Gym etiquette

It’s easy to feel self conscious in the gym. Feel more confident by knowing and abiding by good neighbourly conduct.

• Put your weights and equipment back when you’re done.

• Clean things after using them. There should be towels or paper towel and spray.

• Don’t set your belongings on a piece of equipment that you aren’t immediately using.

• Keep a tidy work area. Don’t create tripping hazards.

• Don’t monopolize more than one large piece of equipment at a time. Using a set of dumbbells in a superset with a machine or barbell is acceptable.

• Ask for help. Ask how to use a machine. The strongest person in the gym would probably love to help a beginner.

• Don’t talk to someone if they’re in the middle of a set.

• If you want to use a machine, you can ask them “how many sets left.”

• You can ask people if you can “work in.” This means using the machine while they rest, and visa versa. Everyone can say “no” to this question, without shame or guilt.

• Don’t film other people. If you are filming, make sure the gym is ok with it.

• People film content all the time for social media or form-checks. If this is you, be kind and flexible with others.

• Don’t film in the bathroom. I can’t believe I have to say this.

• Take up the space that you need, and give others the space they need. You are allowed to sweat, grunt, shake, and cheer. Human emotion and signs of struggle are acceptable.

• If you lose bladder control during an exercise, alert the staff and offer to clean up. This happens more often than you’d think, and is actively becoming less stigmatized.

• If you fart during a heavy lift, avoid eye contact. No one will know it was you. I promise.