Horsham-based female personal trainer, Becky, works one to one with clients via an independent gym. Those who also train by themselves often like to have help with how to navigate the gym environment, including learning the specific codes of etiquette…
Gym culture has seen some interesting times during the last few years. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that facilities were shuttered, and when they reopened, lots of restrictions were in place, many of which lead to the cleanest fitness spaces most of us had seen in our lifetimes. Sadly, standards have slipped again.
The other thing that I’ve realised is that there could also be a case of benign ignorance. When any of us enters a new space for the first time ever, we have to learn the norms and standards from scratch, and I recognise that there could also be a need for the rules being shared, rather than assuming people will just know them.
You might be new, it might be that you never got taught, or you may have simply forgotten – here’s my guide to gym etiquette…
Tidy up after yourself at the gym
This is probably the top frustration for gym users and staff alike, and I’ve only recently realised that there’s a lot of confusion about it. I grew up in the countryside, and one of the key parts of the Countryside Code is that you leave things as you find them. The same is not true of gyms, unless you found things in their correct place!
It can feel desperately frustrating to be clearing up after other people… but if we all cleared up in the first place…
One of the biggest examples here is plate-loaded machines. It used to be very common to see loaded barbells left on racks or platforms, but where I train, this is now very much a rarity. What still happens regularly is people leaving plates on machines, which is downright rude. Most machines will have a space to store plates on them. Gyms should also provide stands – either racks on the floor, or items known as trees – for spare plates.
To really level up your tidying, make sure that the lightest plates are at the front – you shouldn’t have to move 25kg plates out of the way to get to a 5kg plate, for example. If a machine was loaded with plates when you turned up to use it, and you used the same weight, please then clear the plates off when you’re finished.
Be aware of your surroundings
Just like when you’re walking down the street, or through a shop, or when you’re driving or cycling around outside, please pay attention to the traffic on the gym floor. If you’re about to cross a carpeted area, look both ways and check that someone isn’t about to come barrelling along pushing a sled, or that someone isn’t doing a set of walking lunges.
If you’re making your way to the water fountain, look over your shoulder to see whether someone is on their way to return some dumbbells to the rack, and give them right of way (they’re carrying something heavier than you are).
If you’re standing between sets, having a chat with your mates, be aware of how much space you’re taking up and that people might be trying to pass between you on their way to use a piece of kit.
Everyone is welcome at the gym, and we all deserve our space.
Interrupt at certain times
Particularly when it’s busy, you may want to get someone’s attention (please try and catch their eye, rather than tapping someone on the shoulder – you may startle them, and you don’t necessarily have their permission to touch them) and check how much longer they’ll be using a piece of kit.
Always only do this when they’re resting. Never, ever interrupt someone who’s mid-rep, this can be very dangerous. Wait until they finish their set, give them a moment to secure the equipment, and then ask how many sets they have left.
Think carefully about how you use equipment
At the start of the year, I saw a lot of social media posts demonising super sets for taking up too much equipment at once, and I disagree with them. Some people put little thought into how they use the gym, it’s true. But that’s not all people.
Be one of the considerate ones! Nobody’s workout is essential. You do not need to monopolise a machine for upwards of 30 minutes, particularly if you know it’s one that lots of people like to use. One of my pet hates is people using two cable columns when gyms are really busy. I kind of admire their audacity. And I also think that they might be a little selfish.
If you really must do an exercise or set that involves taking up a popular piece of kit, please be as efficient as possible about it, and then move along to let others use it.
Be respectful about filming and photos
The modern phenomenon of camera phones has meant that we’ve needed to adapt our thinking. It ought to go without saying that you should never take photos in the changing rooms when others are present. This is something which may actually be viewed as harassment.
The gym floor is slightly different. Not everyone is comfortable being photographed and filmed at any time, never mind when they’re trying to exercise. If you’d like to take photos and videos, best practice is to set up to avoid getting anyone else in your shot, which is very hard. The next best option is to speak to those around you and let them know what you’re going to do, so that they can choose to move if that suits them. If that’s also not doable, and you’re desperate to share your footage publicly, there are ways of cropping or blurring people out.
To some people, these ideas will seem extreme, but everyone is entitled to their privacy. There are many and varied reasons why people will not want their image shared, and we must be respectful of this.
I hope that you’ve found this post helpful! If you think that someone else would, please share it with them.