to scroll through Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok in between sets, this can be very distracting and even annoying to others. Only use your phone for emergencies or quick checks, and always step away from equipment or high-traffic areas to take calls or send messages.

Another big topic when it comes to phones is the camera. While it can be fun to document your own gym progress or workout routines, it's important to remember that the gym is a shared space, and others may not want to be part of your photos or videos. 

Try to keep the focus on yourself and your own workouts and do not include others in your photos or videos without their consent!

4. Remember to Share

In a perfect world, we would never be trying to use the same piece of equipment as another member, but that’s just not reality. Nothing is more frustrating than people hogging a piece of equipment for long periods of time and delaying you from completing your workouts. Sharing equipment allows for more people to complete their workouts in a shorter amount of time. This is particularly important during busy times when there may be a limited number of machines available.

Offer to let someone work in with you if they are waiting for a piece of equipment you are using, or give them a time frame they can work around. Something like a simple “I have 2 sets left” lets someone know exactly what’s going on. 

By sharing equipment and space at the gym, everyone can have a chance to use what they need and work towards their fitness goals.

5. Re-rack Your Weights

Always re-rack weights and put them back in their proper place after use. This is important for several reasons, such as keeping the gym organized and preventing accidents or injuries.

This is easily the biggest pet peeve of many long-time gym users. Re-racking weights makes it easier for other people to find and use the equipment they need, rather than having to search the gym for missing weights. Regular users get used to where plates, dumbbells, and other gym equipment is stored, and having to hunt down these items to do an exercise adds time and frustration to a workout. 

This ties in closely with being mindful and sharing as well. Leaving weights lying around can be seen as disrespectful to other gym-goers and the gym itself. It shows that you do not care about the well-being of others or the condition of the gym. If you are using three different sets of dumbbells, put one back or let another person use one set while you are not. 

 Re-racking weights contributes to a safer, more organized and respectful gym environment.

6. Respect Others' Space

While it's important to be social and friendly at the gym, it's also important to respect others' personal space and boundaries. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Before starting your workout, look around and get a sense of the gym layout and people around you. This can help you identify areas where other people may be working out, so you can avoid getting in their way.
• If you notice someone working out in a specific area or using a particular piece of equipment, try to give them space to avoid disrupting their workout. This may mean finding another area of the gym to work out in, or simply giving them a wide berth as you move around the space. While this can be difficult in a busy gym, a little effort goes a long way! 
• Avoid staring or gawking: It's natural to be curious about what others are doing in the gym, but staring or gawking at others can be distracting and uncomfortable. Instead, focus on your own work out and be respectful of others' privacy.
• General Hygiene: While no one wants to walk around the gym stinking, wearing excessive amounts of perfume or cologne can be just as bad. Same thing with sweat. If you are working hard, you’re likely to be perspiring, and wiping down equipment once you are done helps to respect everyone at the gym. 

7. Keep the Gym Clean

Keeping the gym clean is crucial to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone. This includes wiping down equipment after you are finished using it, throwing away trash, and reporting spills or malfunctions to staff. Cleaning the equipment when you are finished using it reduces the risk of transmission of diseases such as the flu, staph infections, and even COVID-19. A clean gym also reduces the risk of accidents, slips and falls. 

At Fitness 19 we want to make sure our facilities are kept clean, and would love for you to inform a staff member if you see an area of the gym that needs to be cleaned! 

Gym Etiquette, like most things, takes a little bit of buy in from the community at large, but once that buy in happens, it’s easy to maintain. 

By following these tips, you can help create a positive and enjoyable workout environment for everyone. Show respect, kindness, and consideration towards others, and strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for all members.