We’ve all been at the gym, riding the stationary bicycle, reading or watching TV in peace when along comes Mr. Grunt. Mr. Grunt gets on the bike next to you, proceeds to make the most horrible guttural noises and throws sweat all the way across the room. Pretty annoying and quite disgusting. Sure, Mr. Grunt might not know how much his enthusiasm for working out freaks out everyone else in the gym, but perhaps he’ll read the following and take some cues as to how to be a little more conscientious at the gym.
Stop it with the noises. Don’t grunt or wheeze or hum or sing along with your iPod. Be conscientious of other people and try to avoid loud and obnoxious conversations and laughing. This goes double for when you’re taking an exercise class. People are there to concentrate and work out, not to listen to you and your best friend talking about the game or that cute guy you met last night.
Turn the cell phone off for once why don’t ya? There’s really no need to keep your cell phone with you when you’re working out. If you’re expecting an important, emergency call, you probably don’t want to speak to that person when you’re in the process of lifting weights or taking a spinning class, so wait to take the class until after the call. Hey, there’s voicemail for a reason. No one wants to hear your annoying cell phone ring when they’re trying to concentrate. Just shut it off or leave it in the locker.
Did you ever get so excited that the leg press was free that you ran to it sat down and realized… yuck, your bum is wet from the sweat left over from the last user? It’s gross. Carry a towel with you, because if you’re working out, you’re going to sweat. Just make sure you don’t leave puddles for the next person, if you do, CLEAN IT UP!
Don’t be an equipment hog. If there are time limits posted, stick to them. Not only are they there to make sure that everyone in the gym has equal time, and an adequate chance of using the equipment they want, but extended use of certain machines can overextend your body. Don’t risk pulled or strained muscles, or having everyone in the gym call you “the Hog” behind your back. Take your time then move on.
In a similar vein, if someone is using a machine that you want to use, don’t stand there and stare at them while they’re trying to work out. Don’t make huffing and puffing noises either. The only thing that will do is make the person using the equipment mad, and odds are, you’re not going to get your turn any sooner. If you’re waiting for a machine and someone has gone over the time limit indicated, or if they’ve just been on it for way too long, politely ask them how much longer they intend to be. That is enough to usually do the trick. But, if you are going to ask someone how long they’re going to be… DON’T do it mid-set. Wait until they take a break to interrupt their routine.
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