Joining a gym means joining a community, which includes respecting the rules within that community. Fitness centers have a common set of rules to make everybody’s experience more comfortable. Proper gym etiquette ensures safety and efficiency, and limits nuisances that can hinder motivation and focus.

Next time you work out at the gym, consider these five unwritten (and sometimes written) guidelines:

1. Clean up after yourself. Imagine a guest coming into your home, removing items from their intended places and leaving them out. Not only does this create a messy environment, but equipment laying around in a gym is a recipe for disaster. Weights, mats and other items can quickly become tripping hazards. Please remember to always re-rack your weights. Also, keep any food or snacks in your locker or gym bag to limit any trash left behind.
   
   
2. Be mindful of others. In the post-COVID-19 era we live in there is a greater appreciation for personal space. Some workouts take up more space. Available equipment, floor space and the amount of time spent on a machine becomes an issue during busier hours at the gym. Consider having a backup workout plan during those times. To be respectful of space, try to avoid using multiple machines during crowded times. You’ll find that most people are willing to share equipment if you ask.
   
   
3. Ask yourself if you need to check your phone. Cell phones today have plenty of benefits, but there are some drawbacks when using them in the gym. There is a time and place to use your phone. It is not ideal to walk on the treadmill and take a phone call or get lost in social media. One way to safely use a phone is to use your headphones when listening to music or streaming on your device. When you limit the endless distractions phones present and focus on your fitness routine, your workout can be more time-efficient and effective.
   
   
4. Sanitize equipment after use. People sweat when exercising. Every time we use machines or weights, we are potentially spreading germs and illnesses. Sanitize and wipe down after using any equipment because, trust me, no one wants to sit in someone else’s sweat. Practicing good hygiene also means keeping yourself clean as well as the equipment. Have clean workout clothes ready to go and keep deodorant in your gym bag.
   
   
5. Set weights down quietly. You might hear a fitness instructor yelling and encouraging someone to complete one more rep or you might hear the clink of weights being racked. Gyms can get loud. Loud noises in the gym are nearly unavoidable, but are they necessary? Certain Olympic movements require the weight to be dropped for the lifter’s safety. You can avoid dropping the weight stack on machines to help lessen damage to the weight and the machine. If your weight is too heavy to drop quietly, try reducing it to a more manageable weight.

Gym etiquette is important and can change the entire atmosphere of the fitness facility. Think before you act at the gym. Is it necessary to block the dumbbell racks? Can you plan to leave your home a little earlier to make your personal training session on time? Can the exercise you’re doing be performed on a floor mat to help leave benches open for complex exercises? Let’s work together to make fitness enjoyable for everyone.

Need help with your workout routine? A fitness specialist can help you develop a fitness program that works for you.

Drive your health forward at Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness.